88 GARDENING B V MYSELF. 



So I am ready to think, after all, that the 

 care is the thing. Not sod, nor soil, nor 

 ashes ; but cultivation. 



One thing- is sure, — verbenas should be 

 well pegged down as they grow. Neat lit- 

 tle metal pins can be bought, by the gross, 

 for this purpose; but failingthem, make for 

 yourselves little crotch sticks with long 

 ends and short top, such as you can cut 

 from any brushy growth in the woods. Or 

 (privately) use hair-pins ! Petunias, too, 

 thrive well under such confinement ; and 

 the trailing tropseolums or nasturtiums. 



All sorts of training must be attended to 

 now, when everything is making rapid 

 growth ; for a little neglect at this stage of 

 progress cannot always be set right by and 

 by. If sweet peas once fairly try lying on 

 the ground, they will lose much of their 

 taste for climbing ; and an uncomely bend 

 at this time of year, when plants are taking 

 shape, may never be got rid of to the end. 

 Have dark sticks (with the bark on is pret- 

 tiest, — no painted sticks look half so well) 



