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DEMOCRACY IN THE GARDEN. 
BY E. E. DICKINSON. 
“ Consider the lilies in the field.” In Ihese days of 
greenhouse pets and gorgeous exotics, how few there 
are who heed this injunction. We exult over our fine 
Geraniums and Verbenas ; we vie with each other to 
obtain the greatest variety of Carnations and Pansies; 
we expend time and money upon Balsams the most 
double, and Asters the finest. But who thinks of cul¬ 
tivating the delicate Wood Violet, or the curious Wild 
Turnip? Who plants-Cardinal flowers or Wake 
Robins ? It is true that much has been said within 
the past few years concerning Wardian cases and. 
ferneries, and that is well; but it is 
not of these that I would speak. I 
will take you a step farther and show 
you, if I can, my “beauty spot.” I 
will hold up before your wondering 
eyes a picture of Lilies which shall 
constrain you to exclaim, “Even Solo¬ 
mon, in all his glory, was not arrayed 
like one of these.” I have spoken of 
my beauty spot. It has, indeed, been 
a thing of beauty, and will be a joy 
forever. It was not a regulation rock¬ 
ery ; it was not a fernery ; it was not a 
grand Wardian case; it was simply a 
bit of the woods, fresh, green—beauti¬ 
ful description ! I brought rich, black 
mould from the woods, mould so filled 
with seeds and sprouts, and Ferns, 
that it was like planting a little wood 
to place in the shady spot I had 
selected. I gathered old stumps, 
clumps of moss, knots from trees 
roughened by time and weather, hol¬ 
low pieces of bark, decayed stones, 
covered with little red and brown 
lichens, and mossy stones. I cut down 
those curious growths which we some¬ 
times see on tree trunks, nature’s 
brackets, finished “ to order.” Every¬ 
thing that I could find to make the 
place look “wild and woodsy and 
lonesome.” And how the plants did 
grow, to be sure ! It is in its third 
year of glory now, and you would 
never know the place from the woods 
were you to see its wonders. I have 
taken up roots at all seasons of the 
year—spring, summer, autumn; yes, 
even in the dead of winter—and the 
dainty things have never known the 
difference. Lovely Woodbine covers 
the rough fence at the back of the place, and twines 
pretty wreaths around the posts. Lofty Ferns of 
many varieties wave their plumes in the breeze. Jack 
preaches his daily sermon from his unique pulpit, 
while blue, yellow and white Violets nod their unvary¬ 
ing approval from their low seats in the moss. Gill 
trails her vines over the ground, covering the unseemly 
places with her round leaves. Liverworts, pink and 
blue, peep out from their soft calyxes and make love 
to the pure blossoms of the Bloodroot. There are 
wonderful Orchids, and wild Lilies of the Valley; there 
are sweet blossoms of Arbutus in the spring, and 
splendid Cohosh berries in the fall, and the half I 
have not told you. Try for your own satisfaction, my 
friends, this woodsy gardening; you null be surprised 
at the number of wild flowers that will grow at your 
bidding, beneath your very windows. Woo them 
with shade and moisture, study their habits, give them 
their native soil, and you will be richly rewarded. If 
you will do this, many a flower heretofore unknown 
to you, shall no longer “ waste its sweetness on the 
desert air,” but shall henceforth delight you vrith its 
rare beauty. 
WINTER FLOWERS IN GEORGIA. 
I have a very pleasant home in a fertile valley, and 
among many flowers. During the winter months I 
keep my plants — Zonales, Bouvardias, Heliotropes, 
Cactus, Ivies, Nasturtiums, Sinilax, Corals, Azaleas, 
Fuchsias, etc., etc. — in a large pit, four feet deep, with a 
glass cover facing the south, wiiile the north and sides 
among the many white rocks. It is near the entrance 
and is very ornamental. I must tell you of my Helio¬ 
tropes. I have two, dark and light purple; they are 
two years old, about two and a half feet high, and can 
be appropriately styled perpetual bloomers, fox I am 
rarely ever without a number of blossoms, and to me 
this delicate fragrant little plant is one of the sweetest 
gems w 7 e can cultivate. It grows luxuriantly in very 
rich leaf mould and cow manure, in a sunny situation. 
I think the older the plant the better the bloomer. 
My Nasturtium is one year old, and has been since 
the first of December one of the prettiest plants I ever 
saw, perfectly covered with its rich yellow 7 and black 
blooms ; it, too, is in leaf mould and cow manure. It 
came from seed, but can be propagated from cuttings. 
Double Pink Geraniums are now in full blast and very 
beautifuL S. W. C. 
MY FLOWERS. 
DEUTZIA C RENATA : Fl 
are more securely protected from the weather. In 
there they have the benefit of the sun, and bloom 
beautifully. Often, when all without is snow and ice, 
I am in there, warm and comfortable, with my pets. 
The plants I desire to bloom first I place nearest the 
glass, then move back as they open. In summer I 
take them from their winter home and adorn the 
porches, rooms and windows. I am never troubled 
with the bug or lice, which I think is owing to the 
w r ater which stands in the bottom of the pit; it rises 
there during heavy rains in winter. I made this sea¬ 
son quite a neat, showqy rockery, piling rich soil the 
height and width I fancied, and planting Coleus, Cu- 
phea, Lemon Verbena, Salvia, Flowering Verbena, 
Heart’s-ease, Violets, Phlox, and other small plants, 
Last spring I procured a box that 
would hold half a bushel of soil, filled 
it with good rich soil, in the centre of 
which I placed a large gourd handle, 
pierced full of holes, for the purpose of 
watering in the centre. Around the 
edge of the box I planted Ground Ivy, 
filling in with a red and yellow 7 Four 
o’clocks, Petunias Tropseolums and 
Cypress Vine. I then placed the box 
on a post five feet high, on the top of 
which w 7 as a round board which some- 
what helped the square appearance of 
the box. At the base of the post I 
planted Morning Glories and Madeira 
Vine. Carefully watering and cultivat¬ 
ing, I awaited the result. Soon 
the Ivy started earthward, while the 
Morning Glories and Madeira went in 
the opposite direction, and then they 
embraced and twined together in a 
lovely manner; but wflxen the Madeira 
reached the top it gave signs of con¬ 
tinuing its expedition elsewhere, so I 
gave it a string and sent it across to an 
adjoining building, where it run and 
raced and shot out in lovely festoons 
its little tassels of white for the play of 
the wind and the admiration of my 
flow-er-loving friends. 
I remarked one day that I thought 
my Madeira had very large leaves, but 
did not think of measuring until I saw 7 
the statements of others, w 7 hen, with 
rule and line, I set to w 7 ork to take a 
careful measurement, and judge of my 
surprise when I found one measuring 
twenty-six inches. The soil w r as rich, 
w 7 ater abundant, and the box and its 
contents w 7 as a novelty to visitors, who wmndered how 
I succeeded in getting the plants to grow 7 so w r ell. 
Now 7 , while the cool winds of autumn whistle around, 
a Madeira drapes my window in living green, entwined 
with the graceful branches of the Maurandya and the 
pretty flowers of a winter-blooming Begonia. 
Indi Ana. 
Plant for Name. —Will you please tell me the 
name of the enclosed Lily, and if hardy ? It w 7 as 
sent me for a house plant. It blossoms in August, 
and is sw 7 eet scented. Mrs. W. A. Horton. 
Answer .—The enclosed is the hardy Day Lily, or 
Funkia grandiflora. 
St 
