FLOWERS. 373 
A FARM FLOWER GARDEN. 
MISS SARAH J. BUTTERMORE, LAKE CITY. 
When spring comes a sunny spot is selected for a flower garden, 
sheltered from the north and northeast by trees so that the severe 
winds from these points cannot strike with full force on the flowers, 
as it is injurious to them; it is surrounded by a close fence to keep 
out the chickens. This should be done before the seeds are planted 
or even before the beds are moulded out; withouta fenceit is almost 
useless to raise flowers. Let the chickeus get into a flower garden, 
and it is surprising to see how fast the seed will come up,—somie- 
times it will be up in an hour, sometimes more and sometimes less. 
The garden having been made, then comes the moulding out of 
the flower beds. This can be commenced just as soon in spring as 
the ground is sufficiently thawed out to allow working. In regard 
to the planting of the seed, one kind of flowers are sufficient to plant 
in each row or bed as the best effect is produced in small beds by 
massing. Where plants are mixed, the tallest growing should be 
planted the farthest back as the beds are at the outside and the 
other plants graded down so as to have the dwarfest where they 
can have plenty sun and air. Geraniums make a very pretty and 
attractive bed in a flower garden, transplanting them from the pots 
in the house or greenhouse (but the latter is seldom found with 
farmers) to the garden as earlyin spring as danger of frost is over 
—into a square or round bed, planting the flowers four inches apart 
each way. The plants can be all of the same variety or mixed to 
suit the taste of the gardener; my choice would be the mixed. 
Pansies, dahlias, phlox, pinks and a number of others are also very 
beautiful plants and are perfectly hardy when once started, and, if 
properly cared for, will improve each year. The greatest trouble 
with annuals is that the seasons are too short. 
I must not leave roses out,as a flower garden is not complete with- 
out them; they are some of the most beautiful flowers in cultivation, 
are easily grown and perfectly hardy. Roses have been very much 
improved the past few years. A few yearsago we would have been glad 
to succeed in growing a few of the commonest roses in cultivation, 
now we Can raise an abundance of the choicest roses thereare. Dig 
out all your homely old rose bushes and go to the nursery and get ° 
new ones to fill their places, as you can get them there of every des- 
cription and kind. Go to the nursery the latter part of June, it is 
then and there you can see a sight to behold—roses! roses! 
lam a great lover of flowers and I think all of the ladiesthat are 
here are the same. I do not know how it is with the gentlemen; it 
may be that some of them like a thistle blossom better than a rose, 
so I will not have anything to say for them in regard to flowers. 
I will bring my essay to a close by saying to all of my floricultural 
farmer friends that are here tonight, especially to the ladies, as it is 
generally the ladies that are the flower gardeners, it you donot suc- 
ceed in growing a nice flower garden the first or seeond years do 
not get discouraged, for, I think, we farmers here in Minnesota will 
with a little care and perseverance, in future years succeed in rais- 
ing some of the finest flowers that can be grown in the North. 
