2 The Art of Growing Flowers 



monest weeds under careful cultivation will 

 produce glorious garden plants. Indeed some of 

 the rare plants of one section of the country are 

 weeds in another section and the great majority 

 of our flowers were once grown wild. 



A great many who might readily grow flowers 

 with great success hesitate to attempt their 

 cultivation because of limited space, such as the 

 tiny city back yard, or because of what they 

 consider unfavorable climatic conditions resulting 

 in a short season. The first-mentioned obstacle 

 should be no obstacle. A small space well kept 

 is far preferable to a large plot which cannot have 

 the desired attention given it, and though city 

 back yards often get little sunlight there are a 

 number of plants that thrive best in shady or 

 partially shady places. A list of some of these 

 flowers will be found elsewhere in this book by 

 referring to the index. Where there is no yard 

 at all, as for instance, in the city apartment, 

 window boxes are possible, and even if the windows 

 are on the north side of the house, flowers which 

 require little sunlight will flourish. The lily of 

 the valley, for one, has no superior in fragrance or 

 appearance, and it grows and multiplies rapidly in 

 a shady, damp location, and is just as suitable for 

 a window box as for an outdoor garden. Then 



