148 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Location, soil, choice of varieties, sowing seeds, care of young plants (which 

 includes transplanting and proper arrangement), general methods of cultiva- 

 tion, fall and Avinter protection. 



This outline of topics comprehends the whole matter from the beginning, 

 but the question, How best to manage a home flower garden? pre-supposes that 

 the flower garden already exists, and calls our attention merely to its manage- 

 ment, which is a subject far too broad for an exhaustive treatment at a time 

 like this. 



One of the most important things to be considered is the selection of varie- 

 ties, especially of annuals and perennials that flower the first season from seed; 

 and to this I would briefly call your attention. As we pick up the various 

 catalogues of seed men which disseminate much useful information, and which 

 have been powerful agents in developing a taste for floriculture, we find an al- 

 most endless list of varieties, and nearly every one is pronounced alike beautiful 

 and worthy of cultivation. To the inexperienced the task of choosing the most 

 desirable kinds from the average seed catalogue is an enigma with the attempted 

 solution of which they are often disgusted before midsummer. To this subject 

 I have bestowed much care and thought, and notwithstanding the varied expe- 

 rience I have enjoyed in different localities and the opportunities I have had 

 to study conflicting tastes of those who cultivate flowers, I find it a very difficult 

 and perplexing task to select a given number of varieties that will be considered 

 the best for general cultivation ; and especially suitable for those who have small 

 gardens and desire a few plants of several kinds, to a larger number of but few 

 kinds. I have made a selection of twenty-five varieties, and in choosing them 

 the following characteristics have been observed: Beauty, fragrance, hardiness, 

 habits of growth, effects of transplanting, value for bedding for the border or 

 edging, for summer and winter bouquets, for church and parlor decoration. In 

 this collection you will find sixteen which are commonly called bedding plants, 

 three everlastings, three climbers, and three ornamental grasses. The arrange- 

 ment is as follows : 



Hardy Annuals. 



Phlox Drummondii, TenWeeks' Stocks, Asters, Ageratum, Gypsophilla, 

 Dwarf Nasturtium, Sweet Alyssum, and Mignonette. 



Half-hardy Annuals. 

 Balsam, Celosia (Cockscomb), Verbena, Zinnia. 



Biennials, or Peren7iials, which flower the first summer. 

 Dianthus, Petunias, Pansy, Scabiosa (Mourning Bride). 



Climlers. 

 Cypress Vine, Balloon Vine, Sweet Peas. 



Everlastings. 



Acrolinium, Ammobium, Helichrysum. 



Ornamental Grasses. 



Agrostis Nebulosa, Briza Maxima, and Lagurus Ovatus. 

 Of course every lover of flowers will miss some favorites from the above list, 

 but in order to select a given number some must be sacrificed. Por variety of 



