One of the most beautiful beds the writer possessed was composed of
Balsams in many varieties. Another beautiful one was composed of Ger*
mantown week stock.
I have in mind a garden in New Jersev which was amass of flowers from
early Spring until late Fall, and nearly all were what one calls herbaceous
perenmsJs. The roots of these live over winter and go on increasing with
great rapidity. All the care needed is division of the roots once in two or
three years. Of these, I have in mind a dozen or more varieties of Poenies,
Phloxes, Lychnis, Columbines, Canterbury Bells, and some others whose
names I do not now remember. The Sweet William and the China Pink
were there, too, in great abundance.
SHBUBS*
There is nothing which can impart a greater charm to the yard abont
the house* than a few well grown smrubs. They need not be manjr, and they
need not be of expensive varieties. Some of tne old kinds are still the best
for general use. because they are quite as beautiful as the newer sorts and
we know how to treat them so that there will be no experiment in undertaking
their cultivation. The deutzias are all fine, so are the spireas and weige*
lias. For places where a large bush is wanted, there are the lilacs, the
mock orange, the hawthorns and viburnums. I'or trellesis, you can get
nothing better than the hardy honeysuckle ; they will give flowers all the
670 THE FLOWER GARDEN.
\
season, both beaatifal and fragrant. If yon want the best effect from them,
plant tne red and white varieties together, and let the branches of the two
mingle over the trellis. They are excellent plants for an arch over the gate
•r porch. ' The clematis is another hardy plant suitable for arbors, et«.
BUMMBB BLOOMING BX7LB8.
A bulb is really an underground bud which contaii^s within itself the
leaves and flowers of the future plant. Further back we spoke of planting
the Holland bulb as they are called. In the early spring aaother planting of
bulbs and tubers will give us beautiful flowers in summer.
DAHLIAS.
These have been much improved of late years and are very showy
flowers which is all the recommendation we can give them. Still they have
their admirers. Dry tubers can be had quite early in the spring and then
are planted iu pots or boxes in the house or a hot bed, if it is to be had, to
start them. In May they may be planted out in the feed or border where
they are to bloom. The tall growing kinds will require tying to sticks. The
dwarf or pompone varieties are much in demand now-a-days.
GLADIOLUS.
These produce nowers oi various colors and are well worthy of the very
slight attention they require. They are natives of the Cape of Good Hope
and are sometimes known as the "Corn Lily," By hybrimzation and culti-
vation of the seedling there are thousands of distinct varieties and the cost
is very slight, some florists selling them as low as 50 cents per dozen. The
bulbs should be set in the ground as soon as the weather is settled, in good
soil, that which will grow good corn or vegetables will answer. Put the
bulbs in deep^about 6 inches for the larger ones, and the smaller ones propor-
tionately less. In a short time they will throw up spikes which wul grow
two feet high and upwards and to prevent a sudden gust of wind from break-
ing the spikes off, neat stakes should be provided and the spikes tied to
them.
Page 589
Presented as published in 1890. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
One of the most beautiful beds the writer possessed was composed of Balsams in many varieties. Another beautiful one was composed of Germantown week stock.
I have in mind a garden in New Jersey which was a mass of flowers from early Spring until late Fall, and nearly all were what one calls herbaceous perennials. The roots of these live over winter and go on increasing with great rapidity. All the care needed is division of the roots once in two or three years. Of these, I have in mind a dozen or more varieties of Poenies, Phloxes, Lychnis, Columbines, Canterbury Bells, and some others whose names I do not now remember. The Sweet William and the China Pink were there, too, in great abundance.
SHRUBS.
There is nothing which can impart a greater charm to the yard about the house than a few well grown shrubs. They need not be manjr, and they need not be of expensive varieties. Some of the old kinds are still the best for general use. because they are quite as beautiful as the newer sorts and we know how to treat them so that there will be no experiment in undertaking their cultivation. The deutzias are all fine, so are the spireas and weigelias. For places where a large bush is wanted, there are the lilacs, the mock orange, the hawthorns and viburnums. For trellises, you can get nothing better than the hardy honeysuckle ; they will give flowers all the
\
season, both beautiful and fragrant. If you want the best effect from them, plant the red and white varieties together, and let the branches of the two mingle over the trellis. They are excellent plants for an arch over the gate •r porch. ' The clematis is another hardy plant suitable for arbors, et«.
SUMMER BLOOMING BULBS.
A bulb is really an underground bud which contains within itself the leaves and flowers of the future plant. Further back we spoke of planting the Holland bulb as they are called. In the early spring aaother planting of bulbs and tubers will give us beautiful flowers in summer.
DAHLIAS.
These have been much improved of late years and are very showy flowers which is all the recommendation we can give them. Still they have their admirers. Dry tubers can be had quite early in the spring and then are planted iu pots or boxes in the house or a hot bed, if it is to be had, to start them. In May they may be planted out in the feed or border where they are to bloom. The tall growing kinds will require tying to sticks. The dwarf or pompone varieties are much in demand now-a-days.
GLADIOLUS.
These produce nowers oi various colors and are well worthy of the very slight attention they require. They are natives of the Cape of Good Hope and are sometimes known as the "Corn Lily," By hybrimzation and cultivation of the seedling there are thousands of distinct varieties and the cost is very slight, some florists selling them as low as 50 cents per dozen. The bulbs should be set in the ground as soon as the weather is settled, in good soil, that which will grow good corn or vegetables will answer. Put the bulbs in deep^about 6 inches for the larger ones, and the smaller ones proportionately less. In a short time they will throw up spikes which wul grow two feet high and upwards and to prevent a sudden gust of wind from breaking the spikes off, neat stakes should be provided and the spikes tied to them.