Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-30
Cottage Treasures

Dear Miss Thomas-I think it is grand that
are to have some letters flowers.
Flowers" says Ruskin, seem intended for
the solace Of ordinary humanity. Children
love them; quiet contented ordinary people
love them as thye grow: luxurious and disor
derby people rejoice in them gathered They
the cottaGer's treasure. and in the crowded
town, mark as with a little broken fragment
OF rainbow, the windows OF the workers in
whose heart rests the covenant of peace
1t Is to this ordinary people ! wish to direct
my letter, for l wish to tell them how to
men do not appreciate flowers. l think almost
all women do. I think that instead of going
to visit our neightors to gossip. we should
80 and talk of our flowers anu give them all
the good ideas we have picked up on their
culture. and 1t is very nice and profitable.
too. to exchange seed. plants and bulbs We
all know what a rice habit lilacs. snowballs
and most all shrubs have of coming up in
clusters around the parent shrub; so we can
easily dig down and with some sharp instru-
ment sever the young plants from the old
enc and then they will grow nicely If one
will dig up and fertilize place for them.
AS for jonquils. daffodils, hyacinths. dahlias
and many other dubious rooted flowers, one
can most always secure these bulbs from
some frierd. as they multiply vere fast. Au-
gust and September the best months to
put out the Jonquils, daffodis and November
for the hyacinths and dahlias After one
gets these started they may be left in ground
all winter by covering one or two inches deep
in well Iotted stable manure.
Roses are easily rooted. Ny plan is a
follows: In a box one foot deep and Of any
desired length to put a layer OF small rock.
then finish filling the box with sand In the
latter part of September preferably. but have
rooted some in May) secure cuttings of last
years growth about one foot in length and
, push down into the sand to a depth Of four
or five inches; keep moist and sheltered from
SIie nooday sun, and in a few weeks they
will begin to root, and when well rooted dig
up, not TO break off roots and trans
plant to gooI moist location.
Cape jasmines can be rooted by taking some
of the under limbs and pulling them down to
the ground and laying several weights on them
and covering them with several inches Of
soil. When rooted, this limb may be cut loose
from the parent tree and planted in good moist
soil.
one may have a pretty bed in ones back
yard by follinx Mrs. Erwin's (of Cornelia)
suggestion which is follows and was called
q yellow pyramid. She says Select a giant
Russian sunflower for the center and apex.
Surround IL with the seven-foot varieties and
this with the five, and so on down to the
miniature dwarfs for the last circle As my
backyard is too shady for flowers, will pass
this on, possibly use II. l eN-
pect to carry out the idea in my front yard
and one of Uly beds will be with center flower
of mammoth perennial phlox surrounded with
sweet williams (diOnthes barbatus), surround
! ing this with asters, then a circle OF comet
Another bed will be covered with coleus
enough to make a complete mass OF their
lovely variegated foliage. Then / expect to
have bed Of carnations surrounded with
one cannot always buy flower seed IL finan-
cially embarrassed, but they almost al
wavs have a few flower seeds cuttings or
/ bulbs by asking a friend for them, and 1t
seems TO me that / enjoy my floweN that
given to me best, for IT is always with sweet
memories Of some pleasant visit that l LOOK
on the pretty blossoms.
Mrs. Erwin, whom / mentioned before, said
/ in her paper read to the Georgia State Horti-
cultural society: Let make home
/ surroundings so beautiful that boys and
! girls will find their home towns too attractive
10 leave for the crowded city streets" And
she might we'll have said country homes,
too for II any one needs encouragement II is
the country boys and girls.
IL one hasn't a large yard they can, by
utilizing every little space, have quite pretty
yards. but they who live in the country have
no excuse for not having pretty yards. And
as enthusiasm is said to be contagious we
should all become enthused flowers
and influence some other one to brighten up
| a little.
; by fastening a heavy wire several feet in
I Some quick growing vine may be trained over
| climbing roses grow enough 10 cover it. when
It will he very pretty II the rose bush is
kent pruned properly.
Now. with several pyramids as / have de-
scribed % contrasting colors and some pretty
vine trained ones porch, large bed
OF a border Of chrysanthemums in the back
ground. and every blooming roses and shrubs
| IN cluster on both sides Of ones yard. I think
one would have to travel good ways to see
| a rrettier yard. SO with love to Miss Thomas
! and all the Household. I will bid you adieu.
MRS. LIZZIE ROBINSON.
Tallapcosa, Ga.