CULTIVATION OF THE SQUASH IN THE GARDEN. 205 



I use fencinaf would be less than five cents apiece, and I have some 

 that I made in 1886, twelve years ago. They have not been used all 

 the time, but some in the lot have been used every year, and they 

 are still good. They are covered with cloth, and when we get 

 through with them we just pile them up anywhere and, they are all 

 right until the next year. They are a thorough protection against 

 frost and against the striped bug. 



Mr. Elliot: I want to put a clincher on that story. Eight square 

 rods is one-twentieth of an acre, and if he got $20.00 for the two and 

 one-quarter tons he grew that would be forty-five tons, which would 

 be worth $400. We had better all go to raising squashes. (Laugh- 

 ter). 



OLD TIME FLOWER GARDENS. 



MRS. CHARLOTTE O. VAN CLEVE, MINNEAPOLIS. 



Many years ago, when private grounds were enclosed by fences, 

 flower gardens were carefully and successfully cultivated in this 

 city, of which we are so proud, and they were very ornamental along 

 our streets and by-ways. 



'The walks from gate to door were bordered by varieties of colored 

 beauties; morning glories ran riot over our fences, and in some in- 

 stances peeped into the windows of our sitting rooms; and it was 

 pleasant to notice how men going to business, and children hurry- 

 ing to school, stopped a moment to look at and admire the many 

 hued beauties. As young men went by to their schools or desks, I 

 could not but feel that these pretty things, fresh from the Great 

 Horticulturist's hand, must exert a good influence, and to those who 

 were away from home it may have reminded them of mother's 

 teachings and father's prayer. 



The fragrant mignonette had a place in our flower beds. It made 

 no great show but was like a good life well lived, exerting a good 

 influence very unostentatiously, and giving out a sweet fragrance 

 that affects all who come within its influence. 



Then there were the pansies, called by poets the "modest violet.' 

 These are great favorites; children love them, and mothers made a 

 pretty story founded on them about a mother and her daughters; 

 little folks are always interested in these pretty things, and before 

 they can speak plainly, bring them to mother with the lisping 

 appeal, "tell me pitty 'tory." Their name, "health call," is pretty and 

 suggestive, and one can scarcely conceive of a more beautiful blend- 

 ing of colors or a greater variety varying through the different 

 shades of purple and yellow and brown, to clear white. 



Phlox dfummondi was one of the stand-bys in a flower bed, and 

 was very satisfactory. Portulacca was another pretty blossoming 

 plant and very easy of cultivation; its crimson, white and yellow 

 flowers continue through the summer and often come up in the 

 spring from seed dropped late in the season. The Californian 

 poppy, eschscholtzia, is a beautiful canary colored flower and 

 blossoms freely all summer. 



The pretty modest candytuft was a great favorite in those old 



