OBSERVATIONS ON THE FLOWER GARDEN. 15 



cultivation, particularly, as by a judicious selection and man- 

 agement, a succession of bloom may "be kept up for some 

 length of time. As, however, bulbous flowers lose their richest 

 tints about the time that Annuals begin to display their beauty, 

 there can be no well-founded objection to the latter being 

 transplanted into the bulbous beds, so that the opening blos- 

 soms of the Annuals may fill the place of those just withered, 

 and continue to supply the flower-beds with all the gayety 

 and splendour of the floral kingdom. 



The cultivation of Annual Flowers is a delightful employ- 

 ment, and well adapted to the amusement of a lady, who, with 

 the assistance of a labourer to prepare the ground, may turn 

 a barren waste into a beauteous flower garden with her own 

 hands. Sowing the seed, transplanting, watering, and train- 

 ing the plants, tying them to sticks as props, leading them over 

 trellis- work, and gathering their seed, are all suitable feminine 

 occupations, and from their affording motives for exercise in 

 the open air, they contribute greatly to health and tranquillity 

 of mind. 



But the taste of the florist will be exercised to little pur- 

 pose, in the selection of Flowers, if strict attention is not paid 

 to the general state of the garden. If there are lawns or 

 grass walks, they should be frequently trimmed, and more 

 frequently mowed and rolled, to prevent the grass from inter- 

 fering with the flower-beds, and to give the whole a neat, regu- 

 lar, carpet-like appearance. If there are gravel walks, they 

 should be frequently cleaned, replenished with fresh gravel, 

 and rolled. Box, and other edgings, should be kept clear of 

 weeds, and neatly trimmed every spring. Decayed plants 

 should be removed, and replaced by vigorous ones from the 

 nursery bed. Tall flowering plants must be supported by neat 

 poles or rods ; and all dead stalks and leaves from decayed 

 flowers must be frequently removed. 



In the summer season, all kinds of insects must be timely 

 destroyed, and in the evenings of warm days, the flowers will 

 require frequent watering. 



