The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-02-16
OUR SOCIAL CHAT
All letters intended for this department should be adj
dressed to "Aunt Jennie" care OF N froRTesslVS FS[1Sz'
Raleigh, n. c.
Aunt Jennie's Letter.

grounds. All cannot have the handsome house, but
in our sunny Southland all can have the artistic
grounds. Did you ever stop to think how much
beauty is added to even a log hut by the vine
that is allowed to grow over the door or window Z
One of the simplest and at the same time most
artistic pictures in my memory is that of an old
log hut, a little flower yard in front, a vine over
the door, and one which had been allowed to al
most cover the stick chimney. An old we'll sweep
to one side completes the picture. Well, the sweep
has gone out of style, but the flowers, vines and
pretty trees have not; 80 we can have these and
with them make the ugliest places artistic.
Persons who love flowers will work in every
way to make them comfortable-in other words,
they will have the "knack" which means that they
will study their plants and the conditions under
which they must grow them. If this cannot be
done in one way, it possibly may be done in an
other, and the woman who sets about it with q
will, will find the right way.
Sweet alyssum is good for bordering beds. Being
white it can be used with all other colors, but if
you wish it to bloom all the season. you must not
allow it to seed, but clip the flowers as soon as
they begin to fade. If you plant the brilliant
red and yellow flowers in the same bed you will
tire of the dazzle and wish that you had chosen
more subdued colors.
All varieties OF phlox are pretty; the pink and
cream or white in alternate rows the center of
pink makes a pretty bed. An all pink bed is pref
ty, especially if bordered with white and green.
FINK phlox bordered with gray centaurea is a
lovely combination. A very brilliant bed can be
made by having for the center scarlet saliva, pale
yellow phlox surrounding it, and crimson coleus
as a border. Yellow coleus, gray cantaurca and
yellow pyrithrum. all make beautiful borders.
Don't forget the asters. They are capable of
some OF the most beautiful color combinations.
but they bloom late.
what 10 more magnificent than q bed of nom
pless But they should be off by Themselves. -
you wish them to display their beauty to tho hest
The giant double poppies are verv
handsome.
IL you have kept your geraniums blooming in
Inc mouse all winter, cut away most of the old ton
oc1ore putting them out and they will do duty 81,
summer too, but unless you have enough Of on.
'oior to form a bed, don't mix them, for vonr col
DIS may not harmonic and then thew will ha -,
eye sore" instead of a "joy forever Instead
'orm the center of beds with them. then hr;1d
literally around them with harmonious hordo.
BE sure to prevent the develonno,+ -
on all plox if you wish them to serve xor
ons as boomers. Go over them at least ono.
'eeA ana clip Oft all seeds that have begun -
orm' remember to have carnations, roses. dab
las' chrysanthemums and hollyhock. View vow
oena . u "hoie, not each bed separately Hava
onerence' unity, general harmony. This will
you 70 locate each plant with due repard
y y | ne'ghbors' put it in the place it is fitted tn
- ana cause yourself no regrets when it ia too
ate to remedy it. :" Wv
by the way If you don't want your beds to wash
utfouno them with brick half buried endu;se
no the earth firmly hacked aro,,al