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GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



Among the beauties just now in bloom, 

 are some of the delicate lobelias, — the blue L. 

 gracilis, and L. erinus — white-eyed, and the 

 little new L. Miss Murphy. This last is like a 

 soft green cushion, starred over with white. 

 So it holds on its beautiful way — dropping its 

 old blossoms with no mar, and putting forth 

 the new with no failure — always dressed in 

 the same exquisite white and green. It is 

 said to be every bit as good for pot or bas- 

 ket culture, as for the open garden. 



Another pretty tuft — wonderfully pretty 

 considering its family — is the little French 

 marigold, Tagetes sigiiata pumila. A single 

 plant in a place, — some place where you go 

 for general effect and not sweet companion- 

 ship and greeting, does excellent service. 



I am quite fond of the dwarf convolvulus 

 (C. minor) with its honest blue eyes and 

 eager endeavour to do its best. A sleepy 

 little plant — that is the worst of it ; much 

 given to long summer-day naps; but in 

 the cool fall weather it grows wakeful and 

 bright. 



