(Totnell XHnivetslt^ OF THE 1Rew ^ov\\ State College of agriculture 3518 Cornell University Library SB 407. H38 One hundred flowers.AM 'one can readily understand. I have chosen the flowers that are oldtime favorites, together with the best new ones, making a collection which I regard as the cream of decorative flowers and plants. The descriptions and cultural directions of the plants and flowers contained in this Book are the results of my own personal observation and experience. Flowers and plants have been my daily companions for many years, thus giving me opportunity to learn their wants and habits. I sincerely hope that this Book may be the means of cultivating a desire in everyone who has a love for plants and flowers to continue in the good work. Pretty home surroundings are an asset to the value of your property. Let a few people on your street or in your neighborhood plant up their places and most of the neighbors will soon follow suit. There is nothing more cheerful during the winter- time, when everything is frozen and bleak on the out- side, than to come into your living room and find a nice lot of blooming plants at the windows or some graceful ferns or palms standing about the room. I hope that all who follow the directions in this Book for the different flowers they wish to grow may have abundant success. HARRY G. HAVERSTICK. Hershey, Pa., April 10, 1917. THE HEALTH OF FLOWERS This view IS in the Round Green- house, one o:f the three conserva- tories of Hershey. At the Easter Flower Show last year more than hve thousand people visited this Greenhouse in one day. This year it has been necessary to bulla a new^ exhibition hall for the flow^er show^s because or the attendance. The plants show^n m the picture were a part oi the spring display. About a hundred boxwood and bay trees are stored here, but the main space IS for flowers. You will notice that these flowers all look sturdy and vigorous. One of the important things in success with now^ers is to give the healthy plant healthy asso- ciates and healthy surroundings. One Hundred Fl owers Acnyrantkes Achyranthes are fine bedding plants and are ex- tensively used in making the fancy ribbon and scroll beds seen at Hershey. The dark red, Jewel, the light red, Brilliantissima, and the yellow Madam De Bailey are the kinds most used. They also make nice pot plants for the window, and will grow finely where a geranium will grow. They start very easily from cut- tings. i\ll you have to do is to place the cuttings in a bottle of water. Keep in a warm place and the roots will appear in a short time. In starting the cuttings on a large scale, we use sand as we do for all other cuttings. The plants should be pinched back occa- sionally to make them stocky. If you intend having a window or porch box during the summer by all means have some of these plants in it, as they will make a nice contrast among the other plants. Ageratum The Ageratum is of great beauty and is unexcelled for borders or bedding. It bears large clusters of small blue and white feather-like flowers in great profusion all season, from early summer until frost. Unlike many bedding plants, the Ageratum is not liable to be ruined by rain, nor do the colors fade. The seeds are sown early, usually in the greenhouse or window and then transferred to the open ground in May. The seeds should be sown outdoors in May. If sown in Sep- tember they will give plants that will bloom all winter indoors. They can also be propagated from cuttings. Alternant kera Alternanthera is a very useful foliage plant for making low, fancy, ribbon beds, There are several kinds, all beautifully marked, crimson, yellow, pink, chocolate and green. It is not adapted for a house plant being too low of growth to make a showing. It is easily started from cuttings taken about February 1, which will make nice stocky plants by June 1 for bedding out. Alyssum Alyssum makes a very pretty low border plant for beds. It has a nice odor and is fine for table decora- tions. Seed can be started in boxes in the cold frame or window. In this manner you can have the plants bloom earlier than if sown out of doors. Sow the seed about one-eighth of an inch in depth in drills and transplant when large enough. You can also sow the seeds around your flower beds when the soil is warm enough and thin out the plants to about 5 inches apart each way. After the plants seem to be about done blooming cut them off to within about 4 inches of the ground or rather all the old blooms and you will find that they will send up new shoots and you will have a second crop of flowers. A bed of Red Gera- niums bordered by Sweet Alyssum will make a show bed. Old plants lifted before frost and placed in pots put in a sunny window will give you sprigs of Sweet Alyssum for your table all winter. Asparagus There are two varieties of Asparagus that are very much in demand as pot plants, and also for decorations, when cut. Asparagus Plumosus is the lacy kind, which is sometimes called lace fern. Asparagus Sprengeri is the kind used for hanging baskets and makes a very graceful pot plant if placed on a small stand or pedestal so that the strands are allowed to hang down. This variety seems to do best if exposed to the full sun. Plumosus thrives best in partial shade. Both require plenty of water. Never allow the soil in the pots to drv out. Aspidistra The Aspidistra is the easiest of all decorative plants to grow well. Give it a loamy soil and plenty of water and it will ask for nothing more. It is a useful plant for the veranda in summer, and for hardiness has no equal as a house plant. It will even succeed in a com- paratively dark hall or vestibule, where few other plants will live. There are two varieties, the plain green-leaved and the variegated green and white. You have to divide up old plants to increase them. Ast ers There are upwards of 150 species included in this genus. The best known and the most valued of all is the China Aster, of which many varieties are grown. This species was imported from China in the early part of the 18th century. Asters contribute much to the beauty of the flower garden. When Aster seeds are sown early in February and grown under glass, pots or earthen seed pans are to be used. The best compost for the seeds is that of mixed decayed leaf-mold with enough loamy soil to make it fairly firm, and with a sufficient admixture of sand to facilitate drainage. Sow the seed thinly and barely cover by sifting over them some of the soil. Water with a fine spray, or else you will wash the dirt off the seed. Keep the soil moist but not too wet. The pots or pans may be placed in a sunny window, a cold frame, or a cool greenhouse. The temperature should not exceed 60 degrees. Plenty of fresh air at all times should circulate about the plants. When the third leaf has been attained transplant 11 about an inch apart, with the aid of a small sharpened stick, into other seed pans or shallow boxes, the soil to be of a similar nature as already mentioned. In several weeks, if the seedlings have been properly grown, they may be transplanted into two and one- half or three inch pots, and grown in these until settine out time in May. The soil for Asters must be rich, loamy and deeply worked. The roots should go down into the soil as far as possible and not be on the surface. They should have an open, sunny and sheltered position. It is well to enrich the soil with a liberal quantity of fertilizer, with the addition of wood ashes or air-slaked lime. In planting in beds they should have plenty of room for growth. The plants are hearty feeders and they must root as deeply as possible. Keep the ground free from weeds and frequently stirred, but do not stir deeply enough to injure the surface roots. When well in bud, a top dressing of well-rotted stable manure will nourish the plants, and will also keep the surface of the soil cool and moist. Liquid manure will do much to produce magnificent flowers, which, however, must not touch the foliage. It is not advisable to grow Asters on the same ground year after year. When wanted for cutting with long stems they should be set out not closer than 12 inches apart in the rows, and plants should carry but 5 or 6 stems, each with its terminal flower. All other stems, side branches and buds are to be removed. When wanted for mass effects in beds they should be planted 9 inches to 12 inches apart each way. Asters are annuals, and seed must be sown every year. Asters are subject to stem rot and an aphis at their roots. If planted in good soil, little or no trouble will be experienced. The addition of wood ashes or air- slaked lime at time of the preparation of the bed will prove a preventative. Azalea This is a ver^^ beautiful flowering plant. In many places Azaleas thrive in the common soil of the garden. They will do better, however, if given leaf mould, dug in with the natural soil. All the different kinds of azaleas are mostly grown m Belgium and are imported into this country in large quantities for both outside and indoor planting. They are one of the leading blooming plants for Easter. "Wlien wanted to bloom at that time they are placed in pots in the fall of the year, kept in a cool room or greenhouse and forced slowly. It requires some ex- perience to have them bloom at the time required. Care should be taken to see that the pots never dry out. They also should have their leaves syringed with water at least once a week. Beg onias Bedding Begonias do equally well in full sunlight and in shade, and surpass both geraniums and coleus when planted in positions partially or wholly in the shade. The plants form dense bushes about 1 foot high which from May until frost are completely hidden with flowers. As pot plants for winter flowering they are superb, remaining a sheet of bloom throughout the entire year. They are easily raised from seed or cuttings, which should be started either indoors or in a hotbed. All of the species of the Begonia are interesting and beautiful. They are of the easiest culture, requir- ing a rich, fibrous soil, which can be secured from be- neath the trees in the woods, and an abundant supply of water. Cuttings may be struck without any trouble. The fibrous Begonias are cultivated principally for their foliage; the tuberous Begonias for their brilliant blossoms and the fancy rex Begonias for their handsome leaves, making fine decorative plants for the living room. 13 LAKE AND FOUNTAIN Tnis IS a point of interest tor all who visit riersney. Tne walls are OT native limestone, the material oein^ secured from the hills nearby. The stone fountain is also home- made, being constructed of native limestone. In this and other small lakes are many svi'ans and ducks and they make a pleasinsf and suc- cessful addition. The beds of flow- ers and plants surrounding the lake are changed every season, the hope being to produce as harmonious and as attractive a picture as pos- sible. While this arrangement appears professional it could be re- produced by men of good skill w^ith materials that they have on their own farms. Black-Eyed Susan or 1 nunDergia This is a beautiful, rapid-growing annual climber preferring a warm sunny situation, and is extensively used in hanging baskets, vases, low fences and porch boxes. It has very pretty flowers in buff, white orange, etc., with dark eyes. The seed should be sown in the house in shallow boxes about March 1st, and after- wards transplanted into small pots if the vines are wanted early. Boston Ivy It is the most popular climbing plant for covering brick or stone walls, trees, etc. When it becomes es- tablished it is of very rapid growth and clings to the smoothest surface. The foliage is a rich olive green during the summer, changing to various shades of bright crimson and scarlet in the fall. In planting Ivies of all kinds the plants should be cut down to within 6 inches of the ground, so that the new growth will cling to the wall or tree from the bottom up. Cactus This curious and always interesting order of plants is distinctively American, being native of Mexico and Arizona. The Cactus in general are known for their succulent, curiously-jointed, often leaf-like stems and almost entire absence of true foliage. A striking characteristic is that they flourish under apparently the most adverse circumstances. There are more than 700 well established species of the Cactus. The genus Cereus is well known, chiefly on account of the much-prized night blooming variety. This plant has showy, white flowers, exceedingly fragrant, which open in the evening and close in the morning. Some of these open but once a year. It is a slender, trailing or creeping plant. 