20 



HOME AND FLOWERS 



that which I have always advocated for plants 

 intended for winter use— that of keeping them 

 from flowering in summer, if winter flowers are 

 wanted. One thing I fail to understand. She 

 says her plants were put into three-inch pots 

 in fall. I think she must have made a mistake 

 in the size of the pots, or in naming the size 

 in her letter, for the roots alone of a six-months'- 

 old geranium would be likely to quite fill a 

 three-inch pot. My experience has been that 

 such a plant would require a six-inch pot at 

 least. I presume she meant a pot of that or 

 similar size. I would not ad\ise any one to use 

 a three-inch pot for any plant larger than a 

 cutting newly rooted. This it ought to outgrow 

 in a month or six weeks. 



Wm. Bittner, Baltimore, Maryland, tells us 

 how easy it is to grow flowers under what may 

 be considered disadvantages. His letter proves 

 that when there are flowers in the heart we will 

 contrive some way to materialize them in our 

 homes : 



I often hear people say that they are unable 

 to grow flowers, as their yards are too small. 

 I differ from them in this respect, as my yard is 

 small, and I raise flowers as pretty as any one 

 wants to see. I have my whole garden drained, 

 for which I use broken crockery, which I get 

 form a nearby pottery. The earth is composed 

 of soil which I get from under sod. Each fall 

 1 manure well with decayed horse manure. My 

 center beds contain all sorts of phlox, which are 

 arranged according to their colors, and each one 

 is staked up wdth sticks which are painted a 

 light pea color. 



One sii.le bed contains various rose bushes no 

 higher than two and one-half feet, which are in 

 bloom the whole summer, and another bed con- 



tains petunias, mourning bride, and various 

 other flowers. 



On the other side of the yard is my sweet 

 pea bed, and on the fence I have what I caii 

 a fence garden. Between each post and resting 

 on the scantling I have a box, three in all, in 

 which I plant various kinds of petunias and 

 verbenas, and when they are in bloom and droop- 

 ing doTvn the sides of the boxes they are a beau- 

 tiful sight. 



I also have a box, or a trough, as you may call 

 it, about twelve feet long, two and one-half feet 

 wide, and eight inches deep, which is filled with 

 coal ashes, in which I plunge my chrysanthe- 

 mums, which are in six-inch pots. In these I 

 use charcoal for drainage and for soil good 

 rich earth. I generally have thirty-six of these 

 plants, and I wish the lovers of flowers could 

 see my garden in the fail, as they can not see a 

 prettier sight in a greenhouse. 



I have now in bloom callas, daffodils, hya- 

 cinths, carnations, also tuberous begonias and 

 tulips. 



I write this letter to encourage all lovers of 

 flowers, and I find self -experience the best 

 teacher. 1 can proudly say that I have carna- 

 tions and daffodils much larger than I have 

 seen in greenhouses. 



I have a spare room, which I use for flowers 

 in winter, that is exposed to the east. The room 

 is over the kitchen, and the temperature is about 

 fifty-five degrees. I give my flowers plenty of 

 ventilation, and if it is very cold I open my 

 lower front windows. By doing this the air can 

 circulate through the upstairs, giving the flowers 

 plenty of ventilation. 



I am a subscriber to Home and Flowers, and 

 1 am very much pleased with it, as everything 

 in it is practical. 



BABY' 



She came with April blooms and showers; 



We count her little life by flowers. 



As buds the rose upon her cheek, 



We choose a flower for every week. 



A week of hyacinths, we say, 



And one of heart's-ease ushered May; 



And then because two Avishes met 



Upon the rose and violet — 



I liked the Beauty, Kate the Nun— 



The violet and the rose count one. 



S AGE 



A week the apple marked with white ; 



A week the lily scored in light; 



Eed poppies closed May's happy moon, 



And tulips this blue week in June. 



Here end as yet the happy links; 



Today begins the week of pinks. 



But soon— so grave, and deep, and wise 



The meaning grows in Baby's eyes. 



So very deep for Baby's age— 



We think to date a week vdth sage! 



—H-nry Timrod. 



