BUDS, BLOSSOMS, FRUITS. 



295 



ment gives a profusion of fine flowers and compact shapely 

 plants. Of course variety has much to do with the 

 shapeliness of plants. Select those having short joints 

 and single or semi-double flowers, such as Gloire de 

 France, Bishop Wood, White Swan, etc., and leave the 

 giants, like Golden Dawn and others, for gardens or parks, 

 where they look well and are in the right place. After 

 I get my plants in good shape I keep them from year to 

 year. I have some that are seven or more years old, and 

 for that reason 

 are valuable as 

 bloomers. — G. 



B. DiEMER. 



Vines About 

 the Veranda. — 



How charming a 

 veranda may be 

 rendered by the 

 use of climbing 

 plants of various 

 kinds is shown 

 by the pretty 

 engraving here 

 given which 

 represents a 

 porch in front of 

 a subscriber's 

 home in Illinois. 

 One thing is 

 plainly set forth ; 

 We are not de- 

 pen dent upon 

 garden area for 

 pleasing eff e c t s 

 with plants and 

 flowers. In the 

 present instance 

 an A k c h i a 

 guinala and a 

 Clematis Sic- 

 boldii are the 

 bo 1 d e r growers 

 employed for en- 

 twining the post 

 and railing in a 

 manner quite 

 delightful to the 

 eye. In the sus- 

 pended basket 

 some vigorous 

 maurandia and 

 vinca plants are 



growing, forming a perfect mass of green. The foliage 

 of the basket-plants contrasts prettily with that of strong- 

 growing climbers, as it is finer cut and more delicate in 

 texture. From the rustic stand in the corner a trailing 

 mesembryanthemum reaches to the floor. The rustic pot 

 to the left of the center on the railing contains a young 

 Japanese maple 



A Veranda Corner in a Chicago Suburb 



Giant Pansies. — Secure a shallow box and fill it with 

 moderately rich soil containing some sand. Press the 

 earth down firmly, sow some Giant pansy-seed in little 

 drills, and cover with pulverized soil. Be sure to firm 

 the surface of the soil again after covering the seed. 

 Now place the box in a shady but warm place and 

 keep the soil moist, neither too wet nor too dry. When 

 the plants have attained the height of one inch, trans- 

 plant into another shallow box, two inches apart each 

 way. About the 

 first of Septem- 

 ber select a place 

 partly shaded, 

 having the earth 

 well loosened 

 and made very 

 rich, with well- 

 rotted manure. 

 Move the plants 

 from your box 

 into this pre- 

 pared spot and 

 set them five 

 inches apart 

 each way. Give 

 plenty of water 

 and do not allow 

 many buds to ap- 

 pear. Pinch 

 them out, until 

 you are sure that 

 the plants have a 

 good stocky 

 growth. Do not 

 allow over three 

 stalks besides the 

 main stem. You 

 will thus get 

 monstrous blos- 

 soms. When 

 the winter sets in 

 throw some 

 leaves on the bed 

 for protection 

 and you will have 

 many giant pan- 

 sies again in the 

 spring. — D. D. 

 P. ]'!ctor,N. y. 



The No Fence 

 Improvement. 

 — As a possible 



result of the "no fence" campaign inaugurated by the 

 American Garden three years ago, it is interesting to 

 note the following from the Hartford Times: "Driving on 

 the beautiful avenues of Hartford, it is singular to notice 

 how many people have encouraged the abolition of fences 

 around door-yards and lawns. These open and unguard- 

 ed spaces give opportunities for dogs, cattle, runaway 



