272 ANNUAL REPORT 



does not cultivate flowers, or encourage it, does not do bis whole duty 

 to his family." 



And Miss Shore writes : "The most humble home may be bright- 

 ened and its coarse surroundings made attractive by flowers. A neat- 

 ly kept border, or a bed gay with blossoms of even the commonest va- 

 rieties are certainly more pleasant and restful to the tired wife and 

 mother than an untidy grassless yard, with fences down and pigs, 

 calves, and geese roaming at will, as seen so often in the country. 

 Half the time taken to k«ep them out would be amply sufficient to 

 cultivate a few flowers. 



If it should happen in any family that the willing hands are not 

 strong, and the strong not willing, it is doubtful if more than a few 

 annuals and hardy i)erenuials should be undertaken. 



And although it is pleasant to try something new occasionally, it 

 seems wisest to depend mainly on those tried and proved varieties 

 from which we can with confidence expect a reward of almost con- 

 stant bloom, old, and yet ever new, delighting us continually with 

 their beauty and fragrance. 



The following varieties I would recommend by experience and ob- 

 servation as best adapted for those of little or no experience : 



Phlox Drummondi, Chinese pinks, sweet peas, pansies, sweet alys- 

 sum, verbenas, asters, nasturtiums, candytuft, petunias, balsams, 

 larkspur, ten weeks stock, mignonette, and portulaca. Some of these, 

 phlox, petunia, portulaca, and larkspur are self seeding, and labor can 

 be saved by using the same bed, transplanting occasionally in the 

 spring. 



For a new beginner I would advise trying only a few varieties. Those 

 wishing more can easily select from the many seed catalogues, nearly 

 all giving directions for planting. If the necessary amount of earth 

 cannot be spared or prepared for annuals try a few perennials. Phlox 

 of many beautiful shades of color; bleeding heart and peonies — hardy, 

 vigorous, and many of the new sorts delightfully fragrant — are im- 

 proved by cultivation, but will spring up and bloom cheerily if neg- 

 lected. I will also add the hollyhock (again in favor), in situations 

 for tall flowers we know of nothing better. Vick says: " There are 

 few plants whose flowers so perfectly combine large size and delicacy, 

 quite as double and almost as pure and perfect as those of the camellia. ' ' 

 J sometimes think this favorite old flower one of our best perennials. 

 And tulips, — everyone who lives where the winters are so long and cold 

 should have a bed of tulips, they bloom so early. Their visit is short, 

 I confess, but other plants may be set between them so the bed may 



