Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-03-06
The Elower-Garden Calendar
FOR MARCH.

FOR MARCH.
On the first of this month the fire Of
the altar of Vesta at Rome was renewed
by the suns rays reflected from concave
of steel. The month was under the aus
pices of Minerva. From Numa until the
first Punic war, public offices were enter
ed upon on March the first. From that
period they were commenced on the first
of January. March was reckoned the
first month, in France, until 1864, when
the commencement of the year was
changed to January by Charles the lXth.
In Scotland, it was the first, until 1899 !;
and in England partially until 1852.
In Saxon, March was called Rethc or
Rough Monath, and Lenet or Length Mo-
na!h, from the lengthening of the days.
Thence the name of Lent.
In laying out the ground for the Flow
er-garden, considerable experience is re.
quired. The plan ought to produce the
double effect, of an ornament to the
house, and an object of intrinsic beauty.
1t should be placed where the windows
have a southern aspect. The beds or
rows of flowers should run parallel to the
windows, as by this arrangement the mass
of colour is most undivided. By placing
them endways to the windows, the divi-
ding paths necessarily break up the mass.
The sustained glow of the borders, the
rich variety which may be introduced,
without impairing the harmony Of the
tints, and the continuance of these tints
by SUGGESTIONS of plants, are all objects
of no slight elegance and interest, as they
demand no slight dexterity and invention.
An ingenious mode of varying the expo.
sure of the flowers may be found in ex.
cavating the soil to any moderate depth,
so as to form valley, on whose sides
plants requiring different aspects and diff
ferent degrees of shelter might flourish
together. This could of course be tried
only where the ground was of considera-
bic extent, as the attempt to crowd orna-
ments is utterly adverse to taste, and hills
and dales of few feet height or depth
are burlesque. But even in the ordinary
limits of the Flower. garden, a graceful
diversity may be produced by rises and
descents in the ground; the forms Of the
flowers are thus more relieved, and their
colors capable of more complete and
natural harmony.
The most favorable aspects are the
south and southeast. The nipping winds
that come from the eastern quarter are
often fatal to the more tender plants But
the common precautions Of mats, frames,
&c. will preserve them until the period of
their vigor; variety of aspect implying
not merely variety, but continuance of
blossom. The fences should be invisible,
and of wire, concealed under runners, or
creeping shrubs, which would thus an
swer the double purpose of concealment
and bloom.
Beds of choice Tulips, Hyacinths, &c.
should now be peculiarly screened from
the sudden and blighting severity of the
wind.
Plants in pots, should be carefully wa.
tered if the weather should be dry.
Fibrous rooted Perennials should be
taken up and divided early in the month,
but put into the ground towards its close.
The harder flowers that have been
housed, should now be exposed from time
to time, for the purpose of inuring them
to the air.