15 Much handsomer, however, is the Macdonald Cereus, a gigantic species, the flowers of which measure more than a foot in diameter when fully expanded. These flowers are almost white, but last only a few hours. When 8 or 10 open in one evening, as some- times happens, the plant presents a magnificent spec- tacle. The Cactus has that great virtue, adaptability, for while even a crevice in the rock will satisfy it, it does not utterly scorn the luxury of a rich soil. In the culture of the Cactus, it is found that they ought to have a season of complete rest, followed by one of excitement. They should be watered sparingly while dormant and freely when in bloom, and grown in a light, sandy soil. Cactus are increased by cuttings, placing each piece in a small pot and keeping quite dry. Caladiums or Elepkant Ears Caladiums are largely used for making Tropical effects. They look very nice along a stream or beside a pond or lake of water. Make the soil very rich where you intend to plant them. Keep them wet and you will be surprised at the result. Start your bulbs inside in a box in a warm place about April 1st before you plant them out. If not started in this way and if planted outside before the weather is warm, your bulbs will rot. Keep your bulbs over winter wrapped in heavy paper and in a warm place. 1 ne Calliopsis The Calliopsis is a showy annual, making a quick growth and producing beautiful foliage. It is one of our brightest and best summer bloomers. These plants are of a hardy character. The seeds should be sown in rich earth, about the end of April. After the plants are 3 or 4 inches in height they should 16 be transplanted to the places they are to bloom. They do well in any sunny position, blooming all summer. The Calliopsis usually obtains a height of about three feet, and consequently should be planted some dis- tance from the margin of the bed. By keeping the old flowers cut off the flowering season can be lengthened until late autumn. Campanula, or Canterberry Bells These are very ornamental plants, with a perfect mass of beautiful fiowers. No lover of flowers should be without some of them in the garden. They make a fine show, and are constant bloomers. Sow the seeds in a finely prepared rich soil, from May to September for the following year's blooming. They do not bloom the first year from seed. Protect the first winter with leaves or straw. When strong enough, transplant to a distance of three feet. In the spring a little fine manure should be dug about each plant. If well taken care of the plants will grow nearly three feet in height, and they should be staked. If the weather is dry, the plants should be given a thorough watering late every afternoon. c anna The Canna is unquestionably the finest of bedding plants for the American climate. This plant is an ex- tensive and very interesting genus of tender herbaceous perennials. Most of the species have showy crimson, orange and yellow flowers. They are usually grown for the remarkable beauty of their foliage, which is highly ornamental. The Canna has been highly improved in the last few years. There are more than 100 varieties to choose from, some with flowers 6 inches in diameter. They are favorite plants and produce a striking effect, either singly or grouped in beds upon lawns in 17 the summer months. If planted in a rich, deep soil and freely watered, some of them will grow eight feet during the season, and from a single tuber will make a clump 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Cannas are grown from a division of roots. One plant will make from 6 to 12 plants the following season. The bulbs are dug in the fall, after the foliage has been killed by the frost. They are then stored in frost- proof cellars, and covered with dirt, and they will come out in good condition in the following spring. About the first of April the old clumps of roots should be divided to two or three eyes or pips and placed closely together in boxes about six inches in depth and covered with dirt about 3 inches deep, first putting about 2 inches of dirt in the bottom of the box. Keep the boxes in a warm light place and water moderately. When the plants are 6 inches or so in height put the boxes out of doors. The plants may remain in the boxes until May 15th when they should be planted in the beds. Cardinal ClimDer This is the most brilliant annual climbing vine we have. It is something new and was introduced in 1912. It is a strong, rapid grower, attaining the height of 20 feet or more with beautiful fern-like foliage, and literally covered with a blaze of circular fiery cardinal red flowers from midsummer till frost. The flowers are about one and one-half inches in diameter and are borne in clusters of 5 to 7 blossoms each, and wherever it has been grown, it has attracted more at- tention and favorable comment than any other plant in the garden. It delights in a warm sunny situation and good soil. The seed may be started indoors in March or April in boxes, with a temperature of not less than 70 de- grees and the plants set out when the weather gets warm, but it is just as well to wait until the weather gets warm and settled, and then sow out of doors. 18 In either case germination will be hastened, and also made more certain by filing or cutting a small notch in each seed. They are likely to germinate poorly unless this precaution is taken. If sown in cold, wet ground the seed is liable to rot. If you want to train the vines, strings are the best thing you can use. Carnations Carnations are propagated from cuttings and are grown under glass during the winter for cut flowers. The cuttings are taken from the blooming plants dur- ing the months of January and February and placed in sand beds to make roots. After the roots are formed (they should be at least one inch long) they are potted in two and one-half inch pots and kept in a temperature of about 65 in the day, with 10 degrees cooler at night. About the middle of April, the plants can be taken out of pots and planted in the open ground, about 18 inches apart, with the rows wide enough to permit cultivation. They should be thoroughly worked in the summer season, and the tops of the plants kept pinch- ed back to within about 6 inches from the ground. This will make the plant very bushy and strong. About the middle of August the plants can be taken up, care being taken to keep as much dirt around the roots as possible and removed either to pots or beds under glass where they are to bloom during the winter. After the plants are housed, the glass should be slightly shaded with lime wash for about 2 weeks. Keep the sun from wilting the plants until they are established in their new quarters. The house in which they are growing should be sprayed at least twice a day to keep damp and cool the atmosphere in which they are growing. The house should be smoked with tobacco smoke, made from burning tobacco ribs. This should be done once a week to keep off thrips and green fly. There are many different kinds of carnations. The pink varieties seem to take the lead with the growers. 19 FLOWER GARDEN IN THE PARK Tnis view represents a lormal treatment m tne public park of Herskey. In tke centralfore^round IS tne sun aial. In tne rear is one of tne few pieces of statutary in riersney, a fine example in bronze. Tke sun dial and the base of the statue are botn concrete. The vases on either side are concrete. All this concrete vt'ork w^as done by riershey workmen and it illustrates the possibilities of this material in the permanent improvements of any home or park. With a little skill and experience much of the same sort of thing may be done anywhere. The flower beds are iilled w^ith Geraniums. Coleus and Alternan- thera kept trimmed low. The large plants in the tw^o vases are Dracena Indivisa. The vases around the sta- tue are filled with red Geraniums. The red Geraniums are also planted around the concrete base upon w^hich the statue stands. In this plan there is a hne show of rich color and the plants lastw^ell. The trees in the background give a good setting which is an important item m locating a plan of this kind. Castor Oil Plant or Ricmus These are noble annual foliage plants of luxuriant and rapid growth, attaining a height of from 5 to 10 feet and producing large palm-like leaves 3 feet across, of majestic sub-tropical effect. They can be grown either as specimens or in groups. A fine effect can be had by using them in the center of a Canna bed or using Caladiums or Elephant Ears on the outside border of a bed with the Ricinus in the center. The seeds can be sown in a cold frame or in the open ground when warm enough about one-half inch in depth. When about 6 inches high they should be plant- ed out where they are to remain for the summer. In dry weather give plenty of water. Ckmese Wool Flower Of all the new flowers offered lately, this one is surely a prize. They are easily grown, bloom all sum- mer, and make lovely beds of a beautiful crimson color. They are related to Celosias or Cockscomb, and the seeds and plants are handled in exactly the same way, as under the cultural directions of Cockscomb. Each flower is a ball of glowing red and has a wooly appear- ance. They branch out very freely. They should be planted one foot apart. This plant is bound to become immensely popular when its fine qualities and ease of culture become known. They are fine for bouquets, and will last a very long time in water. Cineraria The Cineraria is a fine winter blooming plant. You may have a hundred or more in bloom at one time and you will not find two alike in color. The flowers range in all the different colors and shades, and when in full bloom, each plant is a bouquet in itself. They delight in a cool temperature of about 60 degrees. The seed should 21 be sown in shallow boxes or pans in September. When the plants are large enough to handle they can be transplanted into 3 inch pots. After the pots are filled with roots, they can be planted in 5 or 6 inch pots. They can remain in this size pot for their blooming period. During their growth, the soil they are planted in should never be allowed to become dried out, as this will dwarf the plants and cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop off. Seed sown in September will make blooming plants by March and April. The variety call- ed Giant Flowering makes the most beautiful plants on account of the large size of the individual flowers. There is a species of Cineraria called Dusty Miller which has very beautiful silvery foliage. There is nothing nicer for a border around a bed of red geran- iums than this plant. The plants can be grown the same as described above, except that they need be transplanted only one time. Cobaea These plants are elegant, fast growing climbers, growing as high as 30 to 50 feet. They may be grown in the greenhouse, the conservatory or in the garden in the summer, where from their rapid development they are particularly desirable for covering trellises, arbors, and trunks of trees. They bear an abundance of large, beautiful bell-shaped flowers. Seed should be sown in March in the house, in shallow boxes, in light rich soil, in a temperature of about 60 degrees. The young plants should be potted separately into small pots as soon as they can be hand- led with safety, using the same kind of soil. When the plants are about a foot in height they can be trans- planted to the positions desired. In sowing place seeds in edgewise and merely cover with light soil, otherwise, the seed will often fail to germinate. If the seeds are sown out of doors the blooming period will be only in the fall months. Cockscomb or Celosia There are two types of Cockscomb. The crested produces large ornamental comb-like heads resembling- ruffled chenille. They are prized for summer llower beds and also make fine pot plants. They grow to the height of 12 to 18 inches. You can get the seed in yellow, cream, rose, bright red, and striped colors. Celosia Plumosa, or Plumed Cockscomb is very beautiful. It forms large branching plants three and one-half feet high and bears large conical plumed heads of golden yellow, fiery scarlet, purple, salmon, blood red, etc. The plants are annuals, growing easily and quickly from seed and present a very showy appearance, lasting in bloom until frost. Plumed cockscomb make hand- some borders for Canna beds. Sow the seed on the out- side when danger from frost is over in drills one-eighth inch deep and when 3 to 4 inches in height transplant to the place they are to bloom. Coleus Coleus are perhaps the King of all foliage plants for flower beds. They are equally well adapted for window plants if your room can be kept at a tempera- ture of about 70 degrees during the winter. They also enjoy a bright sunny window. They are very easily propagated from cuttings. Place the cuttings in sand or dirt until they have formed roots, care being taken to keep the material moist, and also shade the cuttings. If you want nice plants for beds, the cuttings should be taken from your old plants about the middle of February. They will be just about the right size when the time arrives for planting out which is the 1st of June. Watch your plants carefully for mealy bug, which will eventually destroy them if allowed to go unchecked. The bug looks like pasty flour and does not seem to be alive. You will find it on the branches of the plants and 23 under the leaves. Dissolve some good soap in water until you have a heavy suds, then take a tooth