10 



THE FLORAL ^VORLD 



A PREACHER'S FLORAL SERMON. 



I know a tidy home in our midst 

 and although I have never been in- 

 side, I am right in saying people of re- 

 finement live there, as the evidence of 

 their taste is apparent in its outward 

 adornment. Early in the spring you 

 might see its master, a Methodist 

 preacher, in its trim little garden, 

 making preparations for its coming 

 glory. Beds are dug and raked. Rows 

 are made for the garden seeds and 

 bulbs, for all are in one garden, as the 

 space is limited. Later on I have 

 passed there, when the place was all 

 a bloom, and a beautiful sight it was. 

 I thought the morning glory a com- 

 mon thing, but over the low white 

 fence it trailed and held up its bril- 

 liant bells to catch the sparkling dew 

 and — 



"Close to the window the woodbine 

 clung, 



And down at its feet the sweet pea 

 swung, 



While over it all the blue dome hung, 

 And finished a picture fair." 



The preacher was a busy man, but 

 he taught us that we could never be 

 too busy to adorn our homes with 

 some at least, of nature's graces. 



Minn. Mrs. W. J. Dougherty. 



VIOLETS FOR EASTER SEASON. 



No doubt every feminine flower lover 

 enjoys wearing a bunch of sweet scent- 

 ed violets, but how few ever think of 

 cultivating them. From my own ex- 

 perience I can recommend them as 

 flowers most easily grown. 



They can be readily cultivated in 

 the summer garden,, but for Easter- 

 time bloom in early spring make a 

 bed of fine, rich soil, six feet long by 

 three feet wide, facing east or south, 

 in which plant one dozen good violet 

 roots at equal distances apart. In dry 

 weather water and cultivate the soil. 

 In October place around the bed an ob- 

 long frame made of boards six feet 

 long, three feet wide and one foot 



deep. Set the frame deeply ' in the 

 ground on a slant, that rain may run 

 off the glass. When November winds 

 blow chill, put on the sash and the 

 winter garden is complete, and soon, 

 the reward will come. 



From a cold frame the above size in 

 my own garden I gathered over one 

 hundred dozen blossoms last Easter- 

 tide, enough for our own enjoyment 

 and gifts to many friends. The wise 

 woman might add profit to pleasure in 

 thus raising violets. 



Pennsylvania. Mrs. M. D. Brown. 



LILIES OF THE VALLEY. 



Procure bulbs (or pips) early in the 

 spring. Select a partially shaded loca- 

 tion for your bed. Remove the soil to 

 the depth of a foot. Add one-third of 

 its bulk well rotted manure, mix well 

 and return to the bed, which must be 

 three inches above the ground to be 

 sure that no water stands on it. These 

 flowers like moisture, but must not be 

 water-soaked. 



Put your bulbs four inches apart 

 each way and cover an inch and a half 

 deep. You may not have many flow- 

 ers the first year, but you are prepar- 

 ing for years of sweetness and bloom. 

 Late in the fall, after the foliage is 

 dead, give a top-dressing of manure, 

 which will protect your bulbs and en- 

 rich the soil. Do this each fall and In 

 a few years you will have a bed of 

 which you will be proud. 



Mo. Mrs. Oandace Powell. 



AN EXPERIENCe1a/ITH GLADIOLUS. 



Why not have a bed of these choice 

 summer bulbs? Nothing could be 

 easier to raise. They need good soil, 

 well drained, rather sandy. Plant 

 bulbs three inches deep and four or six 

 inches apart. When a foot or so high, 

 stake and tie with strips of soft cloth. 

 Keep down the weeds and stir the soil 

 in the bed, being careful not to disturb 

 the bulbs. A bed of red and pink bulbs 

 in the center, with white ones all 



