Growing Flowers 157 



bed prepared. Heavy clay soils should always 

 have particular attention paid with reference to 

 drainage and all excess water should be well 

 drained off before plants are set out. 



Sawdust and old shavings should never be permitted 

 to lay in piles around the garden. They become 

 sour and will have a bad effect on plant life, as well 

 as attract some kinds of worms. 



Unless specially prepared soil is supplied a new 

 garden will have a struggle to gain a foothold. A 

 piece of land that has been under careful cultivation 

 for two or three years will yield the most satisfactory 

 result when it comes to raising flowers. 



When the garden has a clay soil for a foundation, 

 there should be applied a mixture of ashes and 

 leaf-mold or sand and leaf-mold to offset the 

 clay. Ashes should be used when possible as sand 

 tends to decrease the fertility of the soil. 



Fertilization 



To plant flowers and not properly fertilize them is 

 a waste not only of good seeds and plants but of valu- 

 able time. A little fertilizer will go a long way if 



