INDIANA HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 295 



Few of us can have conservatories for our winter plants, or can do 

 anything so extensive out of floors as to be termed landscape gardening, 

 but we may all, with a little time and care, greatly enhance the beauty 

 of our homes, both indoors and out, by the addition of plants and flowers. 

 No home, however lowly, but is improved by their use. They are always 

 an index of refinement wherever found, and one can not I)ut feel respect 

 for those who planted them. 



Do not place all the flowers in the front yard, to be seen by the public 

 eye, and leave the back yard for a dumping ground for tin cans, potato 

 peelings and old shoes, but make it the principal part of the flower gar- 

 den, wliere tlie housewife may enjoy tlie flowers as she passes to and 

 fro about lier worlv. 'Twill also be more convenient to the water, and 

 they will most likely receive better care. 



At the base of any forest or shade trees, wherever found about the 

 premises, plant some vine, as woodbine, wild sarsaparilla, Virginia creeper 

 or wild honeysuckle. 



There has been a rage, the past few years, for the old-fashioned 

 flowers of our grandmothers, and as many of these are perennials, tliey 

 recommend themselves to those of us who like the flowers to come year 

 after year Avith little work. For this have a permanent bed where may 

 be planted poppies, phlox, petunias, verbenas, dianthus pinks, etc. There 

 is such a multitude of varieties one is puzzled to know which to select 

 when space is limited. 



Of the annuals, the three favorite varities are pansies, sweet peas 

 and nasturtiums. The pansies and sweet peas require a very rich soil 

 and plenty of moisture, while nasturtiums thrive in most any clay soil, and 

 will yield a profusion of flowers for cutting until frost. The tall va- 

 rieties do best and are desirable for covering unsightly walls and fences. 

 Add to this collection a bed of coleus, of geraniums, of tea roses and a 

 large bed of foliage plants, forming a pyramid of gladolas, cannas and 

 caladiums. 



For autumn blooming the aster is a favorite, and as they bloom late, 

 some poetic writer compares them to "an afterthought of Flora's, who 

 smiles at leaving us." Chrysantliemums are also very satisfactory. They 

 do best and are least trouble placed in the open gi'ound in summer. Keep 

 pinched back until tlie last of July. In September lift them ready to re- 

 move to the house when frost comes. Some prefer not lifting them, but 

 the frost soon catches them if left out, while if taken indoors we. can 

 have some of the later blooming varieties until near Cliristmas. They 

 take so little care, except at blooming season, that no lover of flowers can 

 afford to be without at least a small collection of chrysanthemums. This 

 year my collection numbers about thirty varieties. 



As to plants for window culture, the selection varies according to 

 sunlight in the rooms where they are to be kept. If there is little sun- 

 light, begonias, umbrella plant, palms and ferns are most satisfactory. 



