Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-05-13
Flowers.

ers. If those farmers who have Lot al.
ready done so would set apart plat
however small, of the home-grounds. II
would be found to be one of the best
paying things, next to good vegetable
garden, that could be provided.
Years ago, when plants were not easily
procured, because commercial florists
were few, and florists flowers and plants
not generally grown by them, it was
often difficult TO get bedding plants; and
those who loved flowers had to content
themselves with ANIMALS, and such roots
tubers and bulbs as cannas, Madeira
vines, dahlias, gladiolas, etc, and such
hardy things as hyacimhs, tulips, narcis-
sus, and its near relation, the ]onuuil.
which remain in the ground all winter.
but which by good cultivators are al.
ways mulched to keep them from alter.
nate freezing and thawing. Other beau.
tiful and thoroughly hardy bulbs are Gro
Gus and snow-drops. If to these you add
herbaceous peony or two, few plants of
the beautiful bleeding heart (dicentra), and
a few clumps OF Japan lilies-aH of which
may be planted in the spring-you will
get much satisfaction therefrom.
Hyacinths, narcissus and jonquils are
delightfully."- fragrant, and, for this rea-
son, they are especially sought for flow.
ering in pots and glasses; they make
most pleasant additions to the flower
stand in the parlor throughout the VIM
ter, and until the glow of flowers make
the garden and grounds bright and fra
grant All these that we have men.
toned must be planted in the fall for
blooming outside, except cannas, dah-
las, gladiolii, Madeira vines, etc, which
must be wintered in dry sand, in some
cool, dry place, exempt from frost.
Among the prettiest and most useful
bedding-plants are pelargoniums, VERDE
mas, heliotropes and pansies. These are
now easily and cheaply obtained of any
commercial florist, and in many cases
sent by mail at about one dollar per doz.
en-. AT this price, certainly, few need
be without some of these pretty things.
Why is it that so few Of that queen of
flowers, roses, are seen about our country
places All that is required of annual,
or June roses, as they are called, is to
plant them and care for them, and, after
the first season, you have yearly bloom
and fragrance. Why not train few
climbing-roses up and about the porchg
Do so; you will never regret it, With
these and the June roses you will soon
come TO want few of the hardy perpet-
uals that, with slight protection in win
ter, make the wife and mother happy
and the children contented with home,
however humble it may be.
Among the more common and pretty
ANIMALS are aster, balsam, clarkia, con-
volvulus, larkspur, lobelia, marigold.
mignonette, nasturtium dwarf, sweet
pea phlox, Drummondii, portulacca and
Iiunia. Within the last tep years asters,
ifalsams, convolvulus and portulacca
have been much improved, and the seeds
of exceedingly fine varieties are now us
cheap as the older and common sorts.
In planting your annual seeds this
spring, do not forget that old favorite,
the sweet-william (Dtdnthus), now i'm
proved so as to be desirable in any col.
lection. They do not flower until the
second season, it is true; but, trans.
planted into bed when the seedlings
| are of proper size, they will amply re-
pay the little trouble and care they re.
| Quire.
Now, we do not expect that our read
ers are going to rush into flowerculture
en- masse, nor that those who do under
take'it for the first time will do so ex.
tensively the first season; but so far as
| your means GO, and your leisure will al
low, there is nothing with which you can
employ your time to better advantage
than with few attractive flowers.
Did you ever admire beautiful foil
age plant of stately growth and tropical
appearance, with its large, perhaps
nearly purplish, and deeply cut leaves
and stem or with blood red leai-rbs
and stalks; or, perhaps, with the stalks
and fruit of delicate rose color; and,
perhaps, feel qUalm upon
hearing it called a castor-oil
plant? If so, forget the qualm, fol
castor-oil has gone out of fashion
for purging juvenile humanity; but re-
member that some varieties of this fam
| lily, Rtctaus, are among the most beauti-
full of our summer foliage plants, as they
are among the most easny cultivated, II
planted when the ground is warm and all
| danger of frost is over.
Do, therefore, plant a few flowers, you
who have not already done so but do not
neglect the kitchen garden. If you cul.
tiyate that as well as the children will
the tlower-beds yon may perhaps lind
! your reward in decreased doctors bills
in the course of years, and we are sure
your family physician will rejoice; Tor
| although doctors must I've, this they
may easily do from the ailments real on
| imaginary, of those eifeminate ones OF
both sexes who cannot nelp themselves,
| or that other class who never read, cul-
tivate gardens or enjoy their fruits. Yes,
your physician will reloice, for there are
| few more humane, self-sacrificing indl'
viduals than the educated physician.
And so, dear reader, cultivate a garden,
and with ii few flowers. -" Farm and
| Garden" Chicago Tribune.
If anyone has any doubts Of
mothers love he should drop into sbme
| corner grocery during business hours