THH GARDEN 55 



the syringas; sweet sultans, which are the purple varieties of the old 

 centuraes, known of old to the English some three hundred years ago, 

 and many other plants, all fragrant at some time of the day. 



It is quite possible to have many, if not all, of these mentioned, 

 to say nothing of the dozens of others, easily available. By no means 

 forget to have some specimens that commence to make their presence 

 known towards the evening's approach. ' There is something so inde- 

 scribably enchanting to sit in the coolness of the evening in some 

 favorite spot, and breathe in the pure breath of these night flowers that 

 many people make a special effort to excel in their "scented corners." 



Strange it is that so many of our heaviest scented flowers are white. 

 Instance, nicotinia, mock orange, madonna lilies, and white double stock. 



Here I shall give the plan for a "scented garden" that has been a 

 source of delight and mystery all last summer. In one corner of a high 

 wire fence are planted three thick, old syringas, or mock orange. These 

 bushes are trimmed quite high, so that at least three feet from the 

 ground the first spreading branches issue. This open space allows 

 of free passage of air and sunlight, to freshen up what might otherwise 

 be damp and heavy soil. Under the shrubs are some hundred old lily-of- 

 the-valley roots, the young pips being kept thinned out continually. 

 This forces the old roots to bloom, and sends all the strength that 

 might otherwise be wasted on the production of new leaves, into 

 flower stalks, which are really of prodigious size. These roots are perma- 

 nent, so that each year increases their value. A few nicotina 

 plants are next in order. By the time the vale lilies have finished 

 blooming the nicotinias have commenced to shoot up to two feet or 

 more, and the long, white trumpets are unfolding. White ten-weeks'- 

 stock are growing in the row in front of the nicotinia, getting ready to 

 bloom about the last week in June, and from that time until 

 November the air around is heavy with sweetness. The madonna lilies, 

 fifty of them, are planted in clumps of three between the nicotinia stalks, 

 each plant acting more or less as a support to each other. In July 

 these bloom, but nicotinia has been blooming at least three weeks before 

 the madonnas, and will continue until frosted. White, lemon-scented 

 verbenas form a front border to this most beautiful and most richly- 

 scented corner that ever was planted. 



From early morning until midnight thru April, when the syringas -are 

 in flower, until late in November, when the nicotinias are still holdin.5 

 the fort, for no single minute in all this time is this corner without 

 flower or perfume. 



SOME GARDEN TRICKS 



Do you know that you can have your rose bushes covered with 

 flowers long after the blooming season of the rose itself has passed? 



And this is the way it may be done. Plant, just beneath the rose 

 bush, and about two inches from the main stem, a plant of nicotinia. Every- 

 one knows how tall and straggly the long slim willowy flower-stems of nico- 

 tinia grow. These long shoots will shoot up between the branches of the 

 rosebush, which will serve as a firm support for the nicotina stars. 



Your rosebush will afford a constant harvest of blossoms and perfume 

 all thru the long hot summer. Try this plan. 



Another good plan is to plant those large fringed California petunias, 

 among the rosebushes, one plant beneath each rosebush. The firm support 

 afforded the petunias, by the strong branches, will induce speedy growth, 

 and also the fair amount of shade gained from the shelter of the rose 

 branches will give a delicacy to these flowers gained in no other way. 



