ANNUALS, AND THEIE CULTIYATION. 



garnishing dishes, it is indispensable among people of taste. Rhubarb, or pie plant, 

 has become too popular to need any recommendation ; for early spring use it should 

 be coaxed into rank growth by a coat of warm stable manure. Sea kale is one of 

 the neglected culinary plants ; it is as easily grown as rhubarb ; the spring shoots re- 

 quire to be blanched by a covering of some sort. Globe artichokes are very little 

 known, except in a few of the best gardens. Around Angers, in France, they are 

 grown almost as extensively as wheat in the Genesee valley ; the markets are full of 

 them, and one would suppose the people almost lived upon artichokes ; they are sure 

 to appear on every dinner table, and are excellent. In our northern climate they will 

 requu-e protection in winter, but by taking extra pains they may be grown successfully. 



ANNUALS, AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



Perhaps many well versed in floriculture will think that this article is not worth the 

 paper on which it is printed — that it states facts as familiar to them as household 

 words, and which they learned among their first lessons in this branch of horticulture. 

 To such we say, this article is not intended for your benefit, yet we hope you may 

 glean some things that will repay perusal. But you must remember there is now felt 

 an awakening interest on the subject of floriculture, wide and extended as our almost 

 boundless country. Hundreds — yes, thousands, and tens of thousands, are acquiring 

 taste on this subject, and thirst for knowledge as the panting hart for the running- 

 brook. These begin to see beauty in waving trees and woodland flowers, where 

 before they saw no comeliness. As taste becomes cultivated, and refined, beauty is 

 created on every side — the mossy dell, the thorny rose, the simplest flower that 

 adorns the meadow, speak a new and beautiful language, and tell of a new and 

 beautiful world. Enthusiasm is enkindled — every means is taken to explore this new 

 creation. Of the nature and extent of this feeling we have some opportunity to learn. 

 To it do we ascribe the increased demand for horticultural reading, and the largely 

 increased circulation of this journal. And this increase is not principally among pro- 

 fessional horticulturists, and farmers, who are turning their attention to horticulture 

 as a business, but among amateurs, merchants and mechanics, who are beginning to 

 devote their spare moments to this beautiful and healthful employment — and par- 

 ticularly the ladies, who ever have been and ever will be lovers of the beautiful. Ladies 

 are the natural patrons of flowers, the world over. And sometimes when we have 

 seen the wealthy farmer, with his hundreds of broad acres, begi'udging wife and 

 daughters a few rods of ground for the cultivation of flowers, complaining that the 

 " hired man" lost a whole day in spading it up, we have " said in our haste," man 

 is too coai"se, too much like his ox, ever to love flowers. We pity the man who has 

 traveled far on the journey of life without stopping to do them homage. 



One lady writes — " Give us the best and simplest directions for cultivating the fijiest 

 of our common flowers, particularly annuals ; such as are within our reach. 



