1026 Rural School Leaflet. 



Branching, Chrysanthemum-flowered, Washington, Victoria, and for 

 early, Queen of the Market. Odd varieties are Crown, German Quilled, 

 Victoria Needle, and Lilliput. Very dwarf kinds are Dwarf Bouquet 

 or Dwarf German, and Shakespeare. 



One of the chief merits of the China Aster is the lateness of bloom, 

 allowing the flowers to be used in the schools after they open in the 

 fall. An excellent flower for sowing during May is the common annual 

 Phlox {Phlox DrMmmondii of the catalogues). Poppies are also satis- 

 factory, but the flowers do not last long. Petunias are excellent and 

 Balsams, Clarkias, Coreopsis (or Calliopsis), and Zinnias may be sown. 



Now let us see how many boys and girls in New York State will raise 

 Sweet-peas and China Asters this year! And we should like them to 

 write us all about it. 



MAKING A GARDEN 



C. E. HUNN 



1. Preparation of land. — If the location of the garden may be secured 

 in the fall, much of the preliminary work could be done before freezing 

 weather, having all leveling done, rough material removed, and the 

 ground ploughed or spaded. Fall plowing is to be recomm.ended for 

 the reason that the winter freezing has a beneficial action on the soil, 

 causing it to crumble and separate into fine particles. It is also possible 

 to work fall-plowed land earlier in the spring than flat-lying land. If 

 spring plowing must be done, it is best to start as early as the ground is 

 fit to work. A good coating of barnyard manure spread evenly over 

 the ground before plowing is always beneficial. Plow to the depth of 

 four to six inches and harrow the soil fine wdth a spring-tooth harrow, 

 after which the small stones and rubbish may be raked off with the hand 

 rake, and the ground leveled for sowing seeds. 



2. Sowing the seeds. — In sowing the seed it is much better to sow in 

 rows than to sow broadcast. The seedling may be more easily identified, 

 thinning and weeding may be quickly done, and the soil between the 

 rows may be hoed without injury to the seedling plants. 



In planting a garden it is best if possible to have the rows extend 

 north and south, each row having its share of sunlight. If the rows are 

 east and west, and one or more rows contain tall plants, there is danger 

 of shading the rows in the rear. 



3. Watering the garden. — If it is necessary to water the gromng plants, 

 it should be done late in the afternoon, if possible. If watered in the 

 morning, the sun causes very rapid evaporation, leaving the soil dry, 

 and in heavy soils causing it to bake. Thorough cultivation of the 



