^6 GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



one has such a feehng of the unknown 

 possibilities locked up in each inch of 

 green, and such a fear of pulling up the 

 very finest varieties where all look alike. 

 Yet this is sure, unless you thin thena out (if 

 the plants have come up fairly) no variety 

 will do itself justice, and you will hav^e a 

 patch of spindling, flovverless stems, instead 

 of abundant, thick-set leaves and blossoms. 

 Let your asters stand from six to twelve 

 inches apart, according to the kind, and 

 stocks twelve inches, and zinnias twenty. 

 Phlox may have a foot or more, according 

 to the soil, for that has much to do with its 

 growth, and alyssum and portulacca and 

 the other low half-trailers need but three 

 or four inches. Sweet peas want no thin- 

 ning, — let them stand as thick as they will ; 

 and mignonnette generally takes care of it- 

 self. Then certain plants, like the tall 

 Oenotheras and cockscombs, often show best 

 standing singty, one in a place, with no 

 other of the sort near by to divide attention. 

 Cannas always look best so (unless you 



