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By Henry T. Williams. 
Vol. YI. 
NEW YORK, MARCH, 1877. 
No. 63. 
Price 12 Cents. 
CITY GARDENS. 
There are several advantages in forming small flower 
beds. You can extend them out from the fence 
or building, so as to give the sun a better oppor¬ 
tunity to reach them, and you can grow the different 
varieties separate in small quantities without mixing 
them with others. And you can regulate the early 
and late blooming ones without damage to each other. 
For instance, the Verbena and Pinks can, with care, 
be kept in bloom quite late in the season with the aid 
of a sack, or even a piece of muslin stretched over 
them to cover them during the early part. Then 
again, some plants will thrive best with profuse water¬ 
ing, while others will not under this treatment. 
I find that the Verbena, Asters, Phlox Drummond, 
and Pinks are easily cultivated in masses, and look as 
well as others, and would advise beginners to try 
them. The Gladiolus is one of the most beautiful 
summer flowers; the bulbs can be bought cheap by 
the quantity, are easily cultivated, and I think give 
the richest returns for the money invested. Planted 
In regard to the varieties to plant I will give a single 
example : In the corner of a bed 1 plant a Narcissus; 
between them a Jonquil, then I fill in the border with 
Crocus, planted two inches apart, or a group of a yel¬ 
low, blue and white -every three inches, setting the 
bulbs two inches deep. These multiply rapidly, so 
that in two or three years your borders will be full. 
Then for the centre I plant a tall growing Lily, such 
as a Tiger, Candidum or Auratnm, then add a few low 
growing ones, such as the Longiflorum; then fill in 
every eight inches with Tulips or Hyacinths. The 
brown Imperial is a good old hardy bulb, so are many 
others which you will find advertised in the many cat¬ 
alogues. In the spring I scatter a few seed of hardy 
Annuals among my beds, or set out such plants as I 
wish to grow, so that by the time the bulbs are done 
blooming, the others begin to grow finely. 
C. W. I. 
A Window Fernery and Aquarium. 
four inches deep and one foot apart, then scatter a 
paper of mixed Phlox Drummond among them and 
you will have as beautiful a show of flowers as you 
can wish. Plant the small ones first, then every two 
weeks until all are planted. Be careful to plant your 
latest in the warmest spot you can, and where you will 
not want to plant your bulbs. In the fall, say Octo¬ 
ber 1st, I begin to plant my bulbs, and in succession up 
to December 1st, as my plants cease to bloom. The 
early plantings give you the early and strongest bloom, 
as the roots get a good start before the frost touches 
them. Dig up your beds to the depth of at least one 
foot, then lay out your beds as you wish to plant them. 
I find it a good plan to keep a book expressly for the 
garden. I mark the places, then write the names and 
location with figures. This will enable you to refer to 
any spot you wish and ascertain the location of each, 
in case you wish to plant between them at any time. 
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