Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-09
LAWN AND GARDEN
TIME WILL SOON COME FOR THE
SETTING OUT OF FLOWERS
AND VEGETABLES.
Care Must Be Taken as to the Selec-
ton of Ground for Flower Beds. =
Gardens Should be Constructed in
Banks of Flowering Plants.

In another thirty days the time will
have come to prepare flower beds, as
1t is not safe to attempt the setting out
of Towering plants until about the first
week in May. At that time, however,
the same process must be gone
through to prepare the ground
for the reception of bulbs or seeds, as
the case may be. If the plot of
ground selected is in the sun, the mat
ter Of the selection Of the flowers is
comparatively easy, almost any of the
well known varieties of Towering
plants will do. But in case the
ground is situated in the shade, the
matter is more complicated and only
such should be selected as will thrive
in shady places.
The finest and handsomest gardens
are undoubtedly those which are plac-
ed at the sides or in the background
of the lawn. The color scheme of the
flowers backing up the green expanse
of the lawn. will give the effect sought
after by the landscape gardner, and the
critical eye of the seeker after natural
beauties.
A garden should be constructed in
banks of Towering shrubs SO arranged
that the taller ones will be in the rear
and the others grouped in descending
tiers. Any of the perennial Towering
shrubs may be selected for the back
ground, and the hydrangea, spiraea
and althea are general favorites. If
the place is in the shade however, brid-
al wreath or weigela should be select
ed.
For the second tier the phlox, the
hardy pinks are good, with peonies
or iris In case shade predominates.
But flower gardens may be con-
structed and made with almost any Sc
lection of plants. The, Gamma, the
lgslaaialHs, tts geraniam, the dahlia,a all
are favorites for sunny spots; and the
fuchsias, violets and pansies do we'll
In the shade. Roses, too, are much
in favor as ever, and will grow any
where under fairly favorable condi-
lions.
Sweeten the Earth.
Many lawns and flower gardens are
ruined by stale and sour ground. Soil
situated in constant shade or in damp
becomes sour and unproductiTe, and in
such ground nothing will thrive 1t is
necessary, if one has such plot of
ground, to work sand and Stacked lime
into the surface of the ground, and
neutralize the sourness. Once this is
done, the seeds will terminate and the
grass and plants will grow
The time is propitious now for the
sowing and preparation of lawns and
nf GRO do I 1r,1e
dening in all it's various forms should
be called into play before the month is
over by every owner of a piece Of
ground in the city where it is possible
to improve the general appearance of
the home. Now is the time to get out
the garden rake and with it's sharp
tines pry out and drag out all the dead
roots and rubbish that the winter has
accum ulated and to SOW more seed in
the bare places.
The time is ripe, too, for the max.
ing of home gardens, and all over the
city before the middle of the month
has passed the tender lettuce, the pep
perry radish and the succulent, odor-
ferrous onion will be sprouting. 1t is
the time when all nature turns it's
hand to the work Of regeneration, and
citizens of Ottunlwa who want to
keep up with the procession should
see to it that nature is assisted in
every way possible.
Grass Galore.
To the ordinary man grass is grass
and nothing more. But to the man who
Knows his business in the art of grass
making and lawn cultivation, the Sc
lection Of the proper seed for the best
results for a givea piece of ground is
a science. There are some 400 differ
ent varieties of grass. The well-known
Kentucky blue grass is perhaps the
general favorite, because of its wide
spread reputation as beautiful lawn
maker But the blue grass of Ken
lucky must have it's own favorite con-
dition or it will not produce the de-
.