rJjlovtcuItural. 
CHOICE SELECTION OF ANNUALS, ETC. 
As the season for flowers approaches, it 
becomes a question with many,—especially 
the inexperienced,—what kinds and varieties 
they shall cultivate the coming Summer. 
For the purpose of aiding such as need aid, 
and encouraging those who have never grown 
flowers to commence now, I have made up a 
list of some of the choicest annuals, with a 
few biennials and perennials that blossom 
the first, season, I have also endeavored to 
give such descriptions of each, and the uses 
to which they are best adapted, as will en¬ 
able a person of no experience to make a 
satisfactory selection, and to grow them so 
as to produce a good effect. Experience in cul¬ 
tivation prompts the following suggestions : 
It will be well for those who cultivate 
flowers, to bear in mind that the pleasure 
derived from them depends not upon their 
numbers and varieties, but rather upon their 
beauty and excellence. Three or four beds 
of choice, well kepi, flowers, are more satis¬ 
factory than a dozen untidy, drooping ones. 
We usually cultivate too many kinds. Hop¬ 
ing to produce t he best results by combina¬ 
tions of largo numbers of our old favorites, 
we take upon ourselves greater burdens than 
we can carry, anti only half succeed with 
any. It is a pleasure to cultivate flowers 
when we keep within our abilities to culti¬ 
vate well. But my advice is to cultivate but 
few kinds, and those the best. If you have 
only time to prepare bods and cultivate two 
kinds well, let those two suffice. If you have 
but twenty-five cents to expend for seeds, 
buy two choice kinds rather than four com 
mon ones. It costs no more labor und time 
to grow a choice flower than a poor, common 
one. If you desire considerable variety, with 
small means and little labor, use small beds, 
or grow in ribbon bods. Dig your beds deep, 
and make them rich and fine ; raise your 
beds above the lawn or walk, but not too 
high—three inches for the margins are. in 
most eases, better than six ; make them high¬ 
est in the center, but not much : if you do, a 
portion of the rain will run oil’, and they 
will be difficult to water. If you grow flow¬ 
ers of different kinds in the same lied, place 
the tallest in the center, taking care to so 
graduate the bight of those kinds next each 
other that the slope may be gradual and 
uniform from center to margin. Oval or 
circular beds, or some modifications of these 
forms, are easier kept in order than sharp 
angled ones. Small beds are more convenient 
than large ones. Beds of distinct masses ol 
colors are more showy than too many ol 
mixed colors. If the weather is dry, and 
your flowers need water, give it in abundance, 
and stir the surface of the bed soon after. 
Sprinkling lightly each day is worse than 
letting alone. Evening is the best time tc 
water during warm weather. 
In ordinary seeds, calculate about the num¬ 
ber of plants you will need of each kind tc 
till your beds as you have plauued to arrange 
them. Make your plans before ordering 
seeds. It is not safe to estimate more than 
fifteen or twenty plants, per packet, fur the 
following sorts, viz, :—Phlox, Pinks, Pet u 
nias, Ten Weeks Stock, Asters and Balsams ; 
rather a little less ; buy seeds of none but 
first-class dealers, those whose reputation i; 
a guarantee that the stock is good, I bought 
some twenty odd varieties of seeds last yeai 
of James Vick, and every variety produced 
a reasonable number of plants. "Wishing 
afterward, to grow a partial bed of Phlox 
Leopoldi, 1 expended nearly *2 for seed and 
did not succeed in raising a half-dozen plants. 
1 did not, however, blame the local dealers ; 
they were honorable men, and purchased 
seed which they supposed good. I mention 
ttiis fact to - how the necessity of care in pur¬ 
chasing, If you have a hot-bed, sow you) 
seeds in shallow boxes, sifliug the covering 
through n fine sieve : cover small seeds very 
lightly ; press the earth gently, both before 
and after covering : line black earth, or leal 
mold from the woods, makes an excellent 
covering for flower seeds. Hardy varict.ii 
germinate at a medium temperature of about 
51 • half hard' and tender varieties require 
a higher temperature. With a hot-bed. care 
is required, or you will burn off the plants, 
just after they appear above t he. surface ; 
when the sun gets worm, it is a good plan to 
whitewash the glass, so as to prevent burn¬ 
ing. If you have no hot-bed, the tender va¬ 
rieties can be started in a warm room, but 
care will be required to keep the surface 
moist until the plants are up, and the room 
as near a uniform temperature as possible 
thereafter. 