brush and dip it in the suds and brush them off. In this way, you can keep your plants clean and will not have to go over them often. If cleaned properly before you set them out in beds, you will not have to bother with them afterward. Columbine The Columbine is an old garden favorite and few plants look better or thrive so well in woodlands or in shady corners where most plants cannot grow. The new hybrids, most of them having unusually long slender spurs, with the most varied and delicate com- binations of colors, are exquisitively beautiful. Plant in the fall or early spring in half shade. The plants grow 2 to 3 feet high. Clumps taken up in the fall and placed in pots and stored in a cold frame can be taken out of the frame any time after Christmas and forced in a cool room for winter flowers. Cornnower or Centaurea Cornflower or Centaurea is a very old favorite garden annual, flowering freely in almost any situation. It grows to the height of 2 to 3 feet, and is used largely for cut flowers. The seed can be sown out of doors as soon as danger of frost is over, or it can be sown in boxes in the house, which will make plants that will bloom earlier than those sown out of doors. There is a species of Centaurea called Dusty Miller which is used largely for ribbon beds, edgings, vases, etc. The foliage is silvery gray. The variety called Centaurea Candidissima is the most popular one for this purpose. The seed of this variety should be sown in boxes also. After the plants are large enough to handle they should be transplanted into 3 inch pots, in which they should remain until time to plant out. When indoors they should have a temperature of about 60 degrees. Cosmos The Cosmos is a tall, graceful, showy annual and enjoys wide popularity. It has been developed into a variety of shapes and colors. It blooms profusely in the late summer and autumn. The season of bloom can be lengthened by starting the seeds in frames or window boxes in early spring. It is excellent for cut flowers. Seed may be sown outdoors as soon as frost is out of the ground. The plants are of quick growth, making large bushes, fully five feet high, which are a mass of elegant foliage. They should be planted not less than 18 inches apart in rows or in masses. When the plants are about a foot high the tops should be pinched back to induce a bushy growth. Do not plant in a too rich soil; they prefer a light soil, but will do well anywhere. Stake the plants to prevent blowing down. Cowslip or Polyantnus For the front of the borders and shrubbery for spring bedding and for naturalizing in moist and partly shaded places nothing is finer than the Cowslip or Polyanthus. It is a free flowering perennial, forming trusses of flowers on an erect-growing strong stem about six to eight inches high, and the coloring of the flowers are very bright and effective, running from white, yellow, through the various shades of red, crimson and rose. Sow the seed in early spring in boxes, and then transplant to the open ground when large enough. Seed can also be sown in a prepared seed bed in the summer for blooming the following spring. The Polyanthus succeeds best in rich soil, and in a somewhat moist and partially shaded location. Plants can be taken up from the border and placed in fern dishes or pots for indoor decoration and they will go on blooming as if they had never been disturbed. Sow seed twice its size in depth. 25 ADDING THE BEAUTY TOUCH This IS a nearer view of the Elk Monument seen in a previous pic- ture. It shows w^hat can be done in proper location ana by the aaai- tion OT Tiow^ers. The white vases on the Tour corners are nllea with rea Geraniums. All this equip- ment ana arrangement was pro- aucea by Hershey workmen. It is a closer view of the possibilities of concrete m home and park em- bellishment. Crotons Crotons are very beautiful foliage plants and will do fairly well among coleus in the window garden. The markings and colorings of their leaves are something wonderful. They are certainly aristocratic plants. They are propagated by cuttings which are easily started in sand in a very warm greenhouse, it being useless to tn.- to start them any other way. If you want a plant buy a small one from some one who has the facili- ties for growing them. Watch for the mealy bug on this plant and give it the same treatment as described for coleus. Cyperus or Umbrella Plant This excellent plant for the house will thrive in any good soil, and always present a green and attractive appearance. It may be grown as an aquatic submerged in water, and in any case should never lack a liberal supply of water, for if allowed to dry out one time, the plant turns yellow and is ruined. It is propagated from seed or by dividing the plant. Cyclamen The Cyclamen are charming house plants with their beautiful foliage and rich colored flowers. They should be grown from seed, which should be sown as soon as ripe, in gentle heat in pans filled with a compost of well-rotted manure, leaf mould and coarse sand thoroughly mixed. As soon as the plants have two leaves transplant into small pots, filled with same compost, and place in partial shade. Carefully water. Too dry or too wet are equally fatal. Seeds may be sown any time during the Spring or Autumn. If wanted for winter blooming, seeds should be sown in February of the previous year. 27 Daisy There is nothing more charming for naturaHzing than this popular Uttle flower. The daisy will stand the winter if given the protection of a litter of leaves or manure. It blooms from early spring until well in the summer. It is easily raised from seed, which may be sown any time from spring until August. For best results, new plants should be raised from seed each year. The Daisy is an admirable plant for making edgings or borders, and is well suited for growing in pots. They thrive best in a loamy soil, richly manured, which should be dug over and well broken up before planting. They will bear transplanting even when in flower, provided they are taken up with a portion of soil attached to the roots. Daklias The propagation of the Dahlia is quite simple. The young plants are grown from cuttings taken off old roots and started in heat in February or March, and grown in pots until time to plant out in the border, which should be done as soon as. danger from frost is over. They should have a strong, deep and rich soil. They are rapid growers, and are much benefitted by frequent applications of water during the summer, and by liquid manure after the buds are formed. The shoots and flower buds must be thinned out in the younger stages of growth, if perfection in bloom is wanted, but otherwise it is not necessary to do so. They should be planted about three feet apart and each plant carefully staked up to prevent breaking down. The best and easiest way of all is to procure the roots, planting them the same as directed above. These will bloom, after which they can be dug out in the fall, stored in a cellar until spring, when they then can be divided up and planted out in the summer. JDigitalis or Fox Glove For stately and picturesque beauty the Digitalis is not to be surpassed. They make a fine background for the other lower-growing plants or among shrubbery, thriving in half shade as well as in the open. They pre- fer a rich, loamy soil and partial shade. They are propagated by seeds or roots. With but little attention this old-time favorite will give a wealth of flowers in June and July. The plant grows from 3 to 5 feet. Clumps of Digitalis should be taken up and divided during the fall months every two years. If left alone they will decay as the clumps get too large and rot during the winter. Dracaenas All Dracaenas make very pretty pot plants for the warm greenhouse or window garden. The most popular one is Dracaena Indivisa, which is used largely for the center piece in vases. It is also fine as a specimen plant in tubs for lawn decoration. There are several very beautiful varieties that have highly colored leaves, some of which are useful for window and house decoration; others must have a warm greenhouse temperature. The young plants are started from pieces of the stems of old plants placed in warm, damp sand to sprout Duckman s Pipe Vine or Aristolocnia This is a vigorous and rapid growing climber, bear- ing single brownish-colored flowers, resembling in shape a pipe. Its flowers however are of little value, compared to its light-green leaves, which are very large in size, and which retain their color from early spring to late fall. It is perfectly hardy and is very useful for covering rustic summer houses. 29 Dwarf OtaLeite Orange This dwarf Orange makes a very pretty addition to the window garden. It is easily grown from the seed of its own fruit, and will bear without being grafted as other oranges have to be. Plants 1 foot in height some- times have more than one dozen oranges on at a time. When in blossom it sends out a delightful perfume. The oranges when ripe hang on the plant for a long time but are not nearly so large as the kinds grown in Florida. Echeveria Echeverias are succulent plants and somewhat re- semble the Cactus. The kinds most used for bedding purposes are shaped like tiny rosettes. The variety called Glauca is the kind most used. There is nothing nicer for a border around a bed of Coleus or Alternan- thera than this plant. In the fall the plants can be taken out of the beds and planted in shallow boxes and be stored away in a light cool cellar for the winter. When spring arrives, divide the plants into single ro- settes and pot up again, and plant out when the weather is warm enough. There is a variety that is perfectly hardy and can remain outside all winter. Bore holes in a keg about 2 inches apart. Stick a plant in each hole on the outside of the keg. Fill the keg full of dirt and plant some on top. Place the keg on a stone post. Plant English Ivy which is also hardy at the post and you will have winter and summer a lawn ornament that is hard to beat. EnglisK Ivy This is a beautiful evergreen climber useful for covering stone walls that are not too much exposed to wintry blasts. It does not shed its leaves in winter as Boston Ivy does, but is more difficult to get established at the place you want it to grow. It makes a beautiful pot plant for house decoration when trained on a fan- shaped trellis made of wire. You can keep it in a cool room without any sun and it will do finely. It makes very little growth in the house during the winter, but during the spring it will make a fine growth. It will make a nice plant for the porch in summer. Miniature window boxes with lattice work and planted with this Ivy make a ^'ery pretty plant arrangement. Ferns In the cultivation of Ferns a compost of decayed leaf mould, dark loam and well rotted cow manure, in equal proportions, should be used when the Ferns are potted. They should be well underdrained by plac- ing a few pieces of broken potter^' or other rough ma- terial in the bottom of the pots. The general character of the Fern is much the same the world over. It grows to the height of from one inch to six to seven feet. Some of the varieties are stout and fleshy, while others are delicate and filmy, but nearly all are herbaceous, resembling in the nature of their foliage the ordinary plants. Ferns require a temperature of 60 degrees. The foliage should be sprayed once a week when in the house. Ferns do better when placed in a window where there is no sunlight. They should be kept away from radiators and stoves. They should never be overwatered or allowed to become dry. It is bad for the Fern to stand in a jardiniere with water in the bottom. Flowering Maple or ALutilon These are elegant flowering perennial plants of strong growth and easy cultivation. Some varieties are very free flowering, with various colored, beautiful bell-shaped flowers. Other varieties have handsome marked and veined foliage and are indispensable for making fancy flower beds, and for borders around Canna beds. The flowering kinds are very pretty as 31 window plants, and should be in every collection. A large specimen grown in a tub loaded with red bells makes a fine lawn ornament. You can grow them either from seed or by taking soft wood cuttings. Forgfet-Me-Nots This dainty plant is especially effective when grown in masses. It is a hardy plant and if given slight pro- tection will thrive through the winter. The seed may be sown from spring until midsummer. The herbaceous species succeed best in moist places, but all may be grown in pots, provided they are kept well watered. They are usually grown, however, in cold frames like Pansies. Four-O clocks They are called Four O'clocks because they open their blossoms at that hour in the afternoon when their umbrella tops are afresh with blossoms, the white, the red and the yellow, each the prettiest. Sow the seeds early in the spring when safe from frosts. Plant the seeds where they are to grow eighteen inches apart, about one-half inch in depth, four or five seeds at a place, and then thin to one single, healthy plant. Four-0'cIocks