The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-04-09
BLOOMINGTON, Ill.
FIOSver-s:ardcning for beginners.

Among the many pleasant letters which have
come to me recently have laid aside two as
especially worthy of detailed reply through
these columns. One of them is from young
man who, by force of circumstances, is sepa-
rated from the outside world yet he is an en-
thusiastic flower lover, and begs the paper that
he may read my letters about flowers.
The other epistle is written by schoolgirl,
the daughter of farmer, and she wants the
pleasure of raising nice bed of flowers all her
own. She thinks these letters have helped her
thus far so will tell what was accomplished by
three daughters of farmer, some few years
ago, under my directions. They took hold with
a will. were apt and studious pupils. and all are
now quite expert in gardening. considering
they are only amateurs. They have taken four
out of five premiums offered for flowers at the
county fair.
At this time of the year. when the trees are
just beginning to put forth their leaves. it
seems as if one gets the gardening fever upon
them. Advertisements III the leading newspa-
pers are peruscd, catalogues sent for, and. after
they have come long lists are made out: for we
think of all the pretty flowers we saw in our
travels last summer, and determine to have
them. When the lists are footed up they stag
ger one with their enormity, for some of the
seedsmen who issue expensive catalogues, with
highly-colored plates. do charge extravagant
prices. | can remember. when was novice
after the first selection, the bill would be $40
and over; then | would reluctantly weed ont this
and that item until il came within the reach of
my purse. A beginner Is very apt 10 be led into
buying high-prced seeds because the flowers she
expects them TO produce are made to appear
very beautiful in the colored plates 1t is bet
ter policy for novice 60 start with the hardest
seeds, then as experience is gained in their
management, she can go on step by step until
the finest greenhouse seeds will grow and thrive
under her care. There is one dear sister who
has encouraged the children 10 save their pen
MES until they get twenty-five. and then send
them to me for twelve kinds of hardy annual
seeds, suitable for beginners. She teaches
them it is better investment than
purchasing candy, because the flowers
will endure and give them pleasure a whole
summer and fall, while the sweets would only
afford a temporary qualification. 1t teaches
them habits of patience and industry, too and
one rarely sees a child fond of flowers who Is
not of good disposition. 1t * n source of pleas
IRE to me that many who never cared about
flowers until reading these letters are now en-
thusasts.
Suppose You have the seeds now Don't get the
planting fever because there happens to come
spell of warm weather. Wait until the
ground gets thoroughly warmed up first. Sc
lect a piece of ground for a seed bed looking
south, if possible. Spade it well and rake
eighth of an inch deep. Sow the seeds in these
drills, covering the larger seeds deeper than the
small ones: write the name of each kind on q
wooden label previously oiled to withstand effect
of weather. and place these at the end of the
drills, so you will know when the seeds come up
just what YOU have.
While the seeds are growing, and until they
get strong enough to transplant, you can be
making the beds where they are To flower. DIV
preference is for beds cut in the lawn, because
they retain moisture longer Some few years
ago | boarded at farm house where there were
three young ladies in the family. They liked
flowers, but had no experience III raising them.
After determining upon having a garden, the
first step was taken i'll preparing the seed bed.
We located the proposed garden, but the ground
was stiff clay; so. after marking out three
circles by means of stakes driven around Them
fresh green sods were cut 10y me. and laid
against the stakes by the ladies. While they
were at work l wheeled leaf mold from the adj
iacent woods. Meanwhile the Asters. Zinnas.
China Plnks, etc, were ready to transplant, so
we took advantage of the evening of rainy
day for the purpose. After the beds were filled
up and all the plants growing nicely we found
we had abundance left in the seed-bed, so the
neghbors for two or three miles around got
share. The grass cdgngs were trimmed every
week with a sharp sickle. After awhile made
other beds filling them with Phox, Petunias.
Candytuft and Portulacca. In front of the
house we had two beds of Geraniums. All that
summer we had bouquets in every room. on the
kitchen table at meal times. gave every visitor
a bouquet decorated Floral Hall at the county
fair and still had abundance of flowers. If
remember right think % was all we expended
in procuring both the seeds and plants Very
briefly stated. success TO the beginner will de- /
pend on getting good seed, not being in too big
a hurry TO plant il, keeping the seed always
moist after it is put into the ground; and when
seedlings and plants are growing keep the weeds
out Mr. RENNIE.
AINswoRTH, Iowa.