THE FLORAL ^VORLD 



7 



A MOST SATISFACTORY PLANT. 



Begonias sown in July (as told in 

 former letter) have grown immense 

 leaves and many branches loaded with 

 bloom from white to pink and crimson 

 — doing better in sun. 



Browallia Speciosa Major, seed 

 sown in spring, budded in garden, 

 potted, have been loaded with lovely 

 blue flowers all winter. 



Acacia Lophantha seed sown in 

 spring, lovely fern-like foliage, needs 

 frequent repotting. If it becomes root- 

 bound or very dry, the leaves fall. 



Begonia Speculata is a beauty, also 

 the new tuberous Rex, Helen Gould. 



Boston fern is fine, but Australian 

 is grand. 



A jar of Madeira bulbs is on one 

 end of mantel and twines about the 

 pictures and completely covers the 

 wall on that side of mirror, as would 

 the other if given string to climb. 



A large Argentea Guttata begonia 

 covers the other side and a statuette 

 sets under the branches. 



Coleus seed sown in spring for gar- 

 den, slips taken in fall. In a warm, 

 sunny window they are gorgeous. 



Roses have bloomed most of the 

 winter. 



Geraniums will not bloom, although 

 tended by rule, and will not take my 

 time another winter. 



Bulbs were a success to be told of 

 later. 



Maine. Aroline. 



A WINDOW BEAUTY. 



One of my handsomest window 

 plants is a balsam, which is a street 

 vvonder to those who pass — a gentle- 

 man actually coming to my door and 

 asking if it was a real, live plant. I 

 -wonder it is not grown by more flower 

 lovers, as it is easily grown in almost 

 any kind of soil, and has from one to 



a dozen blossoms on each stock bloom- 

 ing continually. Give plenty of water 

 and fresh air, and a south window if 

 possible. My balsam is a deep pink 

 and has been in bloom ever since last 

 fall — at no time has it been without 

 from ten to twenty-five shoots in blos- 

 som. The more it is slipped the 

 bushier it gets until it is a perfect 

 beauty, filling a large window four 

 and one-half feet wide. Slips will root 

 and blossom in two or three weeks, 

 and it is the most satisfactory of any 

 of my plants. 

 Ohio. Mrs. Mattie Woodson. 



LITTLE GRASS PINKS. 



Within the garden fair, we Nvalked, 



My baby son and 1; 

 And, culling here and there a flower, 



The sunny hours drift by. 

 "Come choose, said !, the fairest flower, 



The one you love the best." 

 Then down the garden walk he ran 



In eager, earnest quest. 

 On past the stately Roses there, 



Ladies of high degree; 

 And past the snowy Lily fair 



A saintly nun is she. 

 He slights the winsome Pansy flowers, 



The witching, bright Sweet Peas— 

 The gay Nasturtiums charmless are— 



A sweet Grass Pink he sees. 

 Down by the garden gate alone 



They bloom through summer hours. 

 "Oh dese I loves the velly best 



Tause they's the feetest fowers." 

 Dear little child, with thoughts as pure 



As these sweet flowers you love. 

 Dear little one, with eyes as blue 



As summer skies above. 

 You may not climb Parnassus height, 



A crown of laurel bear; 

 You may not be a Croesus, 



Nor yet a coronet wear. 

 But yet 1 hold greater than these 



Is he of virtuous heart, 

 Who loves the good, the beautiful 



Of evil has no part- 

 And so for you, my little one. 



No greater boon 1 crave 

 Than that you keep through all your life 



Your true, pure thoughts that save 

 From sin, and sorrow born of sin, 



And stinging, sharp remorse; 

 Oh may you love the pure, the good, 



Of happiness the source. 

 And like these little Grass Pinks here, 



That give their fragrance sweet, 

 Although they are not Queen of Flowers, 



Their own life is complete. 

 So will your influence live always, 



You will not live in vain- 

 Love all, and unto you shall come, 



That pure love back again. 



Ohio. Annice Bodey Calland. 



