Evening star., 1898-04-30
SUGGESTIONS FOR
AMATEUR GARDENERS,
Written for TIE Evening Star.

VINO are lucky enol gh to have at dis
Iosit1on even tiny plot of earth begin to
plan how to make it blossom as the rose.
This is not as easy as it sounds. The
amount of time and money ignorantly ex-
pended in abortive efforts at Horticulture
would be lamentable if it were not by this
road that success is reached at last
The first thing to do is to study your
ground carefully. be it small or large; de-
cide where and what to plant, and begin
by preparing the soil.
A small yard on the north side of a
house, particularly if it be a back yard,
surrounded by the usual high board fence
is an unpromising field to work in, but
even here there is almost sure tc be some
spot where the sun shines for a part CT
the Gay. and that is the spot to cultivate.
Remember, nothing will thrive in any pace
where the sell is dank and sodden all the
time.
Having located your beds and borders
where sun and air will reach them, have
the soil Spaded up about a foot deep some
mold from the woods, or top soil from
field. and some old weil-rotted compost
mixed in, and leave it so a day or two to
"swecten' In the sun. This matter Of
soil contains the whole secret of successful
beginning. If you have only a small space to
cultivate. better buy prepared soil of for
list. but whatever else you DO, do not pur-
chase the stuff carted about our streets by
unScrupulouS men, and offered at high rates
as rich earth" 1t is 1othing but street
sweepings, consisting largely of crumtled
asphalt, and sure to ruin anything planted
iE it.
Ine soil for planting seeds must be very
finely puveriZed and freed from stems,
etc. Have it sifted through a coal sieve
for about three inches in depth, a laborious
but needful process, Unless the ground has
been several years in cultivation.
n n
on whether you wish to produce merely
an ornamental effect, CT whst ther you desire
d profilson of flowers fer cutting. In bed
Ging-out plants there are the old stanGbys,
but eacn year brings them to greater per-
lection and beauty, and new plants are al
ways being offered.
Select your plants yourself. the market
being the best place. Sending away usual
ly results in Disappointment, one way or
another, unless you are buying on scale
large enough to command the respect of
the nurserynan. Small orders are often
cCntemptuously treated. Catalogues are
both fascinating and demoralizing At
least l find them One bit of advice-do
not be tempted by the novelties adver-
tiSed at enormous prices. Florists work
wonders with their knowledge and control
of meanS-but these results generally
beyond the amateurs achievement.
DO not buy helter-skelter whatever
pieases your fancy. Go slow. Decide
on some scheme of color or desirable
solid masses of color are the most attrac-
tive. In d border mis-, ellaneous plants in
clunps and groups look very well, if space
is left between them. Place tall-growing
plants in the center of beds, in corners,
against walls and fences; never in front of
low plants. Do not crowd any plants that
will increase in breadth. A circular raised
bed of all pink or all red seraniumS. with
a border of heiotropeS is very pretty. Keep
all faded blossoms cut off. and trim long,
SpraWling shoots and branches.
Among quick-growing ANIMALS, next to
the sweet pea. which ii is now too late to
plant. comes the nasturtium. 1t is gen.
erous. splendid democratic flower, very
easily satisfied. though blooming best when
planted in common garden soil. not too
rich. Do not forget that there are both
climbing and low-growng sorts. and choose
accordingly. A mixture of colors gives
most general satisfaction, bu. if preferred
the colorS may be bought separately Soak
the seed a few hours in warm water just
before planting, and plant an inch deep
and two or three inches apart. When the
plants have acquired four to six leaves
transplant whare wanted. A few rules for
transpanting seedlings may as well be in
serted here. Choose Il cloudy rainy day
for the work or after the sun is low. Dis
turb the roots as little as possible water
thoroughly from the spout of a pitcher or
tea Kettle and press the earth very firmly
about the plant. Protect for a few days
from the hot sun with newspapers, boxes
flower pots. etc.
The greatest of all ANIMALS. in my opn-
ION, is the aster. Only those VINO have seen
the superb flowers as row grown can i'm g
Inc what it is like. II has many of the best
qualities of the chrysanthemum, with
charms of its own, one of them being its
easlnesS of culture. 1t has shades and
color5 the mum has not, and vies with it
IN SIZE and variety of form. 1t flowers in
july and August. when garden flowers are
fareSt, and altogether no garden can be
complete without it.
To insure early blooming, the seeds
should be started under glass early in the
spring, but may be now planted in the
open ground TO bloom i'll July and later
Scme of the hest sorts are the comet the
victoria, the branching, the chrysanthe-
mums-fiowered-ard the peony-fowered
These may be had in separate shades Of
red, blue, purple, rose and white. For a
circular bed. select the tall sorts for the
center, and the dwarf for the border. Plant
carefully in hills and transplant when four
leaves have formed, observing the direc-
tiens given You will be amply rewarded
for your trouble.
Next in order comes the cosmos. now
familiar to most people, though few know
now easily 1t Is raised from seed. If you
have plenty of room. plant both the early
ana the late sorts, packet of each. The
giant cosmos is grand against fence
growing eight or ten feet high and Ilass
OF bloom until frost
If you have room to spare. by all means
nave bed of annual poppies: nothing can
beauties dancing and lolling in the sun.
Then comes the lowly favorite. the corn
flower, mignonette, alyssum. and the Won
derful Improved balsam and zinnia-all
easy to grow. though that does rot mean
that they will thrive If totally neglected
Have you ever tried clump of field daisies
or tall golden rod among your garden
beauties? If not, do so. You will be
charmed
IL you have permanent garden, the
hardy perenDialS and biennials should not
be forgotten. By sowing seeds each year
strong young plants are obtained for the
following years bloom. Among the most
snowy and beautiful of them is the holly
hook. to be had in many lovely shades and
colors; the hardy poppies, phloxes, snap
dragon, foxglove columbine and other old
time favorites now coming into favor again.
And now a word for that familiar and
often neglected flower, the morning glory.
which, owing to japanese influence, is be-
ginning to attain the distinction of fad
That f1ower-worshiping people has attain
ed marvellous skill in the culture of this
flower. A visit to the morning glory gar
dens is one Of the chief pleasures of the
traveller in Japan. The imported seed are
very expensive, and only a small propor-
tion of them germinate in this country.
but the experiment is worth trying For
those who can appreciate it's etherial love-
mo- iva