AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 445 



FLOWERS. 



In describing the various classes of flowers, &c., those only 

 have been called hardy of which, at least, young strong plants 

 will bear an ordinary New York winter with a very slight pro- 

 tection, or without any. All others should be sown or plant- 

 ed in spring, and where necessary, as noted, must be started in 

 the house or a hot bed. 



TRANSPLANTING FLOWERS. 



All bulbous roots that it is found necessary or desirable to 

 transplant should be taken up as soon after flowering as the 

 plant leaves begin to die, and either replanted or dried and 

 kept for fall planting ; and all those which it is not intended 

 to transplant should be perfectly cleared of grass and other 

 weeds in the fall, receiving such dressing as they may require, 

 and thus be prepared for their early spring movement. 



Annual and biennial flowers, while small, may be transplant- 

 ed by removing them with the point of the garden trowel, or with 

 a piece of shingle, taking a little earth with them ; but if it is 

 found desirable to transplant them when large, a spade, or two 

 trowels, or the flower transplanter must be used. See p. 52. 



Perennials from seed or cuttings may be removed in the same 

 manner at any season ; but their large roots should be divided, 

 if at all, soon after they cease flowering, or in the spring just 

 after the growth of the season has commenced, the plants being 

 watered and shaded, if necessary, until they re-start. Green- 

 house plants may be removed at any time, but the main annual 

 pruning and repotting should be done in August or September. 



Those who cultivate only out-door flowers are sometimes 

 perplexed by the difficulty of so grouping them as to have a 

 succession of various blossoms sufficiently numerous to make a 

 show in the garden or furnish a bouquet for the parlor. This 

 may be secured by setting out, in spring, Verbenas in their 

 numerous varieties, wintered for this purpose, with the double 

 Feverfew, or Lafayette Daisy, the Salvia Splendens, Gaillardia 

 Picta, Petunias, Sweet Alyssum and Mignonnette, either win- 

 tered or raised early in hot bed, with some other kinds that 



