The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-06-05
Agricultural.
The Flower Garden.

LI5 E1OW6T QdIuSus
IfqoWers were as rare and as difficult |
to collect as rubies and diamonds, they
would be accounted as of far greater
value, because more beautiful than those
gems. Nay, if any one of the precious |
stones had possessed, in addition to its
other qualities, a perfume as delicious
as that of the most evanescent of spring
flowers, men would have bartered for it
the most valued fruits of industry, and
poets would have embalmed it in i'm
mortal song. 1t is only because flowers
are so plentiful that we forget or fail to
perceive that they are SO surprisingly
beautiful. 1t is strange that any body
should grudge the little cost or pains
their culture requires. Yet over some
cottage door no vines are growing be-
fore them no delicate blossoms are
opening to the sky; around them the
breeze of summer watts no perfume. If
one asks why there are no flowers there,
the reply is, "Oh they are too much
trouble" It is intended In this and
some articles which will follow it to
show that the cultivation of flowers, so
far from being g too much trouble"
Will give more value for less work and
expense than any thing which can be
| done or bought to improve the surround
ings of a home. This is as true where
there is but little space as where there
is abundance. Let US suppose that the
|
taking off what is needed for a path,
leaves only a single bed of earth. Give
this, if possible, some regular shape,
rectangular, diamond, oval, circular,
crescent-shaped, heart-shaped, a double
curve like an $50 only that it has a
definite form. It is apt to be inconveni-
ent if more than three feet wide as
flowers should be easily accessible. The
soil should be enriched with dead leaves
and spent manure. Only those who
have had experience can use in the
garden the strong manures of the field.
Water with soap-suds on wash-days.
If the bed has fence at the back, put
the tallest flowers in the middle and
the smallest at the edges. For a cen
ter-piece a dahlia is good, but Uncer-
tain. A caladium, with It's immense
green leaves, is snowy, but may be too
costly. The castor-oiI plant is cheap,
fast growing, and Will give in fall a
splendid spike of purple or scarlet; but
It's long hands, which Mexicans call
paln1O Christi, take up considerable
room. 1t viii give beans enough the
first year, if the season is sufficiently
long, to physic village; but theresis
need to be careful of them, as they are
said to contain some poisonous substance
as well as castor-oil. Around the cen,
ter-piece the plants of medium height
should be put in without much regu
, larity, except to give each room enough
Summer bulbs, like the gladiolus iris
Japan lily, and tuberose take up little
, lateral room. All the old garden favor
ties have been much improved of late
, years. After the novelty of an improv
f ed flower is over its price falls till il
comes within reach of ordinary purses
= There are large, rioh-colored, improved
! flowers, whose seeds can now be had fo1
few cents, that once brought as many
, dollars; asters and zinnias, as double
: and as cIose-quilled as dahlias; chry,
=, santhemums, with every excellence save
E scent balsams that are each a mass Of
, bloom; portulaccas that only want
! stems to be mistaken for roses. Neal
the edge of the bed it is better to put
! in the shorter plants, which Will not
/ stretch over the garden-walks. These
, little things may be cheap, like candy
: tuft, pansies, daisies; or more costly
like verbenas and zonal geraniums
Next year there should be scattered
here, crocus, tulips, narcissus. Petu
t Mas viii give any amount of variety
f and bloom. In general, q few choice
q flowers show better than many inferior
= cnes, and are more easily managed. I
Y means are limited to one, two or three
s dollars, even such a sum, sent to a lie
e putable florist, he making the selection
a viii bring back good variety of seeds
e If, still, anybody fears that money Ii
o wasted when paid for flowers, let hin
o. take a slate and calculate. Would tn,
r same money spent in paint, decorate al
n equal space even approximately, witt
+ so much verdure and splendor?