188 Missou7'i State Horticultural Society. 



" Flowers are the sylvan syllables 

 In colors like the bow ; 

 And wise is he who wisely spells 

 The blossomed words, where beauty dwells 

 In purple, gold and snow." 



Such an one is to be pitied^ for, like the man that has no 

 music in his soul, he too is fit for treason, stratagemi and spoils. 

 There is no place so humble or so small but its beauty can be 

 enhanced by flowers. And flowers can be had for a song, or 

 cheaper. A few dimes invested in annuals will make a garden bright 

 for all the season. Verbenas in variety, flox drummundi, zenias, 

 fever few, bachelor's buttons, ladies' slippers, nasturtions, etc., 

 should be found in every such collection, and will repay in beauty 

 an hundredfold their cost. 



But for any wishing to plant more elaborately, the following 

 are named as giving a desirable succession of bloom : A bed of 

 bulbs embracing crocus, snow-di'ops, narcissus, tulips, lily of the 

 valley and hyacinths. With these may be planted, on the borders 

 of the bed, grass pinks and ladies' slippers, aiid in the center, 

 verbenas of various colors. 



For roses in variety, especially perpetuals and hybrids, a 

 separate and exclusive bed should be prepared. The soil must be 

 made very rich, because most roses have but poor and few roots, and 

 feed must be abundant ; powdered charcoal, ashes and liquid 

 manure, should be supj)lied throughout the season. 



The foundation of a good soil for flowers are pure humus or 

 decayed vegetation, sand and cow manure. I know of no flowers 

 that will not thrive in such a soil. 



Knowing that a paper will T3e offered on the planting of orna- 

 mentals on small places, I will not go further in the detail of the 

 how and wherefore of ornamental planting, and will conclude this 

 fragmentary effort by another verse of George W. Bungay : 



" Oh, sacred is the use of these 

 Sweet gifts to mortals given ; 

 Their colors charm, their beauties please. 

 And every better sense they seize. 

 And bear our thoughts to Heaven." 



Z. S. Ragan : — Likes the trailing jumper. This subject 

 should be taken up by our state society in a more especial way. Our 

 public grounds should be ornamented in no very elaborate way, but 

 in a good substantial way. Central Park was started by our horti- 

 culturists, and in the west we should begin this work, for we are 



