Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-10-07
THE FLOWER GARDEN.
AuTUMN DAYS,

AUTUMN DAYS.
The tree tops lash the air with sounding whips,
Southwark the clamorous sea-fowl wing theD
The hedges are all red with haws and bips,
The Hunters Moon reigns empress OF the
THE POETS sCALENpAR.-LoNGFELLo
"AIl summer afleld, all winter in
Aoors," is an old Anglo-Saxon rule and
well applies to the Anglo-Americans OF
our Northern states. The fower-lovers
have been call summer afield" and now
we must prepare our gardens for the
coming season and our plants and
flowers for winter blooming.
Have garden beds made ready at
once for the early Spring bulbs, spad-
ing up so that the beds shall be little
higher than tue lawn, thus securing
good drainage. See that the soil is
well enriched and set the bulbs in.
September or October, planting from
one to six inches apart according to the
variety selected, and from one to three
inches deep. Cover the beds with
coarse straw or leaves, as even with
hardy bulbs this mulching will secure
more profuse bloom.
The choice of varieties must rest with
each persons tastes and means. and the
florists are now sending out their fall
catalogues giving almost bewildering
variety of plants and bulbs with direc,
tions for treatment and description OF
plant.
OF hardy Dubious plants, the first to
bloom is the winter aconite, unfolding
its crowded yell W flowers before the
snow is gone. This is also very desir-
able for pot culture and is most at
tractive flower for either purpose.
Bulbs are offered at cents each or at
less price by the dozen.
Next in order of bloom is the chiono-
dexa, "glory of the snow" 1t is a ma
tive of Asia Minor and throws up
spikes of deep porcelain blue flowers
with small white eyes. In its native
hsunts there are several varieties of
this most attractive little flower but
florists, at present offer only the blue
variety, @. Lucillae. As winter
bloomer this plant will also be found
satisfactory.
Next come the Scillas whose sprays
of graceful blue flowers attract atten-
tion, and are lovely in bouquets with
the pretty dropping blossoms of Snow
drop. These last named bulbs may be
procured for from 26 to 80 cents per
Dozen and are as attractive in the house
as in the garden bed.
The Snowflake (Leucojum) much re-
sembles the delicate snow drop but is
larger and blooms somewhat later. 1t
has white flower with pale green spot
and has peculiar and delicate fra
GRANGE.
Crocuses begin to appear before the
frost is fairly gone. Their bloom is
ephemeral and they close in the shade
80 that they are not very desirable as
cut flowers, but they come so early and
bloom so brightly on the lawn that one
can scarcely afford to be without them
Florists furnish these bulbs at the low
price of Is cents per dozen.
Nothing is more charming than hya-
cinths either for the house or garden.
Their delicate spikes of pink or blue or
white, are so deliciously fragrant a d
they last so long that there is nothing
more satisfactory for general cult re.
There are many different varieties and
may be procured as low as 70 cents,pey
dozen in unnamed varieties.
The tulip is tie most brilliant and
popular of all the so-called Dutch bulbs
and may be had in fine snowy varie-
ties from 80 cents to Sl.50 a dozen,
coming in late and early varieties.
The crown imperial, (Fritillaria i'm
perialis) is hardy and beautiful plant
OF very easy culture.
The vanunculus may be cultured
with tolerable success in the gar
den if good drainage be provided and
are easily cultivated in the house.
They require shade and moisture.
Besides these early Towering plants
there are many other well worth the
trying to be found among the florists
novelties and specialties, but except for
the pleasure of the watching the de-
velopment of a new flower, there can
be nothing prettier or more attractive
than the old favorites: snowdrop, cro-
Gus, hyacinth and scilla, and any gar
den bed may be made gay and bright
from late March until the middle OF
May with these tried and well-knowD
flowers.
HYDRANGEA.
The hydrangeas are so well-known
so snowy and pleasing in their habit that
they pay well for the care bestowed
npon them. The late introduction
from Japan and China are very fine
and interesting plants, differing from
the old varieties with large, globular
heads and rosy tinted flowers both IN
leaf and form.
II. paniculata grandihora has i'm.
mense VIII te panicles of flowers of q
pyrsmidal form and flowers in August
and September. 1t is said to be en-,
tirely hardy. There are also red.
branched varieties and one or two with
ornamental leaves. The less hardy
sorts should be grown in boxes, winter.
ing in the cellar and placed in shady
places in the garden during the sum.