^ 



Fig. c. Looking north along centre path 



Fig. b. View on cross path, looking west 



A First Year Garden From Seed— By Adolph h. Nietz, 



Minne- 

 apolis 



Sketch No. 1.— The first 

 preparation 



APIECE of 

 ground in 

 the rear of 

 the dwel- 

 ling was made va- 

 cant by the removal 

 of a poultry house 

 and to this was ad- 

 ded enough so that 

 & plot 50 by 60 feet 

 was left for garden 

 purposes. This was prepared for planting, 

 and then laid out according to the sketch, No. 

 1 . The centre strip was sown with grass early 

 in the spring, and as soon as it was fairly 

 green, a path was cut out, as shown by the 

 dotted lines and filled with yellow gravel. 

 Gravel paths were put in the locations 

 marked and these were lined along the side 

 with a narrow strip of sod, taken from an- 

 other part of the garden. This sod serves 

 to keep the path well marked and prevents 

 mingling of the gravel and the soil. There 

 was then a garden ready for planting, as 

 shown in sketch No. 2. 



Most of the material which was planted 

 consisted of annuals and was sown in a 

 hotbed the latter part of March. This is 

 not absolutely necessary, as most of these 

 flowers may be planted out-of-doors where 



they are to bloom, and thinned out later. 

 The transplanting was done the latter part 

 of May and a part of the arrangement is 

 shown by the sketch. In the position 

 marked (1) verbenas were planted in a thick 

 border. Opposite, (2), Phlox Drummondii. 

 (3) Giant pink zinnia. These positions may 

 be more clearly followed and the result 

 noted by reference to the photographs, 

 Figs, a and b, which show the garden about 

 August 1 st. Fig. a is a view in the direction 

 of the arrow shown in Sketch No. 2. Fig. b 

 is a view of the cross path" looking from 

 right to left of the plan. 



The other positions were planted some- 

 what as follows: (4) Dwarf zinnia, edged 

 with (5) Phlox Drummondii; (6) petunias, 

 large single fringed; (7) verbenas, mixed; (8) 

 calendulas; (9) asters; (10) coreopsis; (n) 

 lark-spur; (12) ten- week stocks; (13) snap- 

 dragon; (14) nicotiana; (15) dahlia; (16) 

 sweet pea; (17) kochia; (18) mixture, edged 

 with sweet alyssum; (19) odds and ends. 



The fences were quickly covered by 



I? I r I r 



* 



f 



means of wild cucumber and climbing 

 beans. Woodbine was also planted to help 

 out the fence covering. 



The centres and screened portions of the 

 four "squares" were used for vegetables 

 such as lettuce, radishes, beets, carrots, 

 etc., and it will be seen from the photo- 

 graphs that their presence was by no 

 means objectionable. The uprights and 

 cross-pieces at the ends of the paths formed 

 supports for a washline when necessary. 



The garden as thus planted came into 

 bloom about June 15th, continuing with 

 an ever increasing mass of flowers until 

 frost. By careful arrangement and selec- 

 tion borders may be planted so as to 

 always have something in bloom. Such 

 favorites as zinnia, nicotiana, verbena and 

 phlox will serve for continuous flowering 

 during the season, and they should form 

 the main stay of a garden of this sort. 



The other photographs speak for them- 

 selves, and make it evident that a mar- 

 vellous change can be brought about on a 

 small piece of ground with comparatively 

 little effort. The plan as used is suggestive 

 of endless modifications and improvements. 

 Perennials and shrubbery can be intro- 

 duced with good effect, while the vegetable 

 garden can be entirely eliminated if desired. 



Fig. a. Looking southwest 



fenee 

 Sketch No. 2.— The garden ready for seed sowing. 

 The letters and arrows show the direction of the 

 accompanying views. 



97 



Fig. d. The south end and screen. 



A 



