THE GARDEN AT HOME 



which the accomplished gardener is acquainted e.g. 

 hoeing the soil frequently, keeping it moist, and sprinkling 

 a little fertiliser round about the plants once a week 

 progress will be slow. In fact, not until half June is 

 passed do they make up for lost time ! Then how they 

 grow ! I was never, I think, so surprised as when first I 

 grew Asters, and most of them tricked me as I have 

 described. I had almost pulled them up and consigned 

 them to the rubbish heap, so unpromising did they 

 appear. But signs of growth in a few decided me to give 

 them a chance, and I did not regret it. For, in late 

 August and onwards throughout September, they were 

 the most charming flowers in the garden. A packet of 

 mixed seed gives exquisite mauves and purples, roses, 

 pinks, and whites. But get oh ! get the Ostrich Plume ! 



The wonderful improvement that may follow the 

 work of the skilled florist is shown very clearly in the 

 advance of the outdoor Chrysanthemum during the last 

 decade. There are now some most exquisite varieties 

 among them, and in such an array of colours ! How 

 easily they are grown ! And how invaluable in the garden 

 in September and October, easily surviving the Dahlias, 

 for slight frosts seem in no way to check their enthu- 

 siasm, which takes the most estimable form of produc- 

 ing flower bunches in such profusion as almost to hide 

 the leaves. 



I doubt if, in a comparatively small garden, one plants 

 to the best advantage by filling flower beds with them 



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