SUCCESS IN FLOWER CULTURE. 



There is great pleasure in success, while failure causes disappointment and pain. It \vould 

 afford me pleasure to teach every one how to succeed in every case in one short lesson, but this 

 may not be. A little difficulty in its attainment sweetens success, and of this sweetness cultivators 

 usually have a full share, for they often have to contend against unfavorable weather, insect 

 enemies, and a host of adverse circumstances. The most skillful sometimes obtain success at 

 considerable cost of labor and patience, while failures are more common than welcome. Many 

 of my readers are of limited experience, some of them just commencing to love and cultivate 

 flowers, and while a few fail, I feel surprised and gratified at the very general success a little 

 proud, perhaps, at having done something to train up an army of successful florists all over our 

 happy land, the fruits of whose peaceful labor beautify every landscape and perfume every breeze. 

 I have endeavored to make this interesting subject so plain that all may understand the condi- 

 tions on which success in floriculture may generally be assured. 



SELECTION OF SEEDS. 



The selection of seeds is an important matter, and on the wisdom of the choice success or 

 failure may depend. Those who have little experience should invest money cautiously and in 

 the more hardy and popular kinds, such as Asters, Balsams, Stocks, Petunias, Zinnia, &c., with a 

 few of the more tender kinds, just for trial. This advice will sound strange to my old friends 

 but these will please remember that the wisest knew but little once, and cannot now boast 



of excess of knowledge, and that 



one-half my 

 people, with 



readers are young 

 no experience, yet 



HOT-BED OR COLD-FRAME. 



thirsting for knowledge. I am anxious 

 to encourage this noble army by a 

 = little success rather than to discourage 

 them by a large failure, for it is an 

 army larger and more glorious than 

 i- any that has ever ravaged the earth 

 with fire and sword, and stained its 

 fair bosom with blood. My desire 

 to spread the love of flowers all over 

 this favored land is far greater than 

 my care to make a few dollars. Half-a-dozen flowering plants, well cultivated, will give 

 pleasure, while a hundred neglected, or ill cultivated, will be a source of pain. 



Always be careful to get seeds suited to the purposes for which they are designed. If a climber 

 is desired to cover a fence or trellis, the Morning Glory, the climbing Nasturtium, and similar 

 strong growing vines will answer the purpose and give good satisfaction ; while some of the 

 more tender climbers will not be likely to come up if planted in such a situation as this, and if 

 they do happen to grow, will not cover the place designed for them, and disappointment 

 will be the result. If the object is a brilliant, showy bed on the lawn, or in the border, the 

 Petunia, Phlox Drummondii, Verbena, &c., will meet your wishes ; while a bed of Mignonette, 

 or any of the smaller or less showy flowers, will be entirely out of place. If flowers of taller 

 growth are desired for a showy bed more in the back-ground, the Zinnia, the French Marigold, 

 the Gladioli, &c., are admirably adapted for the purpose, while some very beautiful, low, modest 

 flowers would be worthless. Grave errors are sometimes made, and good flowers condemned 

 merely because they are out of their proper place. I have known people to sow Calceolaria and 

 Cineraria, and other very delicate seeds, in the open ground, not knowing that they require the most 

 careful treatment in the house, and sometimes tax the skill even of the professional florist. 



THE SOIL AND ITS PREPARATION. 



The best soil for most flowers, and especially for young plants, and one almost absolutely 

 accessary for seed-beds, is a rich, mellow loam, containing so much sand that it will not "bake" 

 after hard showers. If we have not such a soil, we must use the best we have, and advantage must 

 be taken of the various plans to ensure the germination of seeds, which we shall describe. It is 



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