The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-04-13
PRACTICAL. TALKS
ON FLORTCULTURE.

FKAt lCA2A EALkS
ON FLCRTCULTURE.
The adornment of the home and its
surroundings has occupied the at
tention of mankind since the begin
ming of time, and it is natural and
right that it should be so, for all the
little embellishments we can add out
side the comforts and necessities of
life bring light and sweetness and joy
into this practical matteS of fact.
work-a-day world and help so much
to soften out the hard lines and ra-
deem life from much Of its drudgery.
Grass Is Democratic.
TO beautify your yard and sur
roundngs does not necessitate any ex-
perse that tho person of moderate
means can not afford as well as the
rich, for grass, trees, shrubbery and
flowers are the same in beauty and
texture whether growing by a lowly
cottage or q lordly palace. They shed
their perfume as profusely for the one
as for the other. Their beauty and
sweetness can't be appropriated by the
few. That is one reason why they
should be more extensively used by
these of moderate means to beautify
and enhance their surroundings, for il
anything used for ornamentation is
truly and inherently beautiful, as are
the overs. its power for beauty and
goodness is doubled.
A home, a plot of grass however
small, few trees to add comfort and
dignity, several favorite shrubs and
some dear old-fashioned flowers grow
inG here and there wherever they are
best fitted. adding beauty and bright
ness and cheerfulness, is suggestive OF
all there is worth while in life, and
YOU can enjoy such surroundings if
YOU wish, for the cost is but trifie.
\ few cents worth of seed can make q
tlowcr bed fit for king to gaze upon.
So if you have the homo, begin at
once to make plans for the yard and
towers.
Make Definite plans.
Mako definite plans and write ont
lists OF the plants, shrubs and flowers
that you will put in tho different
places, and then work to your plans
each year us we'll as you can, il ynu
can't afford everything the first year,
Very few OF us can, and it is, perhaps,
tust as well that we can't, for the eY-
poriments we make, the struggles for
SUCCESS and tho sacrifices we undergo
develop the real love for flowers and
the experience that brings the real
true pleasures and successes later.
Plant the most necessary things
first, of course, such as the trees the
shrubs. the grass and vines, and then
the flowers as suits your taste and
purse, and in a few years you Will
marvel q: your success.
TevcnniaIs Are Wise.
1t is always wise to plant as many
eood reliable percnnials as possible.
|his viii give a permanent stamp to
your beds. il is Il pleasure, as well IS
areat convenience often to know that
"a bed is made up principally of flowers
that viii como UP in the spring and
grow and bloom with little or no at
tcnton. For often sickness in the
family, or forced absence prevents
seeds being soWn or plants trans
planted at the proper time. Then if
pcrennials occupy prominent places in
the beds the absence of the anruals is
not nearly SO noticeable.
If you can't have all the perennials
you want at first. then fill in the beds
at present with pretty ANIMALS at
small cost until you can afford to buy
what you want. l found that my first
two years consisted mostly in sub
shutting. and this is my fourth year
and my scheme isn't nearly completed
yet, and I presume it will not be for
some time. as | am still substituting
several flowers for ones / can't afford.
Yet l think the discoveries ] have made
by doing so, and the wisdom have
"A gained by experiment or accident or
y blunder has paid me well and | am
now glad l couldn't have all l wanted
at first.
Study Catalogue.
id If you do not understand the habits
e and growth Of the various flowers and
VI plants, procure catalogues of the most
q reliable firms and make a systematic
tudy OF them. Some of the catalogues
81 sent out by the florists of today are
n full of valuable suggestions and are
a regular bureaus of information. / al
Z ways study my seed and plant cata-
IS iNgues as regularly in season As any
other periodical. 1t is better for an
f amateur not to undertake to grow too
Il many kinds at first. Plant more OF d
y few good reliable kinds until you have
a learned tho habits and requirements
y of tho less hardy and successful ones.
If you want to carry out certain
color effects remember that moro OF
one or possibly two kinds of flowers is
much more effective than a few each
Of many kinds. ! happened to witness
lady at the florists selecting ger ri
ums for bed. She said: 81 want one
of this kind. and one Of this kind. and,
oh. must have one OF this kind, * Is;
i so pretty" and so on, selecting prob
ably dozen or more different kinds.
Now. if she had chosen two colors that
combined nicely L think she woull
have found her geranium bed more
satisfactory and surely more effective.
II the Front Yard.
have planted hydrangeas ana rod
geraniums in the bed next TO the
house in front, which is circular. The
hydrangeas are permanent. of course,