do their best in a well cultivated bed. Each plant will bear throughout the summer hundreds of these brilliant blossoms. They look their best if the seeds are planted in mixed colors. Gaillarida This perennial should be in every hardy border as the plants take care of themselves, require no protec- tion and will thrive in almost any soil or position. If seeds are sown early the plants will begin bloom- ing in July and continue until frost. Sow in shallow drills and thin out to stand 10 inches apart. Those that are thinned out can be transplanted to other places. The Gaillardia are very showy and well adapted for garden decoration. The seed germinates slowly. To get the plants to flower the whole summer, the seed should be sown in the greenhouse in February. The plants may be put out in the open when all danger of frost is over. They grow to about one and one-half feet high. Seed sown out of doors when danger of frost is over will make line blooming plants for the following season. ^^eranium Geraniums are old favorites and always were, and always will be the leading bedding and window garden plants. They will grow and thrive in any sunny window in your living room, and when they bloom your win- dows from the outside make a fine show. The plants for winter blooming should be started from cuttings taken not later than August from the plants in the beds. Place the cuttings in pots, keep the soil moist, but not too wet, and set in a shady place for two weeks, after which the plants will have formed roots and can be brought out in the sun. Plants wanted for summer blooming for beds should be started about October and kept in a cool sunny window, pinching back the tops to make them stocky. This will make you very nice plants. There are a great many colors found in geraniums. All are good. Pick out the kinds you like best. The sweet-scented-leaved geraniums are good for window plants but are poor bloomers. Ivy-leaved Geraniums are pretty and are nice for window boxes and vases. Pelargoniums or Lady Washington Geran- iums are fine for winter bloomers, doing well in the window among the other Geraniums. These gerani- ums should be kept quite dry during the fore part of the winter as this is their resting period. They do not begin to bloom until toward spring when their pansy shaped flowers make a great show. 33 ONCE AN OLD QUARRY In many respects this is the most remarkaDle transformation that has been wrought in Hershey. It was the old quarry from which w^as se- cured the limestone which enters into the construction of many of the important buildings of the town. After the stone was taken out the quarry presentea a very mean ana ugly appearance but it had large possibilities which we fma realized in this picture. It is now called the Rock Garden. All the shrubs and evergreens were planted and nothing you see is of native grow^th. Notice the stone stair w^ay leading down to the flower beds from the top of the rocks. This is one of the graceful and artistic bits of Her- shey. The long flower bed in the foreground is planted with red Geraniums with a border of Coleus, Cjladiolus Gladioli are remarkable for their ease of culture and for the beauty and intense coloring of the flowers. It is no more trouble to raise Gladiolus from bulbs than it is to raise the most common of plants. Prepare your bed in spring as for any hardy annual, plant the bulb and co\-er to a depth of .3 inches. Hoe and keep them well weeded. Take up the bulbs after a frost, or before if they show signs of ripening. Store them in a dry cellar, free from frost. Plant them out again the next spring and the ensuing summer all of them will flower. If you plant the bulbs in a hotbed or cold frame, close it upon the approach of a heavy rain. By planting bulbs in hotbeds you will have flowers four weeks ahead of those that are planted out in the open ground after frost is over. Gladiolus will thrive in almost any good garden soil. They prefer a moist, sandy, or light loam. They do their best on what is called sod-ground, or ground that has plenty of decayed vegetable matter in it, with but little manure, and that well rotted. Planting should not be done in spring until weather conditions will warrant. About the first of May is the most suitable time. They can be planted two weeks apart, which insures a succession of blooms the entire summer. They can be planted in beds at least 6 inches apart either way. A bed of Gladiolus makes a glorious summer show. Godetia The Godetia is an exceedingly handsome and showy hardy annual, growing about one foot and a half high. The plant blooms profusely and bears flowers of satmy texture in many rich and varied colors. The seeds should be started m the hotbed m March and transplanted into good soil when danger of frost is over They require plenty of room. Close plantmg will draw them up and weaken them. They will thrive m 35 shady places. They do the best in rather poor soil. The seed should be sown in boxes and planted to about twice their depth. They can also be started from cuttines. HelicKrysum or Straw Flower This is one of the best "Everlastings." It has ex- ceedingly effective double ffowers, making a fine dis- play in beds or borders. They succeed in any rich gar- den soil. Give them plenty of room to develop, planting not closer than 12 inches apart. If wanted for winter bouquets, cut the flowers as directed for Xeranthemums. If allowed to get too old before being cut, the flowers fade and the color is lost. rieliotrope The flowers of the Heliotrope are very fragrant and will bloom the entire season, or the year round if plant- ed in pots. It grows quickly and easily from seed, doing best in rich soil, planted in boxes and the seeds sown shallow. Seed started indoors in the spring will make fine plants for summer blooming. Seed can also be sown outdoors, preferably in May. The Heliotrope grows freely in the open border. Perhaps the best and easiest way is to grow the plant from cuttings, which can be taken from the old plants that are carried over in the house in the winter season. They require the same treatment as coleus cuttings. HltlSCUS Hibiscus is an old favorite producing flowers of great size, brilliancy and beauty. They are very de- sirable for mixed beds or borders, and are of easy culture. Plant in damp places. It produces flowers all season and plants grow from 2 to 5 feet high. If planted from seed sown over one inch in depth, plants will bloom in midsummer. There is also a hardy Hibiscus, or mallow, which is propagated from a division of roots. This plant makes a great show of flowers during July and August. The flowers are produced in white, pink and red, on stems five to six feet high, a foot or more in diameter. Roots planted in the spring will produce flowering shoots the first year. Hollyliocks Hollyhocks are fine old-fashioned flowers and are splendid ornamental plants. They grow to a height of 5 feet to 8 feet. The varieties comprise almost every color, including white and purple so deep that it is almost black. The seeds should be sown in March or April, about an inch deep. When the plants come up they should be thinned out, so as not to crowd, and then allowed to remain until September, when they should be trans- planted to the places where they are to bloom. For planting among shrubbery and forming a back- ground for other flowers the Hollyhock is without an equal. When the plants are well established they will bloom fully and freely year after year. Seeds sown one year will give good flowers the following ^^ear. Hollyhocks thrive in rich soil. Hollyhocks are sub- ject to a rust on their foliage, which can be checked if taken in time by sprinkling the leaves with flour of sulphur. For winter Hollyhocks need no protection, as they are hardy. riyacintns Among the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring are the Hyacinths. They are a bulbous plant and will grow in water as well as in the moist soil, if properly cared for. 37 The flowers of the Hyacinth are in delicate shades of pink, blue and white. They are to be found in a great diversity of colors in imported bulbs, and the flowers are almost overpowering in their fragrance. The Hyacinth should be planted by the first of No- vember in beds on the outside for spring flowering. The bulbs should be placed about 5 inches apart each way and about 4 inches in depth. On the approach of cold weather the beds should be covered with a layer of strawy manure, dried grass, leaves or other material at hand. This covering should be removed on the ap- proach of the first fine weather in spring. If wanted for blooming in the house for Easter, the bulbs should be potted at the same time that they are placed in the beds on the outside in November. An ordinary? bulb can be placed in a four-inch pot. Use a good garden soil and put a couple of pieces of broken crockery in the bottom of the pot to insure drainage. After the bulbs are potted, give a fair water- ing. The proper way to keep these bulbs in pots over winter is to dig a trench one foot deep and put some coal ashes in the bottom of the trench to prevent the earth worms from getting in the bottom of the pots. The pots should then be placed in the trench, on top of the ashes, close together, after which fill in on top of the pots with leaves, press the leaves down with the hands until the trench is filled. Then pile up dirt taken from the ditch on top of the leaves. This will shed the water and prevent pots becoming water-soaked in winter. At the time you cover the beds on the outside with manure or leaves, you can also put some of the same material on top of the dirt of the trench where pots are buried. This prevents frost getting in deep and will make it easier to get out the pots when the ground is frozen. The pots should be removed from the trench five weeks before Easter or any other special time that the flowers are wanted. They should be placed in a room without any direct sunlight falling on the pots. The temperature should be 60 degrees in the day, with lower temperature at night. The pots should be water- ed when the ground seems to be somewhat dry, and the flowers wired to give them their proper position so they will not draw crooked. Hyacinths are sometimes grown in water. To do this you will have to purchase Hyacinth glasses for the pur- pose of forcing them. Fill the glasses with water, plac- ing the bulbs on top of the glass so that the bottom of the bulb is in the water. Then place them in a dark cellar until the roots fill the glass of water, after which they are to be brought up to the light and given the same conditions as those forced in the pots. Hydrangea The Hydrangea is a beautiful hardy shrub with large panicles of pure white flowers. It blooms from July until frost. It will thrive in either sun or shade. The Climbing Hydrangea is a beautiful vine, having large flower heads and making a most splendid adorn- ment to the porch. It is of slow growth but will even- tually cover the trellis work, and it is wonderfully beautiful when in bloom. The Hydrangea is easily grown. At least one of these plants should be on every lawn, no matter how small. There is a species of Hydrangea called Hortensis that is not hardy, which grows finely as pot or tub plants. They must be protected against frost. They thrive in any good garden soil, but give better results when grown in a soil composed of two parts of good turfy loam and one part of rotted cow manure. When in active growth, supply liberally with water. At this time also stimulants in the form of liquid manure or bone meal will prove beneficial. Give full exposure to the sun, except when in flower, when a slight shade will prolong their blooming. On the approach of freezing weather, store in a fight, cool cellar, or similar place. Water only sufficiently to prevent the roots from dry- ing up. Keep the plants as cool as possible during the winter, but never expose to frost. If they start into growth during winter they are stored too warm and 39 IN AN ITALIAN GARDEN This IS a nook in the Italian Gar- den at High Point, the residence oi Mr. M. S. Hershey. It is an east- ern view from the dining room and the purpose is to make it as cheerful as possible. The large bed in the center is filled with Mrs. Alfred Conrad Cannas which are a beauti- ful pink and these are bordered with Crimson Fountain Grass, the whole bemgsurrounded by a minia- ture hedge of Cahfornia Privet. In the foreground the bed to the left IS nlled w^ith Dw^arf Cockscomb, with an evergreen Globe Arbor Vitae m the center. The bed to the right is filled with Portulacca, with a Globe Arbor Vitae in the center. Six more beds surround the center bed and are filled w^ith Petunias, Four O'clocks, and other flowers which give bright colors and variety. The color scheme is fur- ther helped by a border of Coleus of different kinds around each bed. should be moved into cooler quarters. Early in the spring bring the plants on the porch, or some sheltered place, and increase the supply of water, again giving full exposure to the sun as the weather becomes settled. In