March, 1919 
Garden Preparedness. 
Bertha Berbert Hammond. 
[ // ritten expressly for The Flower Grower. ] 
The hap-hazard planting of seeds or 
roots in poorly prepared or unsuitable 
soil is not likely to result in a satis- 
factory or highly productive garden. 
While some plants may thrive in spite 
of odds, intelligent assistance rendered 
nature at the proper time, will accom- 
plish the most surprising results not 
only in increased yield but also in im- 
proved quality. Preparedness will do 
much to minimize the difficulties in 
gardening and the uncertainity of re- 
sults. Before it is time to do any 
actual planting, outline a definite work- 
ing plan and time table for the 1919 
garden. Next secure as liberal a supply 
of good fertilizing material as is pos- 
sible under present conditions, then 
determine what seeds, roots and bulbs 
for spring planting will be required, 
and place the order for same at once 
with reliable seedsmen. 
If space is limited, the garden plan 
should provide for early crops, inter- 
crops, and succession of crops, thus 
making an increase of yield possible by 
keeping every square foot of growing 
space fully occupied during the entire 
season. 
In the flower garden plan to plant as 
far as possible for a continuous suc- 
cession of bloom, harmony of color 
combination, and for permanence, so 
that in after years there may still be : 
“ Flowers that help the sun to shine 
On some other life than thine.”* 
As the statute prohibiting the im- 
portation of German potash intended 
for American manufacturers of ferti- 
lizers is still in force and will be at 
least until the actual peace treaties are 
signed, there is still a great scarcity of 
potash. All fertilizing materials are 
high in price and some kinds are not 
obtainable in sufficient quantities, if at 
all. Such conditions make the saving 
and utilizing of all sorts of farm ma- 
nure important. In the past, little 
thought has been given to the conser- 
vation of the valuable fertilizing ele- 
ments contained in vegetable waste 
and other garden refuse, which, when 
properly composted may be used for a 
number of purposes to as much ad- 
vantage as the now expensive and 
scarce commercial fertilizers. 
Another essential factor in success- 
ful gardening is to plant as early as the 
weather will safely permit, the very 
best seeds obtainable. As orders booked 
with seedsmen are usually filled in the 
order received, early orders are likely 
to be filled with more care and possibly 
with the best stock. The danger of 
distribution of seeds poor in quality 
has, however, been lessened by the ef- 
forts of the seed testing laboratories 
of the U. S. Dept, of Agriculture and 
also by the enforcement of the seed 
importation act, by which the entry of 
a number of shipments of seeds of in- 
ferior quality have been prevented. 
Recently a shipment of nearly 1,700,000 
pounds of red clover seed was refused 
entry because of the presence of weak 
seeds unfit for seeding purposes. 
Slower (Brower 
With the gardens well planned in 
advance, provision made for adequate 
fertilizing, and good seeds in readiness 
to start at the earliest possible safe 
date, the 1919 garden when planted and 
carefully cultivated should prove not 
only successful but bring both pleasure 
and profit to the garden-maker who has 
taken “Time by the forelock.” 
“ They who dream must also do, 
Every sky contains some blue. 
But when fancy mates with toil, 
Then indeed the rocky soil 
Yields its kindness to the hoe.”* 
* Bentztown Bard, Southern Press Syndicate. 
One Way for the 
Amateur to be Useful. 
That great gardener, the late F. W. 
Burbridge, Curator of Trinity College 
Gardens, Dublin, in one of his books, 
gave this general bit of advice in con- 
nection with Daffodils : “ Raise seed- 
lings, if you can cross-fertilize or 
hybridize, but, at any rate, raise seed- 
lings.” There is no doubt that he 
meant that there is an immense amount 
of pleasure to be got out of raising 
one’s own seedlings, and that it far 
transcends the getting together of a 
collection by purchase or exchange. 
First, I would extend Daffodils to all 
flowers, fruits and vegetables. Second, 
I would like to urge that the raising of 
good and new varieties may be by no 
n eans an altogether unremunerative 
pleasure. Third, I would point out 
that where this hobby is carried on 
with care and discrimination, it be- 
comes like charity, capable of giving a 
double blessing, or, at any rate, a 
double benefit. Good, new varieties 
are a distinct gain to the whole garden- 
ing fraternity, and in some cases even 
to that vastly important person, the 
general public, as anyone can easily 
see that a more productive wheat, or 
a better flavored plum would be. My 
text said “ useful ” — this is my mean- 
ing : the gardening public like a change. 
Nurserymen and dealers have not the 
time to give to much seedling raising 
themselves— it is out of their line. 
They welcome, however, new varie- 
ties, and are glad to purchase the 
same from amateurs. As an instance, 
we have the grand Montbretias, raised 
by Mr. Sidney Morris, of Earlham Hall, 
Norwich, which were exhibited in Lon- 
don last August, and to which the high 
award of a gold medal was given. 
These are now figuring in Wallace and 
Co.’s (Colchester) autumn list for 1918. 
In more than one case the pecuniary 
reward has been so good that ama- 
teurs have passed over to the ranks of 
traders and are able to make quite a 
good thing out of their wares. To 
show that among certain races of flow- 
ers, the practice of raising new varie- 
ties from seed is not uncommon, a rule 
in the National Rose Society’s schedule 
provides for anyone selling the stock 
of such variety without losing his 
status of amateur. Putting aside, 
however, all idea of gain, and of even 
expecting to make expenses, the hobby 
of seedling raising is most fascinating 
and engrossing. The pleasure of gar- 
29 
dening is more than duplicated from 
the owner’s point of view, while to the 
visitor “ who is keen ” it makes the 
whole difference, and as to the garden 
itself, it is transformed into a mecca 
whither all who take an interest in that 
particular speciality are wont to resort. 
How numerous are the pleasures of 
all such intelligent work ! There is 
the thinking and consulting, “what 
shall I go in for ?” There is the plan- 
ning and considering of how best to 
carry out the end in view ; then “how 
to get the best varieties,” and then 
“what crosses should I make?” There 
is the care and the watching and the 
wondering, “what will it be like?” 
Lastly, there is the arrival at the stage 
when the result may be seen and 
judged. The time of the “swans.” 
The time of enjoyment. Home-made 
jam, home-grown vegetables, these 
are typical of the joy of seeing a home- 
produced new flower, only the pleasure 
must be intensified to understand it 
fully. The pleasures and satisfactions 
are manifold, and very real. To 
have, let us say, flowers or fruit, of 
which we ourselves are foster parents, 
to show our neighbors, creates within 
us — well let us say the same feeling 
that widow Brown had after her third 
husband had been buried : “ Did you 
go to Smith’s funeral?” “ Yes, I did ; 
and a measly affair it was. Tea and 
bread and butter ! Ugh ! I’ve buried 
three husbands, but, thank goodness, 
I’ve buried them all with seedy-cake 
an’ ’am sandwiches!” — From Garden 
Notes by J. Jacob in The Queen. 
My War Garden Work. 
[Continued from page 21.) 
a part of it.) I lost very few bulbs. 
The Primulinus Hybrids gave won- 
derful returns in good sized bulbs and 
many bulblets. War, Golden King, 
Mrs. Frank Pendleton and others gave 
little increase, but I have a fine lot of 
well formed bulbs for 1919. 
At the end of the season I had one 
hundred and fifty-five dollars from the 
sale of flowers and did equally as well 
with the fruit and vegetables. There 
is about half an acre in the vegetable 
garden, and less than half as much in 
the flower beds. I had a variety of 
flowers which proved good for retail 
purposes, but for wholesale selling I 
would stick to a few sorts, and our 
much loved Gladiolus comes first on 
my list. We should not cease our 
labor — there is still urgent need for 
"Victory Gardens,” more food and 
more flowers. 
Catalogues and Price Lists. 
John J. Prouty, Baldwinsville, N. Y. — 1919 retail 
Gladiolus price list of selected varieties and collec- 
tions. 
Flora-croft Gladiolus Gardens, Hoisington & Glass- 
brook. 121 Island Ave., Lansing, Mich.— Eight page 
retail catalogue of a very select list of varieties of 
Gladioli. Also, Irises, etc. 
B. Hammond Tracy, Wenham, Mass.— Catalogue 
and price list of Cedar Acres Gladioli. Many fine 
illustrations and excellent descriptions. 
B. F. Stalnaker, 1525 E. 15th St., Brooklyn, N. Y- 
Gladiolus Color Harmony and Tint Book. Some- 
thing new in Gladiolus catalogues. Color description 
and classification which will be interesting to Gladi- 
olus growers— 28 pages and cover. 
