Suburban Home Grounds. 87 



form is good or a rounding form at the top. Hybrid roses need 

 rich soil, an abundance of sun, close spring pruning, and close 

 inspection to detect insect pests. Should insects infest imme- 

 diate spraying is the remedy. The best time to prune is in 

 March. Cut out all the second year growth, one half the first 

 year growth, and cut the weak canes severely. During the 

 growing season it is a good plan to keep the soil stirred al)out 

 the roots. The use of cow manure water at the time of 

 blooming greatly improves the size and number of the flowers. 

 Roses'are great feeders. In the use of vines, choose for the 

 purpose they are to serve, whether for shade, fruit, or flowers. 



Give the vines .good depth" of soil and make a large pit. 

 Many failures are due to planting vines against the house in 

 but a few inches of good soil which has gravel and stone? under- 

 neath. Mnes, like other plants, need good soil and good manure. 

 See Plates XXIV and XXXVII. 



The revival of the old fashioned flowers, the hardy herba- 

 ceous perennials, is bringing into many a home the pleasures 

 that were enjoyed by the people of colonial days. To be sure, 

 the art of using the home simples such as catnip, sage, and 

 wormwood, has passed. To-day the old fashioned plants are 

 grown for their flowers. See Plates VI, XIX, XXII, XXVIII, 

 XXXV, XXXVI. 



The great advantage of using perennials is their permanent 

 character. Once established there is no need to sow or replant 

 every spring, as in the case with annuals or greenhouse plants, 

 and there will be a constant yield of flowers for cutting. 



Perennials are good in an inclosed flower garden, and on the 

 edge of a lawn in the front of a shrubbery border. One great 

 advantage in the use of perennials is that during the latter 

 part of the summer they supply flowers when other plants 

 are out of l)loom. Shrubs flower early, and except for these, 

 the latter part of August would be void of bloom. The home 

 builder by choosing a few sure growing varieties, will avoid 

 disappointment from trying many experimental kinds on 



