350 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Climbing vines may be used to great advantage, not only to cover unsightly 

 objects, but to relieve the garden from stiffness. We caonot find a more 

 graceful and beautiful vine than the clematis, of which some of the choicest 

 varieties are perfectly hardy. The wisteria is equally hardy and very 

 deeirable. 



But time would fail me to speak of all the hundred different ways in which 

 flowers may be made to beautify the grounds. Bolts of shrubbery may be 

 planted in suitable places, with good effect, and a constant s accession of 

 bloom may be had during the season, with but little labor. The spireas, 

 deutzias, and weigelia are among the b'stof this class. The hybrid perpetual 

 roses will dazzle the eye in June and July, and there is scarcely a mjnth dur- 

 inir tiic summ T that you cannot find a supply of blossoms. There is no diffi- 

 culty in keeping them through the winter, if in the fall you bond down the 

 branches and piac<' a piece of sod on them; then cover with straw and the 

 plants will grow stronger every year. 



Too much cannot be said in favor of the monthly rose. No flower is so 

 interesting. It is continually in bl.)om, and its fragrance is unsurpassed. 

 The pansy also is a flower we cannot dispense with. It exceels all others in 

 its great variety. No class of fl )wers has been so improved by careful fer- 

 tilization. Plants put out in April will bloom all the summer, but they re- 

 quire fertilizing and a plentiful supply of water to produce large flowers. 



The first req'iisite for success in gardening is a love for the work; the 

 second is common sense, and the third untiring watchfulness. Of course 

 the plants must be fed well or they will dwindle and grow sickly. Many 

 persons leave plants in the same ground year after year, and then wonder 

 why they do not bloom more. Frequent top-dressings of well decayed 

 manure, are necessary, or some of the artificial fertilizers that are prepared 

 for the purpose may be used to good advantage. 



A very important point is to keep the garden well sprinkled or watered in 

 some way, and to keep a healthy growth. Then you will not be much 

 troubled by insects of any kind. The rose slug is sontetimes troublesome, 

 and a good plan is to syringe the bushes with whale-oil soap early in the 

 season, when the leaves are just opening. I liave also found hellebore very 

 good. 



When the field of labor is transferred from the garden to the house, 

 greater watchfulness is necessary. One of the greatest obstacles to success 

 with house plants is the dry and overheated atmosphere of our living rooms; 

 but light sprinkling every day will help very much. The number of plants 

 that will give good satisfaction in the house is small. Geraniums are always 

 valuable and easy to manage. Roses require great care, but will repay the 

 trouble. Abutilons are always in bloom, and tliire are also fuchsias that will 

 give good returns. The calla lily must not be forgotten, for when well- 

 grown it is one of the most noble looking plants we have, and very little 

 trouble. Rich soil and plenty of water are necessary, and then they will 

 bloom freely. The eriphyllum is a very good winter bloomer, and a great 

 many begonias bloom all the winter. Among the best o' the latter are 

 rubra, robus'a, Saundersunii, and multiflora. In early winter thechrysanthe- 

 mums cannot be surpassed and are worthy of great attention. Later in the 

 winter we have the bulbous-rooted plants, producing their lovtdy and fragrant 

 flowers. Among the most dusirable for early bloom is the frcezia, and a 

 little later the narcissus, hyacinth, and many others. 



