16 



EVERT WOMAN HER OWN FLOWER GARDENER. 



For planting in masses of coloring, Truffanto Asters, Smith's Prize 

 Balsam, Diayithus fiorepleno, Linum coccineum, ScMzanthus atropur- 

 pureus, Calceolaria and Centranthus macrosiphon make a fine shoTV. 

 Plant a small bed of each. 



A bed of miniature flowers is always charming. Lobelia marmorata, 

 Leptosiplion hyiridus, Clintojiia azurea grandiflora, Fenzleria diantlii- 

 flora and Grammanthes ge7itia7ioides are all dwarfs, and planted together 

 with a bordering of Gypsophylla muralis, the effect is loyely ! A bed of 

 Mignonette is indispensable^ and it will flourish in the shade, and in 

 damp places, blooming luxuriantly. 



Rockeries. 



There are many plants which thriye much better in a sheltered, rocky 

 situation, and thence has sprung up the fashion for constructing " Eock- 

 eries.^' Or it happens that some large rocks crop out on a portion of 

 ground which is within yiew of the house, and it is desirable to orna- 

 ment them. In the latter case, you have only to plant strong growing 

 vines with large foliage, such as the Wild Grape Vine ; the Clematis, or 

 Virgin's Bower, that trails its white, starry blossoms, and its puffy, 

 wooly seed pods all oyer the forests of this country. These two yines 

 will render the offending rocks most picturesque. Southern ladies can 

 entwine among them the loyely Yellow Jessamine of their woods, which 

 throws a golden hue oyer all their forests. The Ampelopsis (or Vir- 

 ginia Creeper), or Fiye Fingered lyy, and the Aristolochia (or Dutch- 

 man's Pipe), are also desirable for this purpose ; also the Periplo cagrceca, 

 or Silk Vine of the Southern States. 



One, or all of these yines, will soon render the obnoxious rocks a joy 

 foreyer ! Artificial Rockeries are usually constructed of stones of yarious 

 sizes, with the soil firmly embedded bet^yixt them. They can be made 

 yery easily from the clinkers of the coal furnace. If large pieces can 

 be obtained, whitewash some of them to increase their picturesqueness* 

 Boulders, stones from brooks, or hill sides, can all be used adyanta- 

 geously. 



Commence with the largest-sized stones, and build it up in an irregu- 

 lar, jagged shape to imitate nature. A Eockery can be made as a 

 receptacle of Mineralogical Specimens, which would increase its yalue. 



If you send to the woods' and brooks for the stones, bring the soil 

 thence, and, if not rich enough, add a little compost, but natiye Ferns 



