^ CHOICE GARDEN FLOWERS 31 



aesthetically attractive. To cap the climax, 

 what flowering plant surpasses the multicolored 

 stripes of Burbank's Rainbow corn, or the 

 feathery fluffiness and rich green of asparagus? 



I used to wonder why so many farmers have 

 no vegetable gardens, not to speak of flower 

 gardens. As a matter of fact, a farmer's time 

 is all taken up with his field crops and animals, 

 though he may work from 5 A.M. to 9 or 10 P.M. 

 As for farmers' wives, it is seldom their house- 

 hold duties allow them time and energy enough 

 to have much of a garden, either useful or orna- 

 mental. 



There are, however, two flowering plants 

 which may be found on nearly every farm, par- 

 ticularly in New England. In traveling from 

 New York to Portland, Maine, I have often 

 amused myself trying to find a farm that did 

 not have a big clump of lilacs. No wonder 

 they are favorites, in view of their ravishing 

 fragrance and easy culture. 



NASTURTIUMS NO LONGER "YELLOW DOGS" 



The nasturtium is the other favorite that 

 may be almost always found somewhere near a 

 farmhouse. Its being showy and delicately 

 fragrant doesn't fully account for its univer- 

 sality. Other flowers are equally fragrant and 

 lovely, but they are not so easily grown. The 

 nasturtium is a little more trouble than the 

 lilac because it has to be planted every year, 



