farmers' gardens. 365 



In speaking of it in liis work on tlie "Trees and Shrubs of Massacliusetts," 

 Emerson says : 



"The great variety of rich colors, shades of scarlet, crimson, and purple, -which the leaves 

 and stems of this plant assume, and the situations in which we iind it, climbing up the trunks 

 and spreading itself along the branches of trees, covering walls and heaps of stones, forming 

 natiu-al festoons from tree to tree, or trained on the piazzas of dwellings, make it one of the 

 most conspicuous ornaments of the autumnal months. Often in October it may be seen 

 minfjling- its scarlet and orange leaves thnty or forty feet from the ground with the green leaves 

 of tire still unchanged tree on which it Jias climbed." 



Nothing surpasses this plant for covering a rustic summer-house, such a 

 one as a farmer and his son could construct in a single day. It is so tenacious 

 of life, too, that a child may tear a root from the ground and carelessly place 

 it in the soil again, when it will grow with surprising vigor. How many 

 gloomy dwellings might be crowned with this beautiful ornament and made 

 bright and cheerful at a trifling cost of care. 



These eight hardy and" ornamental climbers of which I have spoken would 

 give character to any place, even one of considerable pretensions, and any 

 three or four of them would render our gardens and rural lawns highly attrac- 

 tive. They require no uncommon skill in their cultivation ; the soil that 

 would produce a good hill of corn will sustain any of them. 



In order that the garden should retain its beauty and attractiveness through 

 the season, there should be a succession of flowers, and a very few, judiciously 

 selected, will afford a pleasing variety. Bulbous flowers must be selected for 

 the earliest bloomers ; other herbaceous perennials for their successors, and 

 some particular bulbous plants and annuals for late summer and autumn flower- 

 ing. The eaidiest bulbous flowers are the snowdrops, single and double, 



" "\^Tio, in habit white and plain. 

 Come as the heralds of fan- Flora's train." 



The crocus, hyacinth, daffodil, or jonquil, and early anemone, all appear 

 almost as soon as the snow is off the ground. These may be followed by the 

 porttilacca, adonis, wood anemone, pansies, primroses, and the numerous and 

 brilliant varieties of the tulip, and many others. After these there is a rapid 

 succession of herbaceous perennials, some of the finest of which are the veroni- 

 cas, phloxes, lupins, the iris of many sorts, columbines, poppies, and the mag- 

 nificent varieties of the herbaceous peony. 



Among the most interesting summer flowering bulbous plants are the ''Gladi- 

 olus communis," or common purple SAVord lily, which is perfectly hardy ; the 

 Gladiolus floribundus, or profuse floA\'ering sword lily, remarkable for its beau- 

 tiful flesh-colored flowers ; the Gladiolus gandivensis, or Ghent sword lily, 

 with flowers of a rich orange scarlet; and the "tiger flower," remarkable for 

 its showy petals, blooms about the same time; so do the splendid double- 

 flowering hollyhocks. The Japan lilies are more showy and quite hardy. 

 Autumn flowers are obtained largely from the successful culture of annuals. 

 The chrysanthemums flower almost into winter. They are hardy and will 

 grow if planted in open ground with a shelter and full exposure to the sun 

 during the latter part of autumn. 



There are many flowering shrubs that are hardy and of great beauty. The 

 pink mezereon blooms before the leaf starts, and sometimes before the snow- 

 drifts have all disappeared. Several of the spireas, the wax plant, Chinese 

 honeysuckle, strawberry tree, lilacs, and viburnums are all beautiful and easily 

 cultivated. 



I will only call attention to the great variety of charming wild flowers of 

 our country. They are among nature's most beautiful productions, and by 

 their freshness and fragrance will well repay any care and attention given 

 them. 



