^^^rican Garden 
onthly Journal of J^ractical gardening. 
- —r -- -rr— M. IIEXAMEU, Editor. 
Vol.VI. • 
01(1 siivics. voi. X' n. 
may. 
1885 . 
At. no 
cliangos 
MAY DAY. 
other time' ol’ l.ho your ji,-,, ,, 1 ,,. 
from one .senson to iinothoi 
shariiiy markeil as at this, and, so I'nr j,s 
prartiral bearing-.s are eoneorned, iMay Day 
iiulirates to many far more tlie l)eginn'ing of 
.,11 annual eyelo than the (irst of .lamiary 
orourring, as it does, when vegetation is at 
rest, and metoorologieal conditions remain 
iiiiehangcd for weeks. But witli tlie dawn 
of Jlaj'i 2 <ature .sliakes oil' 
the last reinains of her 
wintry garments, soon to 
appear adorned in leafy 
green and fragrant flow¬ 
ers. The return to new 
life and activitj’' that sur¬ 
rounds us at ever}'^ turn, 
the balmy air we breathe, 
laden with strange, mag¬ 
ical powers, seem to take 
possession of our whole 
being, and to transfuse 
bright hopes, fresh aims 
and new life througli the 
body and mind. 
■ In our prosaic nine¬ 
teenth eentuiy so inanj^ 
time-honored and beauti¬ 
ful customs of former 
ages have been discon¬ 
tinued and become for¬ 
gotten, that to the major¬ 
ity of persons the first of 
May probably suggests 
no more than moving and 
the payment of rent. 
No. 5. 
tlie 
of tlie day, in which old and young pnrticb 
so m ■ • could be more ap- 
•^0 ""Pnide, morejoyfid, than thus to greet a 
bountiful, virgin nature, by welcoming 
1 ' 'letiirn of glorious spring. 
'■’•lore is hardly anything that we as 
tion are so much in need of as holidays 
^yhlch take us away from the everyday rou- 
tmeof business, and wbiebdrawoiir minds to 
other channels of thought. 
a na- 
‘ .All work and 
national ouMoor family festival at this se.a- 
son of the jmar, when sun.sliine, green hills 
and balmy breezes invite us to le.ave, if only 
for a day, tlie narrow town and village. 
Among the ancient 
Romans the montli of 
May was heid as the fore¬ 
most month of the year, 
“I'd was dedicated to .lu- 
Pitcr, Deus Majiis, hence 
•'“'be. Between April 
’"'‘and May 3 ci elabo- 
■■ate floral festivals were 
eld to his honor and to 
aomineinorate the return 
Of flowers. Teuuyson-s 
^■arming poem, the 
^iucen Of May,” fainii- 
• f no doubt to most of 
^°anger readers, re- 
gj, great anxieties 
■^ne little maid that .she 
I).*"? awake in time to 
the “Queen of May.” 
bef ** ””■' cbildt'on alone that did get up 
‘^■aylight to be in time for the ABiy 
j ^^als, and that do up to the present time, ran 
®P''opean countries, celebrate May 
all the zest and jollity of former 
aoar!’ fortun.ately deprived of its 
P'ti't* and oliio/.r.irtnom/i features. ay 
and objectionable features 
dlniv^*’ ®^®m‘sions and picnics to the bn 
“«"' 00 ds and-sunny fields are the order 
no play” does not only make dull boys, but 
nopuiy _ , -- 4 p,.operly ar- 
dul . men and dull women. A propei.y lu- 
niio-ed May festival for old and young woukl 
Le a Ldght occasion to look forwind to, ai d, 
whLi once established, would .be miioyed by 
nil Some of the States have instituted Ai 
bor which is an e.xcellent idea that 
nj tly serves the purpose above mentioned 
' ’ maycaU the day, we need a 
Whatever we 
TASTE IN HOME SDEEOUNDING. 
lYalk, if you will, said .fames Vick, through 
tlie avenues or resident streets of any of our 
large towns or cities, and carefully note the 
manner in wiiich grounds are arranged. 
Here we see a liandsoine 
iiouse with a large lawn, 
the trees are planted in 
regular rows, the ever- 
gi-eens are shorn of all 
their beauty', they are de¬ 
formed and made to as- 
•sume shapes stifl' and 
ugly. Tlie walks are all 
straiglit, the flower-beds 
planted with the utmost 
accuracy may' contain 
real treasures, but the 
blossoms hardly' dare 
bend where wind blows, 
and even the Pansies 
never dream of looking 
jolly and full of fun. 
iVe have not seen a face 
yet we know. How' cold 
and formal is every 
member of that family. 
Many sumptuous resi¬ 
dences impress one in 
something the same way' 
that a rare gem would, if 
set in lead, the surround¬ 
ings so entirely lack har¬ 
mony witli the style of 
architecture. 
Then again you pass 
dainty homes, Ii 0 m e s 
where carefully trained 
vines clamber over the 
piazzas and porches, 
w'here winding w'alks 
tempt you to enter and 
enjoy their graceful 
curves, wliere Sweet Peas 
and Eglantine Boses look 
happy and contented. 
Exquisite taste is mani¬ 
fested ill tlie arrange¬ 
ment of buds and shrubs, 
and we feel sure intelli¬ 
gence, peace and beauty 
reign witliin the closed 
Buies may be given, plans draw'ii, 
be 
doors. 
rare plants selected, but good taste must 
used to secure line effect. 
I have moved Into the city, and have only a 
small yard, but your paper is sneli a weleorao 
visitor (bat I eannot do without it.—A//«s Isa Sell, 
BdUimore Go., Md. 
It is No. 1 In every way.—Jaofeon Greenauxdl, 
Franklin Go., Paj 
■‘I 
—--1886: av JS. 11. buiuv. 
COPTBIOIIT 
