108 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



long rows which admit of the use of the wheel culti- 

 vator it should be used, but where that is imprad- 

 ticable the hoe and scuffle hoe must be depended on. 

 The scuffle hoe if held quite upright can be made to 

 do quite deep cultivating and is invaluable for creat- 

 ing a dust mulch. The beds should not be allowed 

 to dry out, but if faithful use is made of the cultiva- 

 tor or hoe it will not be necessary to water more than 

 once a week, but that watering should be thorough, 

 soaking down to the roots of the plants, then followed 

 the next morning with a level cultivation. 



A thorough cultivation to loosen up the soil in the 

 afternoon, followed by a good watering and an appli- 

 cation of liquid manure towards evening and a light 

 scuffling of the soil in the morning to produce the dust 

 mulch, will be a good order to follow and will keep 

 the beds in flourishing condition for a week. 



Cut all flowers as fast as they bloom, allowing none 

 to wither on the plant and taking as long stems as 

 possible; cutting down to a strong, outward turning 

 bud will increase the number of blooming shoots and 

 the thriftiness and vigor of the plants. 



