-^^^--yCTOBER? 



CAR N A 1^ IONS. — HOLLYHOCKS. 



By Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Brooklyn, N.Y. 



A GREAT many persons would be glad to have fine flowers, but for the 

 impression that they require some mysterious skill, or such critical care, or 

 that they are expensive both in time and money. This impression is 

 strengthened when one attempts to rear flowers after the careful manner of 

 professional florists, or as they are seen in the carefully-kept parterres of 

 gentlemen of wealth and leisure. It would do much toward floriculture if 

 it were understood that flowers can be raised full as easily as a crop of peas, 

 a row of beans, or a bed of beets. Without discrediting in any way the 

 nicely-kept flower-grounds, I yet think that my way of raising flowers is 

 more likely to induce imitation and success. I raise them in large quanti- 

 ties, and just as I would a crop of vegetables. I will mention my method 

 with two kinds, — carnations and hollyhocks. 



Carnations. — I have at this present writing about five hundred car- 

 nations and picotees in bloom, and three-fourths of them very fine in quality : 

 they are scattered about all over my grounds where I have room for them, 



VOL. VI. 23 193 