some soils, due to the presence of iron or certain chemicals, Hydrangeas naturally flower blue. To pro- duce this color artificially, mix one half pound of Alum broken into pieces about the size of hickory nuts with each bushel of soil. There is still another species named Hydrangea Otaksa. This is the variety that is used so extensively at the Atlantic seashore resorts, producing immense heads of pink, and sometimes blue flowers throughout the entire summer. If they are planted in the open ground in summer, they must be carefully dug up again in the fall and placed in tubs for winter storage. Impatiens Impatiens are handsome plants forming bushes 12 to 18 inches high. The flowers one and one-fourth to one and three-fourths inches across are of scarlet, orange, red, pink, and white with a red eye. The plants grow luxuriantly out of doors and form effective and unusually showy flower beds by their great abun- dance of bloom. They should be planted where they will be shaded from the afternoon sun; the east side of a building or fence would be fine. If grown in pots for winter blooming, they make a fine flowering plant. They can be propagated by cuttings very easily. They can also be grown from seed. If grown from seed you should use the same method as under the culture of primroses. I ris The Iris is one of those thrifty plants which owe their splendor to the industry and economy of the last year's roots. In the spring, when they begin to pre- pare their pretty new dresses, they are in possession of 41 material ready for use. Thus they make their appear- ance in dainty costumes very early, in some localities as early as March. After the Iris has shown its rich colors for a time, it withdraws into its green sheathing again and looks like a bud. The seeds are carried far and wide, but they will not germinate unless they fall near a damp spot. Scarcely any plants in the flower garden can com- pare with the Iris for gorgeous beauty and they com- mand a permanent place in all gardens. The Iris will succeed in any light and dry soil, with the exception of the Japanese variety, which should always be planted along the margin of a stream or pond. The Iris will flower better under the shade of trees. The bulbs should be taken up and replanted every second or third year, as the new bulbs which are formed every season are always directly under the new bulb, and thus in a few years the bulbs descend so low as to be out of the reach of the air, and consequently in- capable of vegetation. In the Iris family, the Japanese Iris ranks first, and the German second. The Japanese Iris will thrive in any good garden soil, but the soil should be made very rich and deep. The German Iris blooms profusely early in May, and is of the greatest hardiness and easi- est culture. It is most effective when used as edg- ings for shrubbery or garden borders. For winter the Iris need no protection, as they are hardy. J< Jem Ck erusaiem ^^nerries These are largely grown for Christmas decorations. They make very pretty plants for the window. They belong to the pepper family. Sow the seed in boxes in the house at the same time you sow your pepper seed, March 1st being time enough. When the plants are about one to one and one-half inches in height, transplant them again into other boxes. When the weather is warm enough plant out into the garden about 2 feet apart. In the fall when danger from frost arrives dig them up and place in 6 inch pots. They will then be full of green fruit. Put in the shade for 10 days or 2 weeks, after which you can place them in the window, where the fruit will gradually turn red, and will be at its best about Christmas. Kocnia or Summer Cypress This is an old-fashioned popular annual, some- times known as Mexican Fire Plant. It is easily grown from seed forming oval bushes two to two and one-half feet high, densely clothed with small, feathery, light green foliage, deepening in color as the summer ad- vances, until the whole plant assumes a fiery crimson hue. The numerous small flowers borne in the fall are also of a bright red color. It is an attractive plant at all times either in garden beds or in pots. Placed at intervals in beds of Sweet Alyssum, or among Dusty Millers, the effect is very fine. A beautiful hedge for the summer season can be made from these plants placed 2 feet apart. Kudzu Vine This vine is a very rapid grower. It has large oval leaves and where a quick covering is wanted for a screen or a pergola it is just the vine for the purpose. During warm nights in July and August the vines will grow 2 feet or more in 12 hours. The vine is propagated by taking pieces of its roots. Lady Slippers or Balsams Balsams are an old garden favorite and should_have a place in every garden. There is no flowering plant that is more easily grown. Sow the seeds out of doors in drills about one-eighth inch in depth when danger of 43 frost is over. When about 4 or 5 inches in height, transplant to the places they are to bloom. The new variety called Goliath grows to a height of from two and one-half to three feet and has numer- ous side branches which are loaded down with flowers. Lantana Lantanas make very pretty pot plants for the sunny window, and are also fine for bedding out in summer. They can be started from either seed or cuttings. When kept in the house a temperature of about 60 degrees seems to suit them best. The seed should be sown in shallow boxes or pans about February 1st about one-eighth inch in depth and transplanted when large enough to handle if you want the plants to bloom early. Cuttings from old plants placed in sand will bloom as soon as the roots have formed, which will take about three weeks. Larkspur Botanists have found more than 100 species of the Larkspur scattered over the world. The cultivated varieties include many shades of blue and some white hybrids. One called the "Blue Butterfly" has a feather- ly foliage. The Bee Larkspur has blue flowers with black centers. Seeds sown in the open ground before the close of April will produce flowering plants by July and will give a succession of flowers until frost. As soon as the first crop of flowers fades, cut them off close to the ground. By this method it is sometimes possible to get two and three crops of blossoms in a season. They make handsome beds, with their curiously cut leaves and splendid flowers. The Larkspur will grow in any soil or situation, but one open to the sun suits them best. They are improved by the addition of a good deal of thoroughly rotted manure to the soil in which they grow. Lilies Lilies make a fine display when planted in groups in the garden or lawn. The old fashioned white lily of the trumpet variety is often seen in gardens. The plants and roots ripen and die off every year leaving the bulb in a dormant condition during the winter. Ideal locations are in the shrubbery border where the roots are sheltered from the hot sun. Groups of six or more lilies of a kind here and there in such situations are most effective. The kinds most suitable for this purpose are the single and double Tiger Lily and the Day or Orange Lilies. The White and Yellow Calla Lilies are most suitable for the window garden. Both require a season of rest when the pots they are in should be allowed to dry out and the roots ripen. This pro- cess should always be done during the summer. When fall arrives the roots should be taken out of the old dry earth and planted back into the same pots in fresh ground. The soil they are planted in should be com- posed of two-thirds good garden soil and one-third well rotted cow manure thoroughly mixed. Lily Formosum and Giganteun are the kinds mostly used for Easter forcing. The bulbs arrive in this coun- try about August. They should be potted up not later than September 1st in the same soil as described above and well watered. Then they should be placed in a cool dark cellar or cold frame. Being kept in this con- dition the roots fill up the pots before the tops appear, which is the proper way. After the tops show above the surface of the soil, they can be brought into a cool greenhouse or window of about 60 degrees and allowed to come along slowly. If you find a month before Easter that the buds are small, put them in a higher tem- perature. The plants should be regularly smoked once a week to keep off the green fliy. Otherwise if the fly gets possession, you will have a time to get rid of it. After the flowers have opened the plants should be removed to a shady place; being kept this way the flowers will keep twice as long than if exposed to the sun. 45 JAPANESE GARDEN Advantage was taken oi a small stream for a lake ana an old quarry ana here we nave tne result. It is a part of tlie Japanese Garden at Higfli Point, Tke rocks m tKe back ground and tne plants lining the shores are indispensable to the picture. The stone foot bridge rough finished makes a good cen- ter as w^ell as being useful and the water fowl give a constant interest w^nich visitors seem, to enjoy. Lily oi tke Valley The Lily of the Valley belongs to the branch of the lily family which puts out its bell-shaped flowers in clusters. The flowers are white and have the six clefts characteristic of the family. It prefers a damp soil, but does not thrive in water. It may be placed under the shade of a tree, but wherever placed the roots should not be disturbed for several years, if at all, as many clumps will not otherwise bloom. The bed should be given a liberal top dressing of well-decayed manure in early spring. Planting for out-doors should be done before the end of April. The young plants are procured by dividing the old clumps into small parts. They should be planted so that the roots are covered to a depth of one inch. The Lily of the Valley is a perennial and needs no protection. Lobelia The Lobelia are remarkable for their profusion of beautiful flowers, blooming from June to November. They are usually treated as annuals and grow from seed, but succeed well when grown from cuttings. They thrive in a moist, deep loam, where they will not suffer from drought. They are of different shades of blue and for a fine effect should be placed as a border around a bed of red geraniums. Marigolds Marigolds are the old fashioned flowers that our grandmothers used to grow in their gardens. There is no plant that makes a greater show of yellow than a large bed of these flowers. They are very easy to grow. Seeds sown in the garden when danger of frost is over will make fine plants in a short time. They can then be transplanted to the places they are to bloom. Plants of the dwarf varieties of the Marigolds make very pretty borders around Canna beds. 47 Mignonette This attractive plant should always be sown in light, sandy soil, if possible, for when planted in a rich soil it loses its fragrance. It delights in a moist or damp situation. That the plants may flower in winter the seed should be sown in the open border in July. In September the plants should be placed in pots, but do not crowd, and then they should be placed in any convenient location in a room without fire, until they have formed their fiower-buds, which will be the latter part of October. Then they should be removed to a window where the temperature does not exceed 50 de- grees at night. If regularly watered they will bloom until March. Morning Glory The Morning Glory deserves a place in every garden for it is a splendid climbing plant. It thrives in almost any location and soil. The plant should be trained against stakes or trellis work, as its stems are too feeble to support themselves. They will do the best if trained to strings. The seeds should be sown as soon as the ground can be gotten in order in the spring. Soaking the seeds in warm water for an hour or two hastens germination. It is a rapid grower. Narcissus The Narcissus is remarkable for the elegance, fragrance and precocity of the flowers. The majority of these plants will thrive in almost any soil or situa- tion, though they will succeed best in a thoroughly drained, tolerably rich soil and if the position is one partially shaded from the hot sunshine in spring, the flowers will retain their beauty for a much longer period than if more fully exposed. The hardy sorts, when grown in the open borders, should be planted in November in newly-dug, well- manured ground at a depth of four inches, from the top of the bulb to the surface of the soil. The Narcissus is well adapted for planting in the herbacious or shrubbery border, or in the grass by the side of the woodland walks, or open spaces between trees and shrubbery. These bulbs can also be forced in pots by following the same directions as given under the culture of Hyacinths. Nasturtium There are two classes of Nasturtium, the tall or climbing kind and the dwarf or bushy variety. The seeds of all Nasturtiums should be planted where they are to bloom, and planted about one-half inch deep at a distance of 6 inches apart. The tall varieties are very useful for window or porch boxes and should be planted so that the vines can hang down the front of the boxes back of