THE FLOWER GARDEN. 85 



too clayey, or a too sandy soil, will need to be made over 

 before it will grow flowers successfully. Equal quanti- 

 ties of sand, loam, manure, and well-rotted tur:* or leaves, 

 makes a soil in which nearly all plants will thrive. 

 Therefore, if the soil is heavy, clayey loam, lighten it 

 with sand and leaf -mould. If too sandy and light, mix 

 with it a little leaf or turf-mould, and peat or muck from 

 rich meadows. Sand is quite an indispensable element 

 making the soil warmer and mellower, and easier drained. 

 If a soil lacks sand one must take pains to obtain enough 

 of it to make the ground for seed-sowing soft and friable. 



The best location for flower-borders or parterres is 

 to the southeast the sun from dawn to noon being bet- 

 ter than afternoon light, which, through the summer, is 

 scorching, and withering rather then invigorating to 

 most plant-life. Southwestern light ranks next, while 

 the north side of the house is the- very last place to be 

 devoted to this purpose, although there are some vane- 

 ties of plants, like Pansies, Lily of the Valley, Ferns, and 

 Myrtle, that will flourish finely in such a location. 



The beds or " borders" can be made in endiess variety 

 of shapes, but those simply made, and consequently 

 easier kept in order, are a greater satisfaction to the eye, 

 and certainly more comfortable to the laborer. These 

 fanciful crescents, hearts, stars, etc., require a great deal 

 of care m bordering the edges with something that will 

 keep them well defined, and in maintaining smooth, clean 

 walks among them. So if one has little time, and still 

 less assistance, it is best 10 make straight beds, not more 

 than two feet wide, on either side of the walk leading to 

 the gate. These, with " mounds" for Verbenas, Petu- 

 nias, and such plants as like to trail about in consider- 

 able space, will be sufficient field for almost any one. 



Have the beds spaded to the depth of two feet, and the 

 soil properly prepared. The beds, when completed, 

 should not be more than three or four inches above the 



