10 THE GARDEN 



various abrupt changes in the weather. Otherwise, many poor, spindly 

 weaklings will appear. 



Be careful not to uncover the peony roots too soon. Every year 

 gardeners lose their supply of bloom by too early an exposure of the tender 

 young red brown crowns, all of which contain the flower buds. Keep them 

 covered yet awhile. Be careful, when pulling up last year's old stalkc, not 

 to bring up any soft young shoots that are always clinging tightly to the 

 old stalk. The better way is to cut off the old stalks close to the ground, 

 not pu"/ing them up at all. 



If t'r<3 garden is large and the beds numerous, the best and cheapest 

 way to procure stock is to grow everything possible from seed. This may 

 be done either in fiat boxes, indoors, or in the hotbed, outdoors. 



In order that the seedlings be ready for transplanting by the third 

 week in May (earlier than this would hardly be safe from the dangers of 

 late frost), the seeds should be put in at once, that is, April 1; in fact, a 

 week sooner, if possible. Those who have their seeds in now will have 

 good, sturdy plants in plenty of time for the May transplanting. For those 

 who have not their seeds in yet, delay no longer, but get your boxes ready 

 at once. 



The best boxes should be about four inches deep, 18 to 20 inches wide, and 

 not longer than two feet; these dimensions will give a very handy box for 

 moving'about. Do not choose those having dovetailed corners; the moisture 

 will warp them and spread the corners apart. Cut numerous holes in the 

 bottom of each box to provide necessary drainage, and that the drainage 

 will not be interfered with, nail a pair of one-half inch cleats across the 

 bottom boards as well. 



Boxes being now ready, prepare the soil. Spread a bottom layer of 

 straw and manure in each first. Fill up with soil made up of part sand» 

 part loam, sifted fine through an ordinary old-fashioned ash sieve ta 

 powder down any lumps. This last point is very necessary, lumpy earth 

 affording a poor medium for the fine seeds. Firm the earth down well by 

 pressing flat with a small level board, pattji over the surface. 



Very fine seed should be scattered broadca:5t, after which a handful or 

 so of very finely powdered earth must be spread on top to cover the seeds. 

 Water thoroughly by setting the flat in a tank of WAtor, -".vhich will soak 

 upwards from the bottom, wetting everything well without disturbing the 

 seeds — a very important point. Label, cover '.vith g"i.a.■i^::, or a sheet of white 

 paper, and set away in a warm place. 



PLANTS THAT BLOOM IN APRIL 



LUNGWORT, VIRGINIAN COWSLIP, BLUEBELL, PULMONARIA 



OFFICINALIS 



If the plant is in your garden, you will know it by one of these names. 

 Like most tramps, it wanders around the country uadcr various aliases, 

 any one of which is well known. 



One of the very early spring flowers, it may be found wild along the 

 sloping banks of brooks, or in low, moist meadows. In the v/ild state, its 

 peculiar burning purple foliage is most remarkable, boing more brilliant 

 than when the plant has been tamed. But at all times, and in any situa- 

 tion, the leaves are lovely, for they soon change to a soft green- gray-blue, 

 most restful to the eye as well as to the mind. 



The inflorescence is not unlike that of the forget-me-not, long ra- 

 cemes of pink buds finally unfolding into trumpet-shaped blossoms, an 

 inch or so longy arranged in clusters at the end of a stem two feet long. 

 Such a changing feast of color, pink, then bright blue, next lilac, fading 

 to a very light blue, all displayed in one cluster. After the flowers comes 