I have placed the flowers named in my list 
MOORE’S BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
in about what I consider their order of excel¬ 
lence. Those marked “Season,” continue to 
bloom until frost. The time of coming into i 
flower depends, in a measure, upon the time 
of sowing : 
Phlox Drunvmondii .—Hardy annual; sea¬ 
son ; 1 foot high ; best colors—Scarlet, blood 
red, white, rose colored, pink, fine purple— 
called blue—and violet ; excellent for ribbon 
beds, for masses of distinct colors, or hi mixed 
colors ; sow in hot bed ill March, or in open 
ground as noon as fit to work ; easily trails- | 
planted ; set plants 1 foot apart. Seed, 10 
cents per packet- 
Poiinlara .—Hardy annual, but seed will 
not germinate until ground is warm, unless 
bottom heat is supplied : season ; stand about 
8 inches high ; very brilliant and delicate in 
coloring; the double rose-flowered is far su¬ 
perior to the old single; separate colors of 
this can be obtained if wished ; flue for rib¬ 
boning, for edging, or in mixed beds; sow in 
hot-bed in March, or in open ground when 
warm; easily transplanted 8 to 10 inches 
apart. Single. 5c.; double rose - flowered, 
mixed, 2(k*. ; double rose, separate colors, 
each color, 25c. 
Japan Pink*. —Hardy biennials ; season : 
1 foot high ; best for massing, but beautiful 
in any form ; variety of mixed colors; sow 
in hot-bed early or in open ground, either in 
September or early in Spring ; transplant 
easily, but should be removed from seed bed 
before getting too late—1 foot apart. Diun- 
thus Heddewigii Flora-piano, 15a, and Dian- 
thus Lneiniatus, 25c., I think are best. 
Balsam. —Half-hardy annual; season ; 2 
feet high ; mixed colors, beautifully striped 
or spotted ; best for borders, or for single 
plants along a walk ; pinch off some of the 
shoots, or the foliage will hide the blossoms ; 
sow in liot-bed first of March, and prick off 
singly when small, so as to give loom to get 
well rooted before sett ing, where they are to 
bloom ; it no hot-bed at hand, sow in a Warm, 
sheltered situation, as soon as the weather is 
warm ; give them a rich soil and thorough 
cultivation ; Balsam Double Camellia flow 
emi spotted, German, 15c. ; Balsam Double 
Camellia-flowered, French, separate colors, 
20c. ; Balaam Double Carnation, striped, 25c. ; 
Balsam Holferino, striped, 25c. 
Petunia — Hardy annual ; season ; grows 
3 feet long, but if not supported, stands 1 
foot; variety of colors, but, some of the 
shades not very bright or distinct ; good for 
massing; best, slightly in background, with 
bed fronting south, as they appear much 
more brilliant under a bright sun ; sow in 
hot-bed In March, or in open ground as soon 
as fit to Work ; easily transplanted—1' feet 
apart. Petunia Kormesina Splendent, pure 
white, with crimson throat, 25c. ; Petunia, 
Countess ol‘ Ellesmere, rosy carmine, with 
white throat, 10c. ; Petunia, Gmndlflora Mu 
culata, spotted ; Petunia, choicest mixed, 25c. 
Ten 117 'hx Stock. — Half-hardy annual; 
season; I’, leet high; good for masses of 
distinct colors, for ribbon beds or mixed col¬ 
ors ; my choice of colors are blood-red. white, 
deep blue, lilac and rose. New largest-flow¬ 
ering dwarf, each color, 20c. ; New largest- 
flowering dwarf, mixed, 20c. ; New large 
flowered Pyramidal dwarf, mixed, 2.5c. ; the 
last, named is beat for mixed beds ; sow in 
hot-bed early, or in open ground in May, 
when ground is warm ; easily transplanted 
when small—I foot apart. 
A stern. — 11 nll -hn rdy annuals ; late Summer 
and Autumn; Full varieties, l 1 ., to 2 feet; 
Dwarf, 8 to IS inches ; variety of mixed col¬ 
ors and pure white ; best: for planting in 
masses ; tail in center, dwarf on edges. The 
following are all good. Fall varieties:—Truf¬ 
faut’s P.couy flowered Perfection, mixed 
colors, 15c. ; do, separate colors, 20c. : New 
Rose, mixed colors, 15c. ; do. separate colors, 
2Ge. ; Victoria, mixed colors, 15e. ; Giant 
Family-flowered Perfection, brilliant rose, 
15c. ; Dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered, late, 
.i inches, 15c. ; Dwarf Victoria, snow white, 
10 inches 25c. ; Dwarf Pyramidal Boquet, 
early, io inches, ISe. ; sow hi hot-bed in 
March, or in open ground, when warm, in 
May ; mulch bed during hot. weather, and 
water freely if dry ; Fall, 1 foot apart; dwarf, 
8 to 9 inches. 