the vines. Other plants such as Geraniums, Dusty Millers, Coleus, etc., can be used to fill up the boxes. They are also very useful for planting back of stone walls that have been filled up on one side with dirt, and planted so that the vines will trail down and over the wall. With a little attention they can be trained on strings and they make a beautiful appearance, and will continue in bloom for a long time. There is a variety that has beautiful variegated foliage which adds much to the appearance of the plant when in bloom. Norfolk Island Pine or Araucaria The Araucaria is a beautiful evergreen pot plant and should be in every collection of window plants. It will succeed in sun or shade, and is not particular in regard to temperature, providing it does not go below the 50 degrees mark. Give it exactly the same treatment as you do under the cultural directions for palms. Some people complain about the leaves or whorls 49 falling off gradually, starting at the bottom of the plant. This is often caused by not spraying the plants with water at least once a week. If left alone, a small insect called Red Spider will take possession of your plant. This insect always starts at the bottom of the plant on the oldest leaves and gradually works its way up to the top. All spiders detest water, so if you attend to the spraying you will not be bothered with it. Do not look for the spider for you will not find it as it is very small. Palms Palms are very useful for porch and room decora- tions. You can keep your palms in a living room tem- perature if you are careful never to allow the soil in the pots to become dried out. They also detest having their roots standing in water. A great many people have their palms placed in jardinieres which will collect a lot of water from the drainage in the bottom of the pot. There is nothing worse than to have your plants in this condition. It will cause the roots to rot and the plant will die gradually. Always be careful to have the jardiniere large enough to permit air to circulate around your pots. You can keep your plants away from the windows. They look very pretty in the corners of your room. All they require is a light place. They should also be away from your radiators. Examine your plants for scale, which sometimes appears in the form of a hard shell about the size of a pin head on the under side of the leaves; these can be removed the same as the mealy bug on Coleus, directions for which you will find under the culture of Coleus. Spray your plants with water once a week, winter and summer and success will be yours. Pansies Pansies are the most human of flowers and they are favorites with everyone. The seeds can be sown in the autumn or spring. The seeds that are sown in the au- 50 tumn will flower in early spring, and if the old blooms are kept pulled off, they will continue giving large blooms quite a long time. Sow the seeds thinly during July or August in a well-prepared bed, partly shaded, of a size convenient for erecting a frame around to protect them during the winter, or they can be covered well with straw or leaves as soon as the cold weather sets in. Early fall sowing gives the finest spring flowers. Seeds can also be sown in February or March, the earlier the better, in flat boxes or seed pans, and then placed in the greenhouse, hot bed or window. Transplant them often so as not to allow them to get soft and spindly. Give the plants air whenever the opportunity affords. Pansies do best in a light, rich soil, and in a partially shady, cool and moist situation, but they will do well in almost am^ soil. In full exposure it is well to mulch the beds and to water plants freely. If wanted to bloom early, plants should have sashes of glasses on them not later than December, giving them air on nice sunny days for a few hours in the middle of the day. Peonies Peonies should be planted in the autumn early if they are to do well the next year, October being the best month. They can also be planted in April, if not convenient to plant in the fall. They are particular as to soil, which should be dug to the depth of 18 inches and enriched with manure, The manure however should not be allowed to come in contact with the root in planting. During the drought in summer an occasional soak- ing with water will be of much benefit to the plant, and it is advisable in March to place some rich soil over the roots. They can also be mulched with a cover- ing of manure in winter. It is a mistake to cut off the foliage of the Peony directly after flowering, as it is necessary to the plant when maturing to its growth for the next season, and it makes a mass of decorative green. 51 After planting, Peonies are continually increasing and an old clump may be divided into 25 or 50 plants. Each eye sends forth a stalk, and 2 or 3 eyes are usually allowed to each root. Peonies make handsome border plants along walks and around porch foundations. Peonies are hardy, and need no protection. Peperomia Peperomia is a fine foliage plant for the window garden. It makes a beautiful pot plant and is also fine for hanging baskets. The leaves are oval shaped and are beautifully striped with silvery green. I do not know of a single house plant that requires less atten- tion than this plant. It grows more beautiful each year and is bound to become more popular than ferns. It is propagated by divisions, that is by dividing up the plant. Petunias Petunias have a great variety of colors. They are splendid for borders or pots, and for porch and window boxes are very fine. Owing to the quick growth and quantity of bright flowers. Petunias are very useful to sow in bare spots in the garden. They come in bloom early and bloom in profusion all summer until late in Autumn. The flowers have a quaint fragrance of their own. They are easily grown from seed, but care should be taken at the beginning in regard to watering as the seed is small and is very often washed out. For the common kinds the seed may be sown in shallow rows or broadcast any time in spring after the trees begin to leaf. When the young plants are well started, thin out or transplant to stand one foot apart each way, or they may be left standing at six inches apart. After the plants have commenced to bloom, thin them to twelve inches apart, retaining only the plants having the largest flowers and finest colors. 52 For the double and giant-flowered varieties sow the seed in shallow boxes of light, rich soil, placing in a warm, sunny window during March or April. When well started and when the seedlings have two or three leaves, plant in small flower pots, letting them grow in the pots until the trees are out in full leaf. Set out in the garden bed, one foot apart each way. The seeds of the Petunias are very small and re- semble dust, making it very difficult to sow the seed properly by hand. A good method is to use a small quantity of sand, mixing the seed with it and scatter the mixture on top of the soil. Press the soil firmly with the hands and water with a fine spray and cover the soil with a thin cloth. This will prevent the soil from drying out too quickly and will help conserve the moisture which is so essential on account of the small- ness of the seeds and of the shallowness of the sowing. In transplanting your Petunias never throw away the plants that are the weakest and poorest grow- ers, for these will be the ones that will have the largest and finest flowers. Those plants growing rapidly will bloom profusely, but the flowers will be small. Pinks or Diantnus These are among our most beautiful and best loved flowers. They are highly valued for the beauty and fragrance of their flowers which present a richer variety of tints of scarlet, crimson, rose, orange, etc., than are to be found in any other genus. The plants are quite hardy and often give a greater profusion of flowers the second year than the first. The plants spread rapidly and make ornamental masses of growth with rich and varied colors. Seedlings stand the winter and spring without difficulty with a light covering of leaves and evergreen boughs. Sow the seeds early and thinly in shallow rows. The plants will begin to flower in June and will bloom continuously until frost nips their buds. 53 CANNA BED IN THE PARK Tnis bed has become so popular with visitors that it has been maae a permanent attraction in the park. The cannas are yellow and are called Richard Wallace. The bor- der IS made oi Jewel Achyranthus which has red leaves. The -whole errect is a not of color and usually on good days it is surrounded by many spectators. PLlox There are several varieties of Phlox, all are very pretty. They show a great assortment of colors and are very easily grown. Phlox Drummondi is the Annual Phlox. It occupies a first place as a garden annual, being one of the most brilliant and the same time one of the easiest and most satisfactory plants which can readily be grown from seed. It will grow and thrive in any kind of soil, if given a sunny position, but it prefers a hght, rich loam. Seed may be sown in the open ground any time after danger from frost is past, and in a few weeks they are in a sheet of bloom, remaining so until frost. The^^ may be used in a variety of ways, such as a carpet to beds of roses, in boxes, vases, etc., but it is when grown in masses, in beds or borders, that they show to best advantage. Probably the most satis- factory of all perennials is the hardy Phlox, and a good space in the garden should always be given to these plants. The ground where Phlox is to be planted should be dug deep and well manured. The plants should be planted as soon as the frost leaves the ground in the spring, as growth begins very early, whether planted in the spring or fall. A mulch of old manure placed on top of the ground will be a benefit to the plants. Phlox should be set about 18 inches apart and if kept well watered, will produce both individual blossoms and heads of bloom far larger than otherwise and amply repay extra trouble. In October after three seasons of flowering, the Phlox should be lifted, the plants separat- ed into bunches of three or four stalks each, and then reset. Occasionally in warm moist summers, Phlox is at- tacked by mildew. But if upon the first sign of its ap- pearance, the leaves of the plants are well sprinkled, and afterwards plentifully dusted with powdered sul- phur, the disease will be arrested. In November after the stalks of the Phlox have been cut a litter of leaves may be spread over the plants for winter protection. Phlox are easily propagated from cuttings taken in the late fall after the wood is thoroughly refined. 55 Po msettias Poinsettias are the beautiful plants with the fiery red leaves or bracts on the top of each plant which you see often for sale at Christmas time. There is a great demand for these flowers both cut and in pots at this time, their red colors being most suitable for Christmas decoration. Most people have the idea that only pro- fessional florists can grow these flowers, but this is not the case. Buy a plant or two at Christmas time to start with, keep it among your other plants until the red leaves on the top of the plant fall off. Perhaps some of the green leaves at the bottom of the plant will begin to fall off first. After the plant looks too shabby to be at the window, allow the dirt in the pot to dry out and take it to the cellar if you have heat in it. If your cellar is too cold, stand it in some out of the way place where the temperature does not fall below 60 degrees. Do not put any water to the plant. All you will have will be the green stem which should be cut off to within 6 or 8 inches of the ground. Keep it in the light but not in the sun. About the first of May, your green stem will show signs of growth. Take it out of the pot, knock the old dry dirt off the roots, put up in fresh soil in the same pot, water thoroughly and place in the sun. A good way is to plunge the pot up to the rim in your mixed flower bed for the sum.mer. It will not drj^ out so quickly in this way. You will be surprised how well it will grow. When the young shoots are one inch in length cut them all off except the top one if one flower is wanted or leave the one on below the top one if two flowers are wanted. The flowers will not be so large if two are left on. They can be hand- led in this way from year to year. As soon as the nights get cool the plants should be brought in under cover and placed in a sunny window. Otherwise they will shed their leaves. The young shoots can be removed from the old plants and started in dirt or sand as other cutting are started. These will make you short stock plants and will hold their leaves better than the old plants. When the cuttings are removed from the old plants, put them in sand very quickly or else they will bleed out the white milky substance contained in the stems. When you cut off the flowers have a bucket of boil- ing water to dip the end of the stem in for a minute. Otherwise the flowers will not keep in water. Ponderosa or Dwarf Lemon This plant makes a fine companion for the Otaheite Orange. Seeds of its own fruit make fine bearing plants without being grafted. The tree when in blossom sends out a delightful perfume. The lemons grow to an immense size and often require support to prevent breaking the plant. They have been grown as large as 17 inches in circumference. If the leaves on your lemon tree get a black smutty substance on them, cleanse them with soap suds, for if allowed to remain, the leaves will fall off. Poppies These are very showy, hardy flowers, blooming in the spring when there are not many other flowers in the garden. The flowers are large and no other flowers will give you a more brilliant display of vivid color as will the poppy. These plants will withstand a temperature of 30 degrees below zero without protection, which makes them ideal plants for outdoor culture. The tap root is ten inches long and should not be injured in trans- planting, in fact, they are very hard to transplant. The better way is to sow the seed where the plants are want- ed to bloom. Sow the seed thinly, and cover lightly. Thin out to about 6 inches apart. Poppies are adapted to any soil. In cultivating pop- pies the seeds are often sown during autumn in places where severe frosts are not to be feared, but in the north- ern climate the seeds must be sown early in the spring. 