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PR A CT/CAL FL OKIC L A 77 RE. 



In order to determine in a ready and simple way which colors will he hest alongside 

 of each other, either in beds of Howers or in bouquets, place a sheet of white paper so 

 that the eye can be suddenly cast upon it; then gaze steadily upon the flower or leaves thai 

 it may be wished to plant or arrange so as to harmonize or form a good juxtaposition; 

 after gazing two or three minutes, suddenly cast the eye on the white paper, and the color 

 will be seen that will he best to place near whatever has been looked at. 



DEFORMITIES CONCEALED. 



About many neat and even handsome homes there are oftentimes dilapidated buildings, 

 sheds or fences that may be hidden out of sight and transformed into things of beauty, at 

 least during the summer season, by the use of some perennial climbing plants. The 

 Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Celastrus scandens, Clematis virginiana, Tecoma radicans and 

 others of the same character (sec Climbing Plants, p. 393), vvill serve this purpose. 



Many of the annual climbers can also be used to good advantage. The Echino- 

 c>'stis lobata, or Wild Cucumber, is a rapid and luxuriant grower, and has the further 

 advantage, not common among climbers, of long racemes of sweet-scented flowers. A 

 singleplant will sometimes cover a good-sized building in a season. The Ricinus com- 

 munis, or Castor-oil Plant, though not a climber, is often used for this purpose in orna- 

 mental grounds, its large and abundant peltate foliage forming an excellent screen. The 

 Helianthus annuus, or common Sunflower, and the allied species, Helianthus tuberosus, or 

 Jerusalem Artichoke, \\\\\ also scr\ e the same useful purpose in an effective manner. 



■^\ ^~\ f^\\-^-. ATURALLY some amateur culturists will have occasion to use one 

 1^'^ ^ //'^^ or more of the simpler methods of propagating plants, which are 

 J; v'Tv v?((S)^i'''"'^ "" ^^^^^ account here subjoined. 

 l2T^\>-"y»i£==^SN' SOWING SEEDS. 



Ill" sowing seeds, some thought should be had for their size and construction. 

 Small ones, as the Portulaca and Petunia, it is quite sufficient to scatter on the 

 ground, and, rubbing the hand gently over the surface, mix them with the soil. 

 For others it is well to mix them with some finely pulverized earth, and sow 

 both together. Larger seeds, like Sweet Peas, Four-o'clocks, Beans, and 

 various others, require planting, a process which is different from sowing, inasmuch as 

 the seeds are placed in the earth, in proportion to their size, from one to two or more 

 inches apart; and none should be embedded deeper than five times its own diameter. The 

 outer or whitish shell of the Nasturtium, and of some others that have a double shell, 

 should be removed with the thumb-nail or a knife. Some flat seeds, like the Cobaa, 

 should be put in the ground edgewise, to prevent decay. The cottony substance around 

 the Globe Amaranth seeds should be picked off for the same reason. Very hard seeds, ") 



3 M 



