FLOWER-GARDENING. 19 



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

 ment, 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 gaiety and 

 splendor of the floral kingdom. 



DELIGHTFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR LADIES. 



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 laborer to prepare the ground, may turn a 

 barren waste into a beauteous flower-garden with her own 

 hands. Sowing the seed, transplanting, watering, and training 

 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 purpose, 

 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 interfering with 

 the flower-beds, and to give the whole a neat, regular, 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. Treatment should be one of the pre- 



