STATE POMOLCGICAL SOCIETY. 101 



THE GROWING OF PLANTS. 



Bj- Charles. S. Walker, Peru. 



Id discussing this subject I shall aim to offer suggestions for the 

 benefit of, and cautions to guard the success of, the modest flower 

 andj^vegetable gardens of the busy mechanic or tradesman who has 

 but an hour or two a day to devote to their care, and also the gar- 

 den of the farmer whose labor is so exhausting and whose leisure hours 

 are so few. Again I think of the little flower garden or the few 

 scattered flower beds of the farmer's wife or daughters which are 

 too often so grudgingly ''set off'' for their benefit by the head of the 

 family who sees beauty in nothing except in the greas}' sides of his 

 pigs and pocketbook. 



Having a desire to economize your time which is so valuable at 

 such a'gathering as this where so many special interests in the wide 

 field of horticulture are to be served, I shall speak of vegetable and 

 flowering plants collectively whenever their treatment is so similar 

 as to admit of so doing. Hence the arrangement of matter presented 

 must be in a measure sacrificed to time and space. Again, as 

 experience teaches that a few simple suggestions in connection with 

 many cautions tend more certainly toward success than minute and 

 exhaustive directions. I shall hope to make this paper more valu- 

 able for its "don'ts" than otherwise. 



SEEDS. 



A glance at a few of the many seed and plant catalogues that 

 find their way to our homes each spring and fall, reveals the fact 

 that there is a wide range of prices in the different lists for the same 

 varieties of seeds and further inspection shows that a low figure is 

 the chief inducement held out by many dealers to gain sale for their 

 wares. Many undesirable species and many worthless varieties are 

 advertised and sold because they can be furnished at a large profit 

 at five cents per packet. It is safe to say that the paper packet 

 containing most five cent, and a good man}- ten cent seeds, costs 

 the seedsman more than the seeds found therein and it is equally 

 safe to advise that in general cheap seeds are to be treated as you 

 would treat an offer of an all wool suit of clothes for six dollars or 

 of a barrel of flour for three dollars and a half. 



