Arizona republican., 1908-05-07

II is a big advantage in garden making
 to lay ones plans well ahead of the growing season. The home garden plot is too often left to the inspiration of the spring weather. When the air becomes mild and plants come to market. the idea of making a garden is forcibly suggested, some plants are purchased and stuck tn the ground aud that Is called gar den The ordinary result is that some rows of geranIums or cannas and, per hape, a a bed of verbenas constitute the gsrden-as such plants will usually sur yiye rough and ready treatment put such garden, while it does something to eeautify the surroundings. misses one of the main functions of the house gar den-that of supplying cut flowers TOT the housa It is quite within the power of any amateur, by taking thought ana bestowing attention, to have plenty CT flowers a large part of the year. and II is far cheaper as well as more satisfac- tory to grow flowers from seed than 10 depend on purchased plants.
 While plants have simple requirements they are exactiug about them, and unless conditions are right results will be dis 1DDOlfiluE. hHSAt eAS SO---~
 that are as easy to grow as weeds. and at the very head of this class stands the nastrrtium. It vii, grow anywhere IT 1t can have sunlight for some hours or the day. and really does better In poor soil than in rich soil. l get plenty or cat flowers every season from ped planted along a high board fence so sit- uated that only the afternoon sun ra,,hes the plants l find the tall. or climbing varieties. much preferabie 10 the dwn.f, as the flowers grow on long stems and are thus better for cutting. Ii is not necessary to give them any sup port. Let them sprawl on the ground. They form a dense mass ot foliage, so that the flowers have to stretch their necks to reach the light. and thus they form long stems. IL Is best to purchase seed of named varieties. so that you can depend on getting just the eoiors de stted. They nayr been much improved sn nat fine shades of scarlet. maroon and orange can now be obtained. that make a striking effect when nassed in vase The seeds are so large that they are easily handled. 1 have never had q faIlure with them. although nave olantei them as early as the middle or March in the latitude of Pittsburg. Planting them is the easiest garden Job know of My practice is simply to make d shsllow furrow the length of the bed with the corner of the hoe and drop the seed al slx-inch intervals. Then the earth Is drawn over them with the hoe and pressed firmly down with the hat of the hoe Two rows. about foot and a half apart and l5 feet long, furnish me with blooms enough to keep several vases filled from early June to late In septem- Der.
 The floral catalogues make point or giving some novelties every year and from time to time valuable additions are made to our garden plants. but after all there is nothing that excels the old-fashioned flowers, such as peoples, corn flowers marigolds, asters, Zinnias and petunias. Topples are sure bloomers. provided an early start is made. They do not do well after settled warm weather Is in. The seed should be sown just as soon as the ground can be worked In the spring, and they will not suffer even if q snow furry comes along It is always best to buy named varieties. and they must be sown where they are to flower. as they whi not stand transplanting. AS rule they come up too thick, and they should De thinned out few plants open to sun