The Flower Garden. 
Soon after the first of May the flower gar¬ 
den will need attention. It should be well 
dressed with well rotted horse manure 
spaded in. Small seeds should be covered 
lightly, and then covered over with wet 
meadow moss or green grass, or something 
that will prevent the evaporation of the 
moisture under it, to be removed as soon as 
plants make their appearance. Seedsmen 
are often condemned for selling poor seed, 
when it is the fault of the weather or the 
one who uses them. Look after the roses 
and see that they are properly trimmed. 
Do not put the plants out of the house until 
all danger of frost is over. Put in as good 
a variety and quantity as your means will 
justify, for nothing gives more pleasure 
than such an investment to all who ad¬ 
mire the works of nature. 
Tlie Portulaca. 
There is no better plant for covering bulb 
beds, or for a mass of color than this. It is 
a native of Mendoza, and the three original 
colors were yellow, red and crimson; while 
now we have all the colors of orange, white, 
yellow, crimson, red, striped and pink. We 
now have fine double varieties that look like 
little roses, and they are very handsome. 
Once make a good bed for this little plant, 
and your work is done for years, only keep 
out the weeds and give a light top dressing 
of manuro every Autumn. The portulaca 
loves a light, rich loam, will sow itself and 
come up year after year, giving a profusion 
of bloom all the season long. The ground 
must be warm before planting seed, or else 
it will not germinate. The first of June is 
early enough to plant in the open ground. 
The Wild Garden. 
Any one who has planted and cultivated 
flowers in neatly laid out beds or care¬ 
fully planned ribbon borders, is aware of 
the amount of labor and constant attention 
necessary to produce the desired effect. To 
those who cannot give this care the “Wild 
Garden” presents a substitute which for its 
unusual and varied effects, for cheapness 
and the small amount of labor necessary 
for its construction, has no rival. To make 
a wild flower bed—select a piece of ground 
or narrow strip alongside a fence-, hedge or 
wall, let the Soil be thoroughly pulverized 
by spading and raking, and when the sur¬ 
face is perfectly level sow the seed broad¬ 
cast, thinly and evenly as possible. After¬ 
wards rake the surface lightly that the seed 
may be thoroughly mixed with the soil, 
then press the surface with the buck of a 
spade or a smooth board, tolerably firm and 
if the ground be dry. water thoroughly 
through a fine hose, and the work is done. 
Keep the ground free from weeds, and 
water frequently if the season is dry But 
what is “Wild Flower Bed Seed '?” It is a 
mixture of as many different varieties of 
hardy flower seeds as can be sold at a small 
cost. These various seeds, comprising a 
great number of species and varieties, are 
all mixed together and sold as “Wild 
Flower Seed.” We furnish them—nearly 
200 choice varieties well mixed at five cents 
per packet, or $1.00 per ounce. One half or 
one-fourth ounce at same rate. 
Always cut your flowers with a sharp 
knife or scissors, and early in the morning 
or at evening. Keep them well sprinkled, 
if possible add fresh water; if in a vase 
every day, and better warm than cold, and 
put in a little salt. Set the bouquet at 
night on the floor of a cool room or cellar. 
