Evening star., 1899-04-01
FOR THE FLOWER GARDEN
Written for The Evening Star.

cultivation Is making plans for a garden
that shall surpass all former Efforts Cata-
logues are eagerly studied. with the usual
result-bewilderment and indecision.
Though smarting stin from last years
disappointments, we are not a bit the wiser
We shall not make just the same blunders
perhaps, nor experience just the same dis
illusionments but we shall commit other
deeds quite as wildly impractical, and trust
quite as guilelessly in bargains" 'collec-
tons" and novelties" TO our inevitable
undoing, mental and financial. And after
all IL Is Just as well The excitement OF
selecting. the pleasure of anticipation, are
worth their price In the growing conyic-
ton that we have been victimized again
Besides. we are not always victimized. and
even one new success each season is worth
several failures.
The past has been a hard winter for
vegetation. Roses and half-hardy shrubs
have suffered severely. Everything is back
ward, but in the end IL may be better. fur
late f'osts. after a long mild spell that
has brought the leaf-buds forward. are far
more to be dreaded than a slow deyelon-
ment like the present. What a delight IL Is
10 wander about the garden paths each
"a! ana bend over the beds and borders to
see II anything else has come upt with
what thrill we welcome the old friends
the ruby tips of the peonies the emerald
whirls of the June lilies, the purple frills of
the columbine. the thick ranks OF daffodils
and narcissus, pushing sturdily through the
damp mold. And with what surnrised
pleasure we discover the hardy bulbs wa
tucked away under ground when autumn
WINDS were blowing, and forgot all about.
perhaps, thrusting their piump bids and
vigorous foliage into sight
Now and then I'm the beds and borders
we are sure to find a vacant spot where
some plant has succumbed to age or frost,
ana must be replaced.
The old beds and borders must no nut IN
order soon, and we must really have anotb-
er bed or two somewhere-one for annuals
ana one for kitchen herbs, and a row or
two of early radishes
Having chosen the place for-,bese nj
ways remembering that a sunshiny spot ia
indispensable, the soil must be carefully
prepared. If il is the hard reddish CLAW
that abounds hereabout have il rernoyed
entirely to the depth OF two feet and IL the
place is one where there is any danger 81
water settling, place in the bottom a laver
or stones, cinders or shards. Fill up with
good soil, mixed with well-rotted compost
and leaf mold. Have this finely pulverized
ana freed from stones. and leave II for a
Few days to mellow in the sun before plant
ing seeds or seedlings in IT, Some seeds
may be planted with safety even earlier
than the present date. as they are so long
terminating that all danger from frost or
wind will be over before the first leaves
appear. Such as pansies, alyssum, mig
nonette. Lavender. parsley, etc.
Those who have only a small space 10
fill will do better to buy their plants-an-
nuals and all-ready started. Others with
more ground and limited means may easily
supply themselves with any number of
Towering plants by the exercise of patience
and intelligence at small cost.
II one has a room with sunny windows
where the temperature can be kept steadily
at about 60 degrees. and is willing to give
much time and thought to the work, most
seeds may be started i'm the house to ad-
vantage. Failing this. a cold frame in the
garden Is next best. Any one who can use
hammer and saw can make a box frame Of
the size required, and the glazed sash Is
procurable at any place where builders
materials are sold. Set the frame over a
bed of good soil and bank the earth or sod
up around II. Fill half way up with finely
pulverized soil, one part each OF leaf mold,
garden soil and sand, plant the seed ac-
cording to directions given on the packets
and follow up the same.
If the sun gets very hot after the seed
iings appear, remove the sash during the
middle of the day. Sprinkle from a water
ing pot or atomiZer when needed, or give
the baby plants the benefit of hight April
shower. Never leave the sash of at night.
A pouring rain. a cold wind a marauding
cat may blight all your hopes. Transplant
as directed into open ground, protecting for
some days from sun, wind or too heavy
rains. A good way to do this is to drive
stakes about the bed, and tie or nail a
sheet or curtain to these to form an avn
not put your hand to the plow-or trOwel.
1t is trouble and work and care and pa
tience that do all things worth doing.
Old-fashioned flowers. always dear to
people of sentiment have become a fad
now with the class who must do everything
through fashions monocle. But even these
old-time favorites have Joined In the march.
and been so improved" that their own
grandmothers would hardly know them.
The modern hollyhock would probably
snub its own ancestors should they reap
pear: the mourning buds" (scabiosa) now
mourns in gorgeous robes of crimson and
maroon. the balsam or lady's slipper has
achieved the size. shape and waSy beauty
of the cameilia, with wonderful variety OF
colors and length of bloom: the morning
glory has expanded In every way beyond
belief under the treatment of the marvel
working Japanese, and the humble aster
now rivals the chrysanthemum. Too much
cannot be said in praise of the last-men-
toned They may be had in a great va
riety of separate colors and habits OF
growth and periods of bloom. There are
dwarf sorts for borders and tall branching
sorts for groups and centers of beds. Well
selected and cultivated, there is no annual
to compare with the asters. They may be
planted in the open ground by May l, and
to secure succession of bloom two and
four weeks later. Culture is simple but
Indispensable.
The cosmos is another annual of great
merit. Inere Is an early UOWer1ng variety.
but II is not as large and handsome as the
late sorts, which come into bloom when
flowers are scarce and welcome. The giant
sort attains a. height of ten feet. A group
or row of it i'm bloom is a sight for gods,
as well as men, especially when the sun
shines over it. The same is true of the
hollyhock, with it's splendid translucent
corollas.
Poppies are glorious. but short-lived. Sal
via (scarlet sage) blooms until frost; so do
the scabiosa, gaillardia, alyssum, mignon-
cite and nasturtiums. The latter does best
I'm rather poor soil, but likes sunshine and
space. The tall sorts are not ''self-sup-
pcrting;" they do not cling or twine, but
sprawl ignobly unless tied up.
Few people know how easy it is to raise
beautiful pansies and verbenas from seed,
or that the heliotrope may be raised
and brought into bloom in midsummer II
started under glass.
OF climbing ANIMALS, IN addition TO the
morning glories Japanese sorts) never fail
to. plant one or more moon flowers, buying
the plants in May. the seeds very
slow in terminating.
In your bed of kitchen herbs include pars-
ley sage sweet marjoram, a row OF car
rots and perhaps of onion sets-so handy
for the cook and so easy to have always
on hand.
OF summer blooming bulbs that may be
planted in the spring the best known are