57 -u '"^^-i^. /i '•^SfeTKs IN A DUTCH GARDEN These ^desigfns were put in for the sake of variety and they are rather out of line with the plans that prevail m the general scheme at Hershey. At the same time many people like them. These fio\ver beds are called Carpet or Rug Beds. They are composed of plants with bright colored foliage and are carefully trained to uniform height. Designs such as these re- quire constant attention as w^ell as careful planting in the first place. Portulaca Portulaca is a brilliant annual and grows to the height of about 6 inches. It luxuriates in a warm situa- tion and blooms profusely from early summer to au- tumn. For low beds and masses of color they are fine. The flowers resemble minature roses, particularly the double varieties, and the colors range through innumerable shades of red, yellow, pink, striped and white. The seed should be sown in the beds where they are to grow for the summer as soon as danger of frost is over. The seed is very small and resembles particles of dust. Mix a small quantity of sand with the seed and sow evenly over the bed, then pat lightly with a shovel. Enough seed will fall out of the flowers to seed the bed again for the following year, the plants showing them- selves as soon as the weather permits. r^rirarose There are several varieties of Primroses. The Chinese Primroses are perhaps the most popular as house plants in winter. All the Primroses are strictly winter bloomers. The flowers of the Chinese Primroses show a great variety of colors. Obconica Primroses are also fine house plants and are great bloomers. Malacoides or Baby Primrose is sweet scented and the flowers are fine for cutting. The seeds of all the Prim- roses should be sown about May or June if fine plants are wanted. The seeds resemble small particles of dust. They should be mixed with a small quantity of sand which will make it more easily handled when sowing the seed. Sow the seed in a small shallow box or pan, and simply press them in the soil with your hand, water carefully and keep in the shade. After the plants are large enough to handle transplant in small pots, repotting them into larger pots as the plants require. Always be careful to keep the plants in the shade during the sum- 59 mer season. The large plants when blooming like a little morning sun at the window. Keep them back of other plants so that they may have partial shade. Water carefully but do not allow the soil in the pots to be- come dried out. Ro ses Good Roses may be grown in any open, sunny posi- tion, if possible sheltered from north winds and clear from all roots of trees and shrubs. They will grow and give good returns in any fertile, well-drained ground, but it is worth while to use some care in the prepara- tion of the beds, as the general health of the plants and quantity and quality of bloom usually more than repay the extra care expended. The best soil for roses is the top soil from an old sod field or pasture ground, thoroughly mixed with a good quantity of well rotted cow or horse manure. Dig out the bed to a depth of 18 inches or more and fill in with the soil and manure. It is best to make the beds sometime in advance of planting to allow time for settling. The ideal time to plant Roses is in the spring just after danger of severe frost is past. Tea and Hybrid-Tea varieties can be set 18 inches apart. Hybrid perpetuals, or what most people call monthly roses, should be two feet apart, and both 8 inches from the edge of the beds. When the plants are supplied in pots they should be set so that the ball of earth is about two and one-half inches below the level of the ground. Firm the soil well around the plants, and give thorough watering if the soil is dry. Throughout the summer the surface of the soil should be cultivated weekly. If this is done watering will be scarcely necessary, except during exceedingly dry weather. All monthly roses should be pruned in the spring to encourage them to send up new shoots which will be the ones to have the flowers. Prune out the lightest wood and shorten up the balance. In this latitude, we have found that the most satisfactory pro- tection is to draw up a mound of soil from 8 to 10 inches high around the base of the plants, then covering the entire bed after the ground begins to freeze with any loose material such as strawy manure, evergreen boughs, etc. Tender roses can be entirely wrapped in straw or heavy paper leaving the top slightly open to give the plants air. If mildew attacks the foliage of your roses, dust your bushes with powdered sulphur or spray them with Sulphide of Potassium at the rate of one-half ounce to one gallon of water. It may be necessary to supplement this treatment with several applications of any tobacco solution or tobacco dust for green-fly or Aphis, which may appear during the growing season. Rubber Plants Rubber plants may be propagated from young shoots taken off in spring and inserted in moist sand. They are slow in starting. Give the rooted plants a fibrous loam with sand, well mixed and well drained. Rubber plants like heat and a temperature of 60 de- grees is desirable in winter, with a higher temperature in summer. The plants will drop their leaves if drain- age is insufficient, or there are great and sudden changes in temperature. A rubber plant has a season of rest, which can be noticed by the inactivity of the small tips of the branch- es, which are covered with a substance that resembles a piece of rubber. During this period they should be watered very sparingly. Watering at this time causes the leaves to black-spot and drop, making the plant very unsightly. Wipe the leaves with a soft dry cloth, holding the leaf in the hand, drawing the cloth over the face of the leaf lightly. Salvia or Scarlet Sage Salvias are fine bloomers for summer beds. There are several varieties, some being more dwarf than others. Salvia Splendens is the tallest grower, Tom Thumb the most dwarf one. Large beds of Salvias 61 jT^-j LOCATION OF A GREENHOUSE This view IS a corner of the lawn at HigfK Point. Advantage was tak- en of the nigh railroad emhankment ana the greenhouse was located under its shelter. It is an ideal location. It faces on the south and the embankment makes a fine wmdhreak for keeping off the cold in winter. In locating your green- house, bear in mind the southern exposure and the northern pro- tection. The bed along the walk is filled with pink Geraniums with a border of yellow Coleus. The round bed in the center is filled with bronze- leaved Cannas with a border com- posed of three kinds of Coleus in different colors. The large plants m the tubs are Dracenas. In the greenhouse during the cold weeks are tropical plants and all kinds of bedding and flowering plants. make a great show of scarlet. Put a border of yellow coleus around the outside and you have a flower bed that is hard to rival. If you have a yellow Canna bed put a border of Salvias around it and it will be the envy of your neighbors. The seed should be started early in March in a hot bed or sunny window and should be sown about one- eighth of an inch in depth. If sown in the house keep warm until the seed germinates, after which the plants can be raised in a living room temperature. They should be transplanted to make them stocky into boxes or pots allowing them room enough to de- velop. Sansevieria This plant is used largely in pots for hall and vesti- bule decorations. It seems to succeed best if kept in a location that is not very light. The plant is composed of a bunch of heavy leathery leaves which start from the top of the ground. The leaves are green and are spotted a lighter green. In one variety the leaves have a bright yellow margin which adds much to the beauty of the plant. Care should be taken not to give it too much water. Keep it rather dry. Snapdragons Snapdragons are highly satisfactory for gardens, beds, borders, pot culture, for house decoration, for forcing for winter cut flowers, etc. The plants are of a healthy robust growth, with deep green foliage, free and continuous blooming, producing long graceful stocks of immense and durable flowers, either rich and brilliant or soft and dainty as may be selected. Their continuous blooming qualities, ease of culture, and in- dependence of heat and drought and pure bright colors should entitle them to a permanent place in every gar- den. Although perennials in the South they do splendidly as annuals in the North. Spring sown seeds produce flowering plants in July, which continue to bloom in profusion until frost. An effective bed may be formed by planting the center with the tall varieties and the outer rows with the semi-dwarf. Planted in a combina- tion of separate colors, the effect is beautiful, although even a mixed bed is a feast for the eyes. The plants should be placed 19 inches apart each way. If you wish bushy plants pinch out the tops. This will cause them to send out numerous side shoots. For early blooming the seed can be sown in the house in shallow boxes about the middle of March and after- wards transplanted into the open ground. Stocks These popular flowers are easily grown, and are so highly fragrant and of such great beauty and have so many good qualities that they deserve a place in every garden. They should be given good rich soil to grow in. They will amply reward good treatment with re- markably large pyramids of bloom. The flowers repre- sent a great diversity of brilliant colors. They are equally as fine for beds as Snapdragons, but do not grow as tall. The seed should be sown out of doors as soon as the weather permits in drills about one-eighth inch deep, transplanting them as soon as they are large enough to the places where they are to bloom for the summer. Sunflower The Sunflower is an old fashioned flower largely grown for the large seed which they produce in abund- ance. There is now a new species of Sunflower used in ornamental plantings. They are called Henderson's New Hybrid Sunflowers. They are both single and double and range in color from White, Pink, Rose, Red to Purple. These sun- flowers planted in a large bed surrounded by a border of Scarlet Sage make a bed hard to equal and consider- mg- how easily they are grown, by sticking the seeds on the spot they are to bloom, success is possible to any one trying them. The seeds should be planted about one inch in depth. ovveet feas Sweet Peas are beautiful low growing vines for gardens and most useful of all in furnishing material for vases, bouquets and cut liower work. They can be grown successfully in every garden without the aid of a hotbed or greenhouse. Select a sunny spot and dig a trench ten inches deep, put in two inches of rotten manure, or droppings from a hen house, over this spread two inches of good, rich earth and then pat firm. Sow the seed thickly, covering an inch and half deep. As the plants grow, fill up the trench with rich earth. When the plants are 4 or 5 inches in height thin out to 4 inches apart. In this way the roots are strengthened, and the plants will be more sturdy and will bloom profusely through the heat of the summer, after which the ground should be mulched with decayed manure, which keeps the ground cool and prevents it from drying out. The seeds should be sown during the latter part of March or the first week in April, if the weather per- mits. Give them plenty of water and never allow the flowers to wither on the plants as that will shorten their blooming season. Pick flowers every morning. All seed wanted should be picked at the end of the blooming season. Getting seed in the height of the blooming season shortens the blooming period. Sweet William The Sweet William is a fine old plant which pro duces great masses of bloom of extremely rich and varied colors. It is one of the