18 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Suffice it to say, that none but a thoroughly experienced horti- 

 culturist can keep pace with and give the required information 

 that is demanded by the average amateurs, men and women. 

 Catalogues issued in the interest of horticulture are more compre- 

 hensive, instructive, and suggestive with each issue from year to 

 year. 



A commendable feature in the experience of all is to try out 

 novelties of merit; it gives opportunity to become familiar with 

 the new introductions and individually test for quality. The 

 experimental feature in gardening is perhaps the most interesting, 

 owing to the constant springing up of new things in all classes; 

 it keeps up the effervescent anxiety to become acquainted with 

 all new things. 



There has been a great trend toward gardening with color schemes. 

 This can be accomplished only when space will permit, as quantity 

 is necessary to secure the color, and space for variation and effect ; 

 and unless one is fairly familiar with the blooming period the effect 

 is spoiled by a portion of the plantings being either not in bloom 

 or beyond that point, thus destroying the harmony of bloom at a 

 period when most needed. The best way of overcoming these 

 troubles is to have a space in a well cultivated garden large enough 

 to hold a few specimens of each of the varieties in different colors 

 and in different classes, noting the blooming period of the varieties 

 and the variation of the same. 



With all this close attention and study the period of perfection 

 is short and the places taken by one variety and color show to 

 greater disadvantage than were the spaces filled with plants of 

 different species of the same color. 



Those experienced in the use of seeds of annuals can do much 

 better and get a much longer blooming period when annuals are 

 used in connection with perennials. For example, in yellow, to 

 begin with the opening of the season — 



Doronicum and pansies would be the first. 



Wallflower and eschscholzia the second. 



Trollius, aquilegia, coreopsis, and calendula the third. 



Hemerocallis, gladiolus, helenium, and hollyhock would be 

 the fourth. 



Marigold, hardy sunflower, zinnia, and gaillardia the fifth. 