Doubt: Zinnia. —HaU-inmly annual ; sea¬ 
son ; 1 t o 2 feet; variety of colors, separate, 
or mixed : Double Zinnia, mixed colors, 10c. ; 
do., pure white, 20c, ; do., other colors, 10c. ; 
sow under glass, or in open ground, when 
warm ; easily transplanted—I V. feet apart. 
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon). — Hardy per¬ 
ennial ; June to September ; Fall. IS inches; 
dwarf, L foot; mixed colors ; should not be 
allowed to form seed first season ; Antirrhum 
Majus, brilliant, 5c. ; do. Dwarf, oc. ; sow hi 
hot-bed, or in open ground early ; easily 
transplanted ; Fall, 9 inches apart ; dwarf, 0 
inches. 
Steed, Alyssum .—Hardy annual; season ; 
about 0 inches : good for edgings; white ; 
sow under cover, if possible, as they are apt 
to be eaten when small by the little black 
flea which infests turnips; easily transplant¬ 
ed—4 inches opart ; 5e. 
Candy Tuft .—Hardy annual; Summer; 1 
foot; would sow only rocket, white, or the 
purple ; rocket is most showy and continues 
longest in bloom ; sow very early, where it 
is to bloom, ms it does not bear transplanting ; 
t.bin to 5 inches apart. 
The above named are probably as many 
kinds of bedding plants as most persons will 
have timeor inclination to cultivate. 1 would 
not advise beginners to attempt raising more 
than one-lutlf, at most. Commence with 
some of the separate colors of Phlox, mixed 
Portulaea, Petunias and Balsams. Afterhav¬ 
ing acquired a little experience, extend your 
list from year to year, as time and means 
will allow. No one must understand me as 
saying that this list contains all the choicest 
annuals, or that there are not others superior 
to those last named. My wish was to make 
up a collection which would answer the best, 
for general cultivation, without making it 
too extended. Hud I space, would have 
named as many more, adding thereto a list 
of foliage plants, of climbers, everlasting 
flowers and ornamental grasses. ii. w. H. 
land Jepariment. j 
A LETTER FROM KANSAS. 
— 
EXCEllENT ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS FROM A KANSAS 
WOMAN. 
“ A Home in the West! Who’ll follow?” 
sounds very charming in a song and has i 
quite a romantic influence over susceptible j 
him an nature ; but when a family fairly 
take up their line of march towards the set. 
ting sun, the song has changed and the tune 
is pitched in a different key. The great 
Wert has been written and t alked about so 
much by tourists and “special correspond¬ 
ents,” that newspaper readers must think | 
the subject, a threadbare one ; but, not be- I 
ing a lend speculator, the pictured paint will 
not be “coi thur </< rose,” and immigration 
will probably not be seriously interrupted. 
A feeling of unrest in a people and a long¬ 
ing for something not yet attained, is a con¬ 
dition necessary to settle new countries and 
convert the wilderness into cultivated fields. 
Therefore it is that civilization marches mi- i 
ward and Westward, and a home in the 
West is a vision of plenty and ease that 
thousands in the Eastern States are constant¬ 
ly contemplating and sis constantly pouring 
into these Western States to secure and re¬ 
alize; and having once secured—as many a 
good woman in this region can testify—are 
sorry exchanges for comfortable homes 
among old friends and relatives. 
Tliat irrepressible desire to change, to 
make a new move, feeling assured eveiy 
time that the next will be the grand move of 
all and a fortune made, is perhaps oftener 
exemplified here in the West than in any 
other portion of the globe; and never, so 
long as the world stands, will t hey who are 
tocome learn of those who have come. These 
uneasy ones who come from the Eastern 
.States are they, who, after selling out fora 
third or half what, their property cost them, 
make a. break, and after many detentions 
and many sacrifices and a tedious journey, 
find themselves in the promised land whore 
all things look tnir and their bright anticipa¬ 
tions seem about to be realized ; and in the 
hurry to get settled a small house, no matter 
what shape, or how frail, is hastily put up 
and the family move in with the understand¬ 
ing and firm conviction that il shall be but a 
temporary residence, and in two or three 
years at most a more commodious mid con¬ 
venient dwelling shall be erected, that will 
be their permanent abiding place — the 
“ home, sweet home” where all eart hly com¬ 
forts shall be. gathered together for real¬ 
ization — that one beautiful spot that so 
many see with the eye of faith and are all 
their lives struggling and striving to reach. 
But, contrary to the short-sighted calcula¬ 
tions of these good people, so poor in the 
wisdom rlrnt comes in later years, these 
hurriedly-built houses are, in thousands of 
cases, where the. family remain year after 
year—ten, fifteen, and often twenty yea re— 
without hope of change. 
Well will it be for the good wife, when leav¬ 
ing the old home, if she have forethought 
enough to retain and bring with her carpets 
and curtains, pictures and books—objects 
familiarized by daily use ; for with these she 
can arrange a new habitation that will wear 
an old home look that nothing else can possi¬ 
bly give ; and as the vision of a good house 
with large airy rooms gradually fades from 
her sight, as time advances anil she must 
needs be strong in health and strong in faith 
if she does not become depressed and dis¬ 
couraged. The transition from a comfortable 
house with the conveniences of closets and 
cellars, and perhaps the luxuries of gas and 
hot and cold water, to a house cont aining but 
two rooms, standing on four pegs without a 
fence or outbuilding, is too great a test of 
any woman’s amiability, and surely a saint 
she must be if she pass through the fire un¬ 
ruffled in temper, and bright and hopeful to 
the last. Khe may continue witfi such sur¬ 
roundings mid keep on in the even tenor of 
her ways, enduring and uncomplaining, living 
u life of svi'cet subniissioii ; tin- probabilities 
are, however, that Vicing but mortal, health 
and spirits will both succumb, the extra work 
consequent upon t he absence of conveniences 
and the enervating influences of the climate, 
especially with a, family of children, have an 
effect that in a few years tell their own story 
in face and figure. 
There is no denying the fact that before 
marriage, women are all angels, wings plain¬ 
ly visible ; but somehow t hey disappear ; fly¬ 
ing around in such small rooms wears away 
tiie plumage until there is scarcely the ves¬ 
tige of an angel left. Lite, of course, under 
the most favorable eircuinstances, is a con¬ 
stant struggle—the tendency to do wrong and 
the desire to do right is ever present and the 
warfare still harder when sickness takes hold 
and the common comforts of life are lifted to 
obtain. 
In the early days of the history of Illinois 
a traveler writing home from that State said 
that pioneer life was terribly hard on women 
and oxen ; and what was t rue of pioneer life 
then is tme now. The women fade out, and 
breakdown under the accumulated burdens 
earlier than men. Next to the comforting 
influences of religion let me advocate as a 
help in these emergencies .a ring for and 
working in a flower garden. 
To all tired-out souls I would recommend 
the embroidering of vines and flowers in beds 
and borders around the house. A change of 
labor has often a beneficial effect and is re 
freshing to tbesplrits ; and a familiar knowl¬ 
edge of trees and plants and the different 
varieties of (lowers, makes life a delight and 
cares lighter. The training of vines and 
weeding and transplanting in as hard work 
as cleaning windows ami taking up carpets, 
but we put on our sun bonnets, and, with 
trowel in hand, march into the garden with 
singularly different feelings from those that 
actuate us when we. commence taking up 
tacks preparatory to house cleaning. Wo 
would not for the world be deprived of t his 
garden of ours with its floral treasures of 
bush and tree and plant. In it we grow 
good-natured if by any misfortune our sweet 
tempers have been disturbed, and while lost in 
admiration over ihe beauties and dazzling 
red of a half-opened bud of tlie \faqueininot 
Rose, we forget irritations and petty vexa¬ 
tions, and while breathing the air fragrant 
with Clematis mid Boses and the sweet Mig¬ 
nonette, animosities are burled, and we are 
at peace with all 1 lie world. No place like it 
to see nothing but good in life !—no place 
where our thankful heart goes out to the 
Giver of all good gilts, as here, and it might 
be that with frequent visits to a garden and 
working in it often, we would so far over¬ 
come our difficulties as to be enabled to yet 
see the pinfeathers in our new wings ere we 
take our eternal flight. 
Laying the foundation and building a home 
in any country, new or old, whether it be 
comfortable or cheerless, depends almost 
wholly on the condition of one's purse before 
starting. If it bn well rounded out in these 
days of railroads and easy transportation, 
few inconveniences will be experienced ; but, 
a collapsed purse foreshadows trials und 
make-shifts not pleasant to yon template, and 
the charms of the old home with all its sur¬ 
roundings will double in value when con¬ 
trasting them with what may he expected in 
the new. But, if the world will come West, 
let every man see to it that he furnish the 
wife and daughters with a garden, and either 
take with them seeds and roots or send for 
them afterwards without delay. The orna¬ 
menting of one’s grounds should be consid¬ 
ered a religious duty, and the planting of 
evergreens one of the first investments when 
land is purchased, foe it will surely return 
better interest than many investments that 
appear wiser Hum this ; and these substantial 
adornments are something fixed, to which 
the human affections ding with astonishing 
tenacity; and a home with these surround 
ings becomes doubly dear to every member 
of the family. ' “Harriet.” 
Wyandotte, Kansas. 
