Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-03-05
ss SaE Vol. %, NO. 40.
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About Flowers and their cultivation .tb1 /.


TtusWs .Glsi1ssa
From Briggs Illustrated Floral CataioS que q q og
The bright and beautiful varieties
OF the flowers will not grow sponta-
neously, like weeds, in the garden.
The seeds must be first sown, aud the
plants encouraged in their develop.
ment, b. proper attention. Many d
failure to grow flowers, attributed to
bad seed, is directly chargeabIe to
want of skill and care in cultivation.
We propose here 80 throw out some
hints about the growing Of Flowers,
and the selection of various kinds for
different purposes in view.
SELECTING THE RIGHT VARIETY.
La the first place, having selected
tho place you want TO fill with flow.
ers, and determined the particular
purpofe you desire to have them
serve, consult oar Catalogue on the
subject, where you will doubtless find
the information you seek. For ia
stance, ii 4 tall, snowy group of flow.
ers is desired, plant Zinnias, Calliop-
sis, Marigolds, and the gay Porpies,
&c. II it is desirable to have Shoicy
masses or beds, select Pnlox Drum
mondii, Candytuft, Petunias, VERDE
mas, &c. If dpaT edgingS are want
ed, use Sanvitalia, Sweet Alyssum &c.
If fragrance be the particular quality
sought for, Mignouette, Sweet Peas,
Stocks. etc, will be the most desira-
Bile. For oppression, take the Pansy.
with i;s half-speakiDg face looking up
silent and beautiful, as if for admira.
ton from the beholder. II leaf color
is wanted, select Amaranthns, Perilla,
Coleus, etc. For tropical foliage, you
may take RicinuS, Cannas and Herac-
leum, etc. 1t should DO borne in
mind that when mixed beds are de-
sired, the tallest flowers should al>
ways DO sown or planted in the cen.
ter, and the low growing varieties
toward the outside.
PREPARING THE SOIL
Most, if not oil flowers, succeed
best in a sandy loan, made rich by
the addition Of well rotted manure,
which should be thor, ughly mixed
with the soil Such soil, thus pre-.
pared, will not become hard or bak ed,
but will remain loose aud porous. 1t
will not afford the small and tender
plants chance for existence, but it
will also enable them to perfect them
selves with vigor and beauty.
If your garden is composed of a
stiff, heavy soil, good dressing Of
sand and manure will assist it won,
derfully in the way of plant develop
ment and some of the most delicate
plants that would not succeed at all
in such soil, in its unimproved condi-
ton, will, after such preparations,
flourish in the most satisfactory man
ner.
A heavy soil is greatly benefited
by being roughly spaded up in the
tall, and remaining in that condition
through the winter. In all cases, be-
fore sowing the seed, it is Of the ut
most Importance that the soil should
be thoroughly pulveri7ed. This i'm,
portant particular should never be
overlooked.
SOWING THE SEED.
Seed should not be sown too early
in the spring-not until sufficient
warmth and dryness has been impart-
ed to the soil. When those requisites
are over looked, and the seed sown
to- carly, it is apt to perish. When
the soil will spade up mellow, crum-
bling to pieces when struck with the
spade, it is in proper condition TO be
worked.
If fine seed is to be used, SOW it
on the surface, and press in evenly
with a smooth piece of board. IfI
sown too deep, the seed will perish.
Mistakes are often made in this par.
ticular, and the want of success is un-
Willingly laid at the door of theseeds-
man. Hardy plants will stand more
rough treatment from the weather
than the halt.hardy therefore, to
avoid the result of failure, the seed
of the latter should not be sown 80
early in the season as the former.