The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-05-13
The Flower Garden.


Novelties in the plant line, as rule,
prove disappointment to the amateur
gardener. For all such, therefore,
well-known and long-tried plants, such
Is geraniums, heliotropes, mignonettes,
fuchsias, petunias, asters, balsams,
phlox, zinnias and verbenas, which each
season present new varieties, are rec
These and a host of other
equally familiar growth give large re-
turns 1or the same expenditure of la
Dor ana money required in their culti-
yation. By this time most flower gar
dens have been put in order for the
reception OF seed and Buckingham
The walks have been cleaned out or re-
laid as required. The beds have been
spaded, treated to top dressing of leaf
mold, well-rotted compost and the like,
according to the demands of the
growths for which they are designed,
and the surface made fine with har-
row or rake. In many sections the
seeds of ANNALS may now be sown in
the open ground and bedding plants
transplanted. Light, loamy soil is best
adapted to seed culture, but any ordi-
nary good soil finely pulverized will
serve, Small seed, such as petunia, To-
bella, verbena and the like, are planted
by scattering them sparsely over the top
of the soil and covered by sitting on
them through the fingers small guam
tity of earth. Sweet peas, tropeolums,
nasturtiums and similar seed should be
placed deeper in the soil, a covering
of two inches being none too
much. Much taste and judgment are
required in grouping flowers and foil
age plants 50 as to produce q pleasing
effect when viewed as q whole. Cen
ter beds should be given over to tall
snowy plants and side beds be reserved
for more modest flowers. Some flow
ers, as the verbena and drummond and
phlox, make the best show when FORM
ing what is commonly termed ribbon
bed, !. e., . bed composed of many
varieties of the same flower.
Vines are effectively trained over
porch lattice and trellis, and can be
made to serve an important part in con-
cealing unsightly fences and out houses.
For this use serve well the several sorts
of fancy guards, the Madeira vine,
rapid grower propagated from tubers.
and morning-glories, nasturtiums and
balloon vine, all of which spring quick
ly from the seed. The cypress vine
with its delicate bloom will thrive in
partially shaded places, and is always
admired when trained over some fancy
trellis. There is nothing more effect
i've, by the way, than the framework
of an open umbrella stuck in the center
of q circular bed of cypress and COW
cred with its grateful green. Any
housewife by removing the cover of a
WORKOUT umbrella can have q Frame
work more artistic in shape and pleas
ing in appearance after the vines are
well grown than carpenter will make.
The termination of cypress seed is
greatly fastened by soaking it few
hours in warm water previous to plant
ing.
No flower garden is complete without
roses, and roses are among the easiest
of plants to grow, provided one stocks
his yard with kinds suited to the eli
mate. For gardens where time and
money are q consideration it is advised
to grow only such varieties as will not
winter-kill with ordinary protection.
Hybrid perpetual and moss roses are
hardy; in most situations they require
no protection in winter, and after the
first season will bloom freely every
spring and occasi Dnally in autumn.
Climbing roses are entirely hardy; these
require the support of veranda trellis or
some object desired to be covered from
sight. They bloom profusely once a
year. The beautiful everblooming
roses, which begin to flower almost as
soon as planted and continue to produce
a constant succession of blooms during
the summer and autumn, thrive and
bloom well in all parts of the United
States and Canada, but, generally speak
ing, do not endure the Northern winters.
A well-known Pennsylvania rose
grower advises planting roses in the
open ground, in the Northern States, as
soon as the ground is in a mellow,
friable condition in the spring. Roses
appear to best advantage when planted
in beds or massed by themselves; they
ought not to be mixed with other flow
ers. The spot chosen for them should
be sunny. In planting rose-bush wet
the roots so that the earth will adhere
to them, put the plant in the hole pre-
pared for it slightly deeper than it pre-
viously grew. Spread out the roots in
natural position and cover with fine
soil, packing the earth firmly down on
the roots and drawing it closely around
the stemS.-M Y, World.