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FLOWER-GARDENING FOR COTTAGE 
HOMES. 
The object of this article is to endeavor to assist 
that woman who is her own flower-gardener, in order 
that she may be enabled to make the best and longest 
display of bloom, with the least amount of trouble, or 
expenditure of time, energy and money. Without any 
desire to appear hypercritical, I would say that the 
many illy-planned, badly-planted gardens scattered 
over our country, may be attributed to the undertaking 
too much, and the not doing well what is undertaken. 
Whether our “piece of pleasure-ground” be park 
or court-yard, lawn or garden, the most important 
points are to arrange it judiciously, and secure, by wise 
planting, a constant display of verdure and bloom. 
We will suppose there is a three-feet border running 
around the hedge of flowering-shrubs which gives j 
such a charming finish to the boundary-line ; also that 
one or several ornamental beds are arranged as jardi- 
nets on the grass-plots. Now we may at once secure 
a vast amount of bloom and the loveliest verdure by 
utilizing the edges of both beds and borders, and in¬ 
stead of following the example of Mrs. Golden, and 
ordering costly tile borders, we will form rustic ones, 
made of mossy stones, white clinkers, bits of rock, 
stumps and roots, all artistically arranged and filled in 
with pockets of light, rich soil, and according to the 
prescribed form of the terra-cotta jardinets, we will 
arrange, in place of the prominent receptacles for con- j 
spicuous plants, that number of tubs or kegs, covered, 
tastefully with gnarled roots and branches in the usual 
“ rustic ” style. Perhaps some may not be acquainted 
with the jardinet, and I will therefore describe the 
manner of forming what I term my “ cottage jardinet.” 
First measure off upon the turf a circular or other 
form of bed, as large as desired, and having dug it to 
the depth of three or four feet, spread over it a foot of 
old, well-rotted manure, and again dig it thoroughly, 
mixing in sand or wood ashes, thoroughly leached, if 
the soil is not light and pliable; this should give a bed 
raised about two feet above the surface, around which 
a wall is built, rising a few inches above the surface of 
the bed, and with the four rustic tubs securely planted 
among the stones, one on each side, and ends equi¬ 
distant, allowing them to project above the wall, and 
extend out a few inches beyond it. 
Though there are numerous elegant and attractive 
edgings for beds and borders, I have never seen one 
that exceeded this simple one of “rock and root 
work,” after being covered with 
PERMANENT EDGINGS. 
To establish attractive borders for our beds, is an 
important consideration with the “ rough-and-ready ” 
gardener, whose time is generally so precious as to be 
counted by the moments, and to obtain a permanent 
one that is indeed worthy of attention, the following is 
the one we will adopt: 
Into those pockets and crevices, between the stones 
and rocks, and in the hollows of stumps, where the 
nice, light soil has been carefully packed, we will 
plant all those lovely trailing beauties, which are so 
dear to the artistic eye of the truly fine in taste; only 
using care to cover the edge next to a carpet of turf 
with yellow, white, or deep-colored foliage, while along ' 
a bright yellow gravel-walk, silver and gray, or some 
delicate tints, with rich greens and browns, must be j 
established; here we may use for instance the blue ^ 
Lobelia, Perilla, Amaranthus (Melancholicus), etc.; 
the deep dark tints of which are wondrously effective. 
I cannot imagine a more chaste, more sparkling, more 
altogether attractive and classical plant for this pur¬ 
pose, however, than the Ivy, and that prettiest of all 
Ivies, Hedera helix marginata (Silver-leaved Ivy); 
but the deep green of the Hedera helix, and the white 
and yellow varieties of the variegated Ivies prove 
equally imposing in proper positions. 
For a rich, dense edge of silvery foliage, nothing 
can excel that treasure Juniperus Alpiua (Canadian 
Trailing Juniper), or for a deep rich green, J. Pros¬ 
trata, which by pegging down the shoots, will spread 
in wide, waving circles, beautiful to behold. These 
possess, too, the advantage of being evergreens, af¬ 
fording beauty even during winter, while through the 
summer they maybe further beautified by mixing with 
thin Sempervivum Californicum, Antennaria tomento- 
sa, Saxifraga umbrosa (London Pride), Sempervivum 
tectorum, Sedum acre, S. acre variegata, and Stachys 
lanata, Lysimachia nummularia (Moneywort), Tres- 
tuca orina glauca, Tussilago farfara variegata (Colt's 
foot), Vinca major, V. minor, V. minor variegata, and 
Lonioera brachypoda aurea (Golden Japan Honey¬ 
suckle). Many scores more of lovely creepers might 
be added, but I give only those which may be relied 
on, as permanent plants of easiest culture. 
Our edgings and borders finished, we fill the four 
tubs in our jardinet with some imposing plants suited 
to the season, or establish one of the exquisite dwarf 
evergreens in each, such as that precious little novelty, 
the round Arbor Vitae—a chance seedling of peculiar 
beauty—Globe Arbor Vitie, another treasure of sur¬ 
passing beauty; the Hedge-hog Juniper, smallest of 
all conifers, forming a dense hall of glaucous green 
foliage one foot in diameter. In lieu of these, plunge 
pot-plants into the soil, commencing with the early 
Spring bulbs or shrubs, such as the Deutzia gracilis, 
Spiraea, etc., etc., vases, baskets, etc. 
The center of each jardinet affords a fine position 
for some prominent adornment, such as a pedestal, 
made of a section of tree-trunk, or wooden post, cov¬ 
ered with rustic work, and surmounted by a vase or 
basket of corresponding character filled with plants. 
No more imposing object can he imagined than a 
mossy tree trunk, five feet in height, partially covered 
with some delicate vines, as the Akebia quiuata, 
Adlumia #irrhosa (Silkvine) or Ivy (all hardy), sup¬ 
porting a rustic basket, made by nailing one or three 
common peach-baskets on the flat horizontal surface 
of the trunk, then with pliable wire (taken from dis¬ 
carded broom stumps, perhaps), fastening pieces of 
crooked, gnarled, and twisted branches over the sides, 
nailing pieces of mossy bark here and there, and 
finally twining grape vines around the bottom and 
across the top in lieu of a handle. 
These baskets, grouped as one, present a most taste¬ 
ful appearance in the early spring, and by sowing 
seeds of annuals among the bulbs, intermixed with 
Ivy (which will hang over the sides and twine round 
the handle), it presents a most attractive appearance, 
and may be kept in constant bloom throughout the 
season. 
A beautiful effect is given by making a variety of 
such embellishments, using baskets of different forms, 
and vases made by covering boxes, pails, and kegs, 
which will form designs quite artistic in character if 
carefully manipulated. With a large cheese-box, a 
good imitation of the Roman vase may be made, that 
is in form, preserving the rustic character throughout. 
A Grecian vase, stand on a solid square block of wood 
(which cover neatly with bark alone), arranging on 
each face the chaplet of bay leaves, cut four pieces of 
mossy bark, and arrange so that the small leaves al¬ 
most meet at the top, overlapping each other from top 
to bottom where a knot, made of shavings, tacked 
firmly on the pedestal, will continue perfect for an en¬ 
tire season. The large projecting handles, extending 
high above the rim on each side, are best made of 
curved branches selected with care for the pur¬ 
pose. 
Our next step is to stock the borders and beds, so 
that a continuous bloom is secured, and this I would 
advise to be effected by means of the “ plunging sys¬ 
tem,” so far as bedding plants are concerned, for by 
raising a good supply of Geraniums, Salvias, Fuchsias, 
Ageratums, etc., from cuttings, the beds may be kept 
gay during the entire season; therefore we should first 
fill our beds with Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, Jon¬ 
quils, Iris, Crocus, Snow-drops and Dracaenas, with 
the dwarfest of the Evergreens and low-growing, 
blooming shrubs; then the spring flowers passing 
away, the summer blooms “take up the pleasing 
tale,” and Asters, Campanulas, Balsams, Clarkias, 
and a host of other beauties give forth their perfume 
and display their gorgeous colors beneath the summer 
sky. 
A CHEAP DISPLAY OF ANNUALS. 
Though large sums are expended each year in the 
purchase of flower seeds, it must be admitted that we 
but seldom see the flowers raised therefrom turned to 
the best advantage. To do justice to this class of 
plants, the soil must be light and rich, that is, the 
best of them require such food, and will not do their 
best without it. After finishing our beds and borders 
as just advised, there will be found much space, among 
the bulbs and around the little evergreens and shrubs, 
for many a clump of annuals, and if well selected, a 
charming display of color will well repay the cost of 
seed and slight labor of sowing. My first suggestion 
is, use a few fine varieties, rather than a mixed host of 
poor kinds; next plant with a view to fine effects and 
follow the “clumping” system thus: Red clumps, 
sow Rose of Heaven (Agrostenema-rosa), using seed 
phmtifully, Crimson Candytuft, Clarkia Elegans (Di- 
anthus Chinensis), Indian Pink, Taponaria Cala- 
birea, Silene pendula, and Viscaria oculata. These 
will form bright Magenta-colored clumjis: White 
Candytuft, white; Malcolmia maritima, white; Sweet 
Alyssum, white Verbena; Pyrethrum, dwarf; Phlox 
Drummondi, white; Collinsia bicolor, white; Gera¬ 
niums, white. 
Yellow—Athanasia anvona, (for a high central 
clump); Bartonia aurea, Calendula (officinalis su- 
perba); Erysimum Perofskianum, (the finest yel¬ 
low flowering annual known) giving its rich golden 
orange blooms, all the season (sow seed in March) 
Eschscholtzia Californica, and Septosiphan aurea. 
Blue—Campanula carpatica, Eutoca viscida, Gil- 
lia achillesefolia and G. minima coerulea; Kaulfussia 
omelloides, Lupinus subcarnosus ; Veronica glauca 
and Myosotis. 
For large masses, use Dwarf Tropoeolums Anter- 
hinuins, and Scarlet Flax (which is a gorgeous plant 
for our “rough and ready” garden; make a rich spot 
and sow seed in March in lines; cover lightly and 
protect until well established, then let alone, and you 
will have a rich treat that will dazzle you in June;) 
Peony-flowered Poppy, Sweet Peas, Portulaccas, San- 
vitallia procumbens, Stocks in variety “dwarf Bou¬ 
quet” being best, Viola Cutea and V. cornuta; Ne- 
mophila, Abrona, and Pansies, use as medium 
clumps. 
Calla. 
