IN THE FRONT YARD. 127 



There is a Columbine Society at Boston, hard at work 

 to have these adopted as the national flower. Tliey are 

 Aquilegia, related to our bird of freedom. They are 

 Columbines, which sounds something like our own 

 Columbia. Then we have quite a number of native 

 varieties. So the society is making a strong plea. 

 Many designs in decorations are taken from these 

 flowers. And as one of the states has adopted one 

 of the family as its own flower, this may be the begin- 

 ning, and 2>erhaps ultimately the Union may follow one 

 of our richest states. 



HOW TO GROW THEM. 



Get a quantity of mixed seed and sow early in the 

 spring. The seeds are small, and of course must be 

 planted shallow. But here is the trouble, especially in 

 -the west — the ground dries before the seed can germi- 

 nate. Contrive some way to keep the surface wet all 

 the while, day and night, till they come up. But you 

 would better trust to experts, who make it their business, 

 and buy the plants, which can be had at very reason- 

 able rates, three to ten dollars a hundred, and thus save 

 a good deal of care and vexation and a year's growth, 

 as they will bloom some the first season. Put in rows 

 eighteen to twenty-four inches apart, and twelve to 

 eighteen inclies in the row, and they will soon stool out 

 and cover the ground. It is best to mulch well with 

 coarse manure after the ground freezes, and in the 

 spring rake it between the rows. I do not always take 

 this trouble, for they are very hardy. If the season 