best edging plants for the border, and is very fragrant. The plants will grow 65 two feet high. It is easily raised from seed, and for colors and cutting purposes is excellent. The plant is hardy and blooms early the second spring after sowing the seed, and thrives in any good garden soil, and will last for years. Sow the seed thinly in shallow rows early in the spring. When well started transplant or thin out to stand six or eight inches apart to the row with the rows at least twelve inches apart. Protect through the winter with a mulch of straw or long manure. Tulip The Tulip is always attractive. It has beauty and brilliancy of color and is one of the popular early spring flowers. A few bulbs scattered here and there produce but little effect, but when planted in masses or in groups they become at once impressive and gor- geous and eclipse in variety, coloring and picturesque- ness almost any other flower. They can be planted in the garden and left to themselves without any atten- tion and will bloom each spring. The Darwin and Cottage tulips are better adapted for the garden or shrubbery border than any other kinds. If you wish to plant tulips in your beds that you use for your summer flowers you should choose the early varieties. Artus (scarlet), Chrysolora (yellow). Cottage Maid (pink). La Reine (white). Kaiser Kroon (red margined yellow) are some of the finest early kinds. Plant the Tulips in your beds about the first of November about five inches apart each way, and cover the bulbs with soil one and a half times their own depth. When the ground freezes hard the bed should be covered with three or four inches of leaves or litter which should be removed in early spring. Too early and too heavy covering starts the tops prematurely and these tops are frequently injured in March by freezing and thawing. Be careful and do not dig any fresh cow or horse manure into your beds ; if the bulbs come in contact with the manure they are liable to rot. Decayed manure of any kind or bone meal is the proper fertilizer to use. The best time to apply fresh manure to your beds is after you have taken out your bulbs and dug them for your summer flowers. In doing this it will not be necessary' to use any manure at the time you plant your bulbs. After your bulbs have flowered take them up tops and roots and "heel in" in some corner of the garden until the bulbs mature, which is indicated by the leaves turn- ing yellow, after which they should be spread out in an airy room to dry, and kept in a cool dark place until the time for replanting the following Autumn. Tulips for blooming in pots should be planted at the same time as those in beds; five or six bulbs of one kind should be planted in a six-inch pot. They do not look well planted one in a small pot. After they are potted water thoroughly and put in trenches, and treat exactly as 3'ou do Hyacinths which you will find under the cultural directions for Hyacinths in pots. Veroenas Verbenas are fine for beds. They bloom very freely, are vigorous in growth, and contain many beautiful colors and shades. They should be planted in a partially shaded situation. Verbenas can be started from seed which should be planted in a greenhouse about February 1st. After the plants are large enough to handle, they should be transplanted in two and one- half inch pots. Vmca The Vinca, also called Periwinkle or Old Maid, is an ornamental, free-blooming handsome bushy plant, growing to a height of one and one-half feet, with glossy foliage and round and single flowers one and one-half inches across. The Vinca blooms the first season from seed. They are very easily grown and produce a profusion of bright blossoms all the summer. If taken up in the fall and potted, these plants will bloom through the winter. 67 FOUNTAIN FLOWER BEDS Tnis view IS on the lawn at Hign Point and it is planned to Karmonize w^itn tne fountain. Tne nower oea m tne loregrouna is planted vi'itn Unlberg Cannas wliicK are pink and yellow, w^itli a border of tKree colors of Coleus. Tne two large plants m boxes are Pnoenix Palms. Tbe smaller ones are Boxw^oods. Con- stant care is given to tne walks and tne lawn and tne wnole place is made to preserve a beautiful appear- ance tnrougnout tne entire season. The Vinca is much used for bedding and edging. Plant tlie seed early indoors or in a hotbed. They will bloom in August from seed sown outdoors in May. The seed germinates slowly in about 3 weeks with a temperature of about TO degrees. The seeds should be covered to a depth of one-fourth inch. Vmca Vine The Vinca Vine is the best vine to hang over window and porch boxes and also for vases. It is better than any other vine that I know of. The leaves are a beauti- ful green color with a creamy white border. They grow fast and nicely in the sun or shade. When cool weather has spoiled your boxes or vases, remove the plants and plant in pots of a suitable size. They can be cut off to within 6 inches of the pots and placed among your other window plants. In spring take them out of the pots and divide up with a knife, one good plant making two or three smaller ones. Place these in smaller pots. In this way you can increase your stock. Violets Obtain first-class plants, bearing either single or double blossoms. Plant in boxes, pots or cold frames. If a box is used it should be deep enough for the plant roots to extend from 4 to 6 inches into the soil. The soil should be rich in manure and the plants should have plenty of water and good drainage. The temperature of the room should be not over 55 degrees and should have plenty of sunshine. Plant violets in September for winter blossoms in the house, and as they blossom, they should be picked to increase the supply. Every plant should bear from 50 to 100 blossoms a season. Each plant as it increases throws out crowns, which should be detached from the mother plant each season and transplanted. In this way the plants will multiply rapidly. 69 If you wish to use cold-frames, make an outdoor frame preferably on the south side of the building. The length should run east and west so the glass top will slant to the south. Board up around the bed about 8 inches high, cover the top with glass sashes, letting it slope south, then pack earth or manure around the boards to keep the frost out, and use heavy shutters or mats at night and let the sun shine on the plants during the day. Use a rich soil and plenty of water, providing for a good drainage in the bottom of the beds. Xerantliemum. or Everlasting Flower This is one of the most satisfactory of the ever- lasting fiowers, bearing an abundance of bright rose, purple, and white fiowers, which are not only showy in the garden, but very handsome as dried flowers for winter bouquets. It grows to the height of about 3 feet, and can be sown in the open ground early in May, transplanting it after large enough to the place it is to bloom. It grows readily in any open, sunny position, remaining in bloom from early summer till frost. Fill a vase or basket with these flowers when dry, and you will have an ornament for your living room hard to equal. Cut the flowers that you wish for winter bouquets when they are about at their best. Place in water and they will gradually dry. If they are allowed to dry on the plant they will form seed and the flowers will go to pieces. Zinnia The Zinnia blooms continuously from early June throughout the season until late in November. The blossoms are brilliant and dazzling, particularly the crimsons and scarlets. For early bloom the seed may be planted in cold frames or shallow boxes, and placed in a sunny window. The seed should be sown twice its size in depth. Sow the seed thinly in the spring and transplant when the plants are two or three inches high. The dwarf kinds should be planted twelve inches apart. The larger ones two feet apart. The Zinnia will grow from one to two feet high, and it is well suited to all situations and soils. 71 AGAIN THE JAPANESE This IS anotner view of the Japan- ese Garden at High Point. The nrst thing to attract your attention IS the old Japanese Lantern which you nna alongside the pine tree. Ho\vever, the Rustic Bridge serv- ing a useful purpose of connecting two islands attracts you and you rind along the stream ana m the water many plants that are w^orth your interest. Practical Directions Care oi House Plants The first thing to insure success with your plants is to see that you have the proper soil which should be composed of two parts of good mellow top soil and one part of well rotted cow or horse manure mixed thorough- ly. The rotted manure will make humus in your soil and will prevent it from packing and getting too hard. This soil will be all right for all plants that thrive in the sun. For the plants that thrive in the shade, such as Ferns, Begonias, some species of Palms, Sanseverias, Aspidistras, etc., your potting soil should be composed of one third good mellow top soil, one third leaf mould, or dirt from under large trees in the forest and one third rotted manure. You can also add a small portion of sand. This will make you a very mellow and porous mixture in which your shade loving plants will thrive nicely. Care should be taken never to pot up a small plant into a large pot. It takes too long for the roots to take possession of the soil, and it is bound to become sour and your plant will be ruined. Always take a pot suitable for the size of the plant to start with, putting it into a larger pot as the roots form a mass around the sides of the pot, which you can readily see by taking it out of the pot. Never overwater your plants. Always allow the soil to look a little dry on top of the pots. When you water give enough to reach the bottom of the pot. Always put a few pieces of broken pots or small stones over the hole in the bottom of the pot before 73 you fill it with dirt, to insure drainage. If you do not do this the hole will get closed up and the surplus water cannot get out, which will cause the soil to become sour and your plant will turn yellow, lose its leaves, and gradually die. All plants thrive best if the leaves or foliage can be washed or sponged off at least once a week, care being taken not to make the blooms wet. House dust is a deadly enemy to all plants and should never be allowed to remain on for a long time. Watch for the green louse on your plants. Put a little fine tobacco dust on them and that will be its finish. Also be on the lookout for mealy bug on your coleus. Apply soap suds with a tooth brush to the parts affected. Scale is another insect which requires attention. The same remedy as for mealy bug will be all right for scale. You will find it on the under side of your palm leaves and sticking in the new leaves as they open up. Keep the temperature in the room where you have your plants as regular as possible. If you keep it be- tween 60 and 70 degrees during the day and a little cooler at night and follow the directions as given above, I think all, even the beginners, ought to have success with their plants. Do not become dis- couraged if a plant goes back on you, or one dies oc- casionally. This will happen in the best of hands and cannot be avoided. Care oi Flower Beds In the first place see to it that your beds have a nice coat of rotted manure placed on them in the late fall. When spring arrives and the soil has become dry enough and the weather is warm enough, you can dig your flower beds. Dig them over deeply and pulverize the lumps. Rake carefully, and you are ready to plant them. After you have your beds planted, loosen up the soil to the depth of an inch with a dibber once a week. This cultivates them, destroys the young weeds and holds the moisture in your soil. During long dry spells, water your beds thoroughly at least twice a week, always in the evening after the sun is not so strong. Look over your beds occasionally and remove the old faded blooms. Doing this gives to your beds a fresh and inviting appearance. Keep the sides of your beds edged up well and the lawn nicely mowed around them, and they will be an ornament to vour home. How and When to Cut Flowers Flowers intended for table decorations and for vases should always be cut in the morning before the hot sun strikes them and immediately put in water. The water they are placed in should be changed every day and a small portion of the stem of the flower should be cut off. Put a pinch of salt in the water and keep your vases in the shade, and you will have no trouble in keeping most kinds of flowers for a week in good condition. Be careful not to cut your flowers too low on the stalk, as this will injure your plants and cause them to die. Small pruning shears are very use- ful for this work. Plants for SKady Places Sometimes you have a spot on your lawn that is shady and you are at a loss to know what to plant, or it may be your whole lawn is shaded. In perennial plants the following succeed very well in the shade: Colum- bine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Foxglove, Yellow Day Lilies, German Iris, Wild Sweet William, Balloon Flower, Stonecrop, