STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 371 



and grow but a few kinds until you have learned how to grow 

 them successfully, then add one or two kinds to your list, but 

 do not discard the. old reliable varieties for untried ones until 

 you have proven them worthy. 



In selecting seeds for a ^ower garden, choose only of the com- 

 mon varieties that flower continually through the season. For 

 a new beginner I would suggest the following : One paper each 

 of "Mixed, " white and scarlet Phlox, Verbena (mixed), Mign- 

 onette, Tropacolum. Asters, Pansies and one ounce of Sweet 

 Peas. Of these only Mignonette, Tropacolum and Sweet Peas 

 can be sown in the open ground. The others must be started in 

 hot-bed, or in boxes in the house. Then when your plants are 

 nicely started you can see how many you have and will know 

 how much ground to fit for them. 



A word with regard to this. If the front yard is small, don't 

 disfigure it with flower beds, rather go to the rear or side of the 

 house. Select a spot away from trees or large bushes, where the 

 sun will shine all day. If trees are large, the roots will draw so 

 much moisture and life from the soil that plants will barely ex- 

 ist (if they grow at all) when planted near them. If the .soil is 

 not rich, put on a liberal dressing of well-rotted manure and 

 plow or spade it in thoroughly. Then with a line, lay the 

 ground out into straight beds, four feet wdde, leaving a path two 

 feet wide between them. Don't attempt any fancy beds and 

 don't raise them above the paths, unless the garden is in a very 

 low, wet place, for you will want all the moisture that falls on 

 the beds to remain and not run off into the paths where it is not 

 needed. 



About the tenth of May, if the season is warm, set the plants 

 out; if it is cold, or backward, wait a week or ten days. Plant 

 the Phlox about one foot apart each way in the bed, pansies and 

 asters the same. Verbenas need two feet, so they will have 

 room to spread. 



Plants ought to be set when they have four or six leaves. If 

 much larger they are liable to wilt and become stun^^ed. Select a 

 cloudy day, if possible, for setting. If, however, it is sunny, 

 set late in the afternoon and water well. The next day shade 

 the plants with leaves and remove the shade after two days. Do 

 not water after the first week but keep the ground well stirred 

 with the hoe and free from weeds. 



Stir the ground once a week for five or six weeks — after that 

 only enough to keep it free from weeds. Pick freely and ju- 



