98 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



April 



Cal^ics' JBfpartmcut. 



ANNUAL FLOWERS. 



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We are all prone, perhaps, to attempt to do more 

 than we can do tccU. The ambition of the farmer is 

 to add acre to acre, and field to field, altlioiigh he has 

 more in his possession than he can half cultivate. 

 We see this in the flower garden as well as in the 

 field. How often do we witness large flower gardens 

 containing a great variety of half-starved, sickly fl nv- 

 ers, contending for a bare existence with the sur- 

 rounding weeds. A space of a few square fett, and 

 containing but one or two varieties in perfection, 

 would aflord far more satisfaction. In our directions 

 for flower gardening, we shall take it for granted 

 that our readers have other and important duties to 

 engage their attention, and that their labors in the 

 flower garden are principally confined to an hour or 

 so, morning and evening. We know of no better 

 exercise or recreation for a leisure hour ; and we 

 never knew one who loved flowers, who was not 

 better for it. 



The first work is the selection of the ground and 

 its preparation. A warm and sheltered position 

 should be chosen, if possible, as on the south side of 

 a fence or house ; but care must be taken to select a 

 place on which water will not stand. The ground 

 should be deeply dug and well pulverized. If not 

 rich, well rotted manure should be dug in. If the 

 ground is clayey, and liable to become hard by the 

 beating of the rain and the drying sun, some light 

 mold from the woods should be added, or some sandy 

 loam, or mold from an old pasture ; one of which can 

 be procured in almost any neighborhood. 



After the ground is prepared the seed may be 

 sown ; but, a little caution is necessary, not to sow 

 seed too thick, as beginners generally make this 

 error. As there is some difficulty in sowing the 

 finer seeds evenly, they may be mixed with three or 

 four times the quantity of sand or ashes. They may 

 be then lightly covered with fine mold, sifted over 

 them — the smaller the seed, tlie lighter the covering. 

 It is better to cover too lightly than too heavily. 

 You now have nothing to do but to wait patiently 

 till they ^' come up.'''' Be sure and destroy all weeds 

 as fast as they make their appearance. If your 

 plants are too thick, which they are very apt to be, 

 transplant them to other beds, or along the borders 

 of the paths, choosing some showery day for this 

 work. Eut be sure and remove them before the plants 

 in the bed become crowded, or they will become in- 

 jured — taking out the smallest and weakest plants. 

 In removing plants, they should be taken up care- 

 fully, with a ball of earth attached, disturbing the 

 roots as little as possible. This is better done when 

 the ground is moist. The plants that are named in 

 our last, and those which we may hereafter recom- 

 mend, will need no further care except to keep the 

 weeds destroyed and the ground in a mellow condi- 

 tion. Those'who have the convenience, can raise a 

 few plants in the hot-bed for early blooming. In 

 this section of country, seed in the open ground 

 should nut be sown much before the first of May. 



In planting, some attention should be given to the 

 height (if the plants, so that the larger do not hide 

 thoou of a smaller growth. A little taste, also, is 

 necessary in the arrangement of colors, to produce a 

 good cllt'Ct ; but this will be learned by experience. 

 We only intend to throw out a few hints, and leave 



the matter to the good sense and cultivated tastes of 

 our readers. 



In addition to the annuals named last month, we 

 would recommend the JVetnophilas, which are very 

 beautiful, of a spreading habit, and about a foot in 

 height. A new variety, {Maculata,) white flowers, 

 spotted with purple. 



Sweet Peas Rre very ornamental in patches. — 

 Habit, climbing ; flowers of various colors. Height 

 from three to four feet. Like the common pea, they 

 need sticks to support them. 



Golden Bartonia is very showy, of a spreading habit. 

 Flower golden yellow. About two feet in height. 



Balsams, we need not recommend, for they are 

 universal favorites. But those who usually cultivate 

 them have but little idea of the beauty of the finer 

 sorts. We saw them last season as large and as 

 double as the rose. 



listers. These are gay star-like flowers, growing 

 a foot or fifteen inches * . . 



high, upright, but 

 spreading when they 

 once begin to branch. 

 The original has a sin- 

 gle flower, in shape 

 like a daisy ; but there 

 is a great variety in 

 gardens, and the double 

 and full-quilled sorts 

 only are prized. The 

 colors are various ; not 

 only are there all 

 shades of red and blue, 

 both of which appear 

 mixed with white, but 

 the white is mixed 

 singly with all the 

 shades ; so that the 

 autumn garden is in- 

 debted to this flower 

 for a good deal of its 

 gay and brilliant ef- 

 fect. The Germans 

 have raised many varieties, which are sold under the 

 name of German asters : and the imported seeds 

 generally produce very fine varieties. We have 

 obtained some of the imported seed, and have some 

 of our own raising that we know to be fine. 



Of all the flowers we have named, and still others, 

 we have procured the seed, and intend to supply those 

 of our friends who apply. We shall do them up 

 car(jfully and send by mail, so as to subject the re- 

 ceiver to single letter postage only. Our object in 

 this is to encourage a love of flowers, by furnishing 

 those with the finer sorts, who from their location 

 are unable to obtain them. All we ask is that these 

 little friends — some of which we watched over last 

 season till we really lov(!d them, and took with so 

 much care from the parent flower — be not permitted 

 to starve and perish in a liard and impoverished soil, 

 surrounded by grass and weeds. Plant them in a 

 good and generous soil, watch over them a little in 

 their infancy, and protect them from their stronger 

 enemies, and in a little while we and you shall have 

 our reward. Our appreciation of the beautiful will 

 be quic»'ven(>d ; and as we love the beautiful in na- 

 ture, we shall lore the Author of nature's beauty. 

 Show the flowers at your County Fair, and next sea- 

 son distribute the seeds among your neighbors, 

 always exacting a pledge for their good usage. 



CHINA ASTKR. 



