PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



CHAPTER I. 



ASPECT AND SOIL. 



The Aspect of the Flower Garden, when choice can be 

 made, should be towards the south, or south-east, and if 

 sheltered by hills, or belts of timber, from the north-west, 

 many plants and trees can be safely grown that could not 

 otherwise succeed without that shelter. Such a situation 

 also permits operations to be begun earlier in spring, and 

 continued later in the fall, in some locations making the 

 season from two to three weeks longer than if the aspect 

 had been to the north or north-west. 



The soil in flower gardening, as in all Horticultural 

 operations, is the basis of success, and is of more import- 

 ance even than Aspect or Location ; and whether it is the 

 man of wealth, looking for a site upon which to build, and 

 surround his home with a flowery landscape, or the work- 

 ing gardener about to become florist, and venturing his 

 hard earnings in a first essay in business, let him first be 

 certain that old " mother earth," in the spot about to be 

 chosen, is in such condition as will reward his labors with 

 success. Soils are so varied, that it is difficult indeed to 

 convey to the inexperienced by description, what the 

 proper character should be. To say to the uninitiated, 

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