The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-01-18
VOL. XXII---NO. 3.
farlrers' Column.
"Speed the PIOpU.o
From the american Farmer.
Farmers Flowers.

Farmers Flowers.
While few farmers have the time or in.
clination to keep the grounds near their
houses neat and trim like the suburban res.
licences near our large cities, still they could
be made far more attractive than they are
and at small outlay of time and money.
1t is duty that they owe to the females of
the family to provide place for flowers
ana shrubbery, protected from the inroads
of poultry and hogs. Men whose dailv
aVocatlons take them to the open fields.
the mill, or neigbboring town or village
too often forget how monotonous a woman's
life Isl the round of whose recreation lies
between the kitchen, dairy and sewing
machine. And this forgetfulness too often
Is the cause of the great discomfort with
country life so often felt or expressed bv
farmers wives and daughters. An occa-
sional visit to some cousin or sister, who
has married dry goods clerk or a railroad
| conductor In the city, caps the climax of
| dlscontent. From the window at which
| am now sitting, l can see the houses of
perhaps over dozen farms, and l cannot
see one where the least attempt has been
made to beautify the place. Like most
southern tarm-houses, each one has porch.
Instead Of hardy vines and roses being
trained to the pillars, they are left to bleach
and crack, and the hand rail always fur
nishes good roost for the chickens and
turkeys, near the house and not so apt to be
stolen. l could show great many little
things that are neglected that would make
| our tarm-houses more attractive, both to
visitors and the owners.
But | commenced this to name over some
plants, hardy, handsome and cheap. And
among shrubs.
ROSES STAND FIRST,
And among roses, the Bourbons stand at
the head ofthe list for the farmer Though
they have not the size and bright color of
many OF the Remontants, they are constant
boomers, and grow well ON any sound rich
soil. They have not the delicate beauty
and fine odor of the Teas, but they are far
harder and mostly stronger growers
There are some few fine tea roses that are
comparatively hardy, and also few Re-
montants, like Victor Verdier anu Geant
dies Batailles, that bloom quite freely.
Other desirable and hardy shrubs are the
Weigelias, in color from pure white to dark
purple, and some varieties bloom both in
the spring and fall. Then the many varie-
ties of Spiraas, mostly white, but in few
instances pink and rosy blush. The large
plant of SpiIea grandihora in bloom is
one of the hands Imest white Towering
shrubs grown. The new Clematises, when
they get cheaper, will become everybody's
plant, quick growth, clean foliage, flowers
from white to purple, from to inches in
diameter, single and double, and often with
some varieties blooming twice. Taking
them every way, know ofnothing to COM
pare with Them either as pilar-runner or
to cover an arbor or unsightly clubhouse.
The Deutzias are also beautiful hardy
SHRUBS. The old Pyrus Japonica in it's va
rieties are also beautiful. TO cover large
space, the Wistera cannot be excelled as IL
runner. Then there are several varieties
OF Lilacs and Towering Prunus.
AMONG HERBACEoUs PLANTS,
P@onias, for making grand show, stand
at the head. All shades from white to pur-
pie Phlox decussata, blooming from May
to August, with large heads of bloom,
sometimes over inches in diameter. The
old Flag Girls Germanica) has been won
derfully improved, and does well in any
moist place. The herbaceous varieties of
the Larkspur Delphinium FormosumJ are
very beautiful with their dark blue flowers.
Chrysanthemums of nearly every color but
blue, close up the season. could have
added to this list many other hardy her.
baceous plants and shrubs. These are par
ticuarly adapted to the farmers gardens,
because they are handsome in flower,
hardy, and when once planted can remain
in the same place for three or four years.
good way to get up nice flower-garden
cheaply, is for three or four parties to join
in purchasing plants one buying Phox,
another Chrysanthemums and so ON. If
well cared for, in years time each plant
can be divided into dozen, and then ex-
changes can be made.
If Victor Hugo had never written but
the one sentence, "The Beautiful is as use
full as the Useful ofttimes more So" lie
would have deserved to be held in remem-
brance. If you wish to make your country
houses attractive, make them comfortable
and as beautiful as circumstances and
means will permit. Put your pig pens and
stables little farther from the house, and
your vegetable garden also. Too many
put them close to the house, so that the
women kind may take care Of them. Don't
make young growing boys and girls get up
at o'clock in the morning and keep ago
ing as long as they can see ; young muscle
and mind can't stand much over 10 hours
work a day. l have met farmers who
boosted that they never got up later than
8 o'clock summer or winter, and could
never see that they did any better than
some Others who worked a little less, and
planned and thought II little more. But
this has nothing to do with flowers, THOUGH
1t may tend to the same thing, viz: to make
our Hartford county homes more attractive.
G. H. S.