176 OUR PHLOXES AND HELIOTROPE 
then the bed has been a mass of deliciously scented 
flowers. The border plant used for this bed was 
sweet alyssum, which, since Joseph has sown it in 
succession, has kept constantly in bloom. Nearly 
every one that comes to the Six Spruces admires 
this bed of flowers. At Miss Wiseman’s and at 
Nestly Heights, there is no especial place devoted 
to heliotrope, a few of them being merely set in 
here and there among other plants. No one, there- 
fore, can get the great wafts of fragrance from 
them that we do from our flowers, nor do they ap- 
pear so conspicuously beautiful. Sadly enough, 
this heliotrope-bed has been rather an extravagance 
for Joseph and me. We had to buy the plants, and 
they will endure but for this one season. As soon 
as frost comes we must bid them good-bye. 
Mrs. Keith knows an excellent way of keeping 
heliotrope fresh in the house. Before we pick it 
we carry to the bed a small pail of hot water, in 
which the stems are plunged as soon as they are cut. 
Later, the flowers are arranged in the house, where 
I fill the bowls and vases with the same water. By 
treating heliotrope in this way we have had it re- 
main fresh four and five days. 
This morning, when Timothy came to cut the 
lawns and trim around the flower-beds, he said that 
he felt rain would be along in about twenty-four 
hours. Mrs. Keith did not agree with him; so 
now Joseph and I are waiting to find out which of 
them is right in the matter. We hope it will be 
