A SIMPLE FLOWER GARDEN. 



of the plant and the other be thrust into the ground. The 

 best twine for tying plants, or for any other work about 

 flowers or plants, is what is known as shoemaker's linen 

 thread. It can be found at the shoe-finding stores. This 

 matter of training plants, either in the house or garden, is 

 one that the grower's own taste must mainly guide as best 

 it may. 



CUTTING FLOWERS 



in the garden seems a very simple affair ; yet upon the way 

 it is done depends the size of the crop. The usual way is 

 to cut all flowers with a long stem. It may seem unnatural 

 and almost barbarous to do so, but the true way, for the 

 greater part of our flowers, is to remove them without a 

 stem. Eoses of all kinds should be cut with a long stem. 

 The longer the better, provided other buds are not de- 

 stroyed. The carnation, and all plants that bear their 

 flowers in clusters, should be removed without stems. The 

 heliotrope should have a very short stem, and the verbena 

 should only be cut off as far down as the first leaf. A bit 

 of iron wire will serve for a stem if it is desired to make 

 the flowers into a bouquet. If they are placed in shallow 

 dishes, which is the best way to display them, stems are of 

 no consequence. The best method of arranging flowers in 

 bouquets will be found in Chapter XII. 



THE TIME FOR CUTTING 



is always just after sundown, unless a storm is feared, that 

 3 



