HINTS FOR BEGINNERS. 



fine gardens without a great variety. The largest collections of trees and plants fail 

 to yield any satisfaction, unless they are well arranged, and in the most perfect health 

 and vigor. But it is scarcely possible for persons who have just turned their attention 

 to gardening for the first time in their lives, and who endeavor to dispense with the 

 aid of a professional gardener, to arrange and cultivate a great variety of plants with 

 any satisfactory degree of success. When they do attempt such an undertaking, as 

 thoy very often do, unfortunately, their first year's experience is a sad chapter of 

 faihires and misfortunes. Their seeds fail to grow ; their trees and shrubs die ; nothing 

 goes right ; and the seedsman and nurseryman are charged not only with their own 

 delinquencies, which are generally numerous enough, but they have to bear the whole 

 blame. Bad management or unfavorable seasons are not taken into account, because 

 the effects of neither one or the other are understood or appreciated. 



"VVe therefore urge upon beginners the propriety of exercising great caution in 

 making their first selections. Every tree, shrub, and plant, should be perfectly hardy, 

 and of the easiest cultivation. New and rare trees and plants are generally those 

 most noticed in the periodicals, and beginners are too apt to think they must have 

 these ; but in this they are wrong. Inquire not for novelties, but for old and well-tried 

 species and varieties that have been proved to succeed everywhere and with even in- 

 different treatment. These are what you need ; and when you have attained complete 

 success with them, and have become somewhat familiar with the nature of the differ- 

 ent tribes of plants, and with the principles as well as details of culture, you may 

 safely enlarge your collection. 



Among the plants used in the decoration of gardens, there are a great many genera, 

 species, and varieties ; all of which require a special culture and treatment, and with- 

 out which they will not succeed. For instance, among the popular families of garden 

 plants, we have Roses of many distinct classes. Carnations, Phloxes, Pseonies, Hya- 

 cinths, Tulips, Lilies, and a multitude of other plants considered indispensable to a good 

 garden. Now, if a beginner will at his first essay procure a collection of all these, 

 nothing can be more certain than his failure and disappointment. Far better that he 

 should commence with only one ; and we will say Roses, for an example. But among 

 Roses we have many classes, each requiring a treatment of its own ; and in every 

 class there are varieties known as vigorous growers, free bloomers, and of easy man- 

 agement in general, while others are notoriously uncertain. Now the beginner should 

 confine himself entirely to such as are least difficult to manage. A fine display can 

 be made with even two or three sorts of Roses grown in perfection. From among 

 the classes known as summer Roses, including Hybrid China, Provence, Moss, &c., 

 certain varieties may be selected that grow as freely as Willows, and that no one could 

 fail with who would give them good soil, and cultivate them as well as they would a 

 hill of potatoes. So among the popular class called Remontants, or Hybrid Perpetu- 

 als, there are vigorous growers, such as La Eeine, Baron Prcvost, &c., that may 

 always be relied upon. We would plant entire beds of these reliable sorts, and have 

 magnificent show, rather than select a great variety, and have a rose-bed resembl 

 hospital. The gardens we always derive most pleasure and instruction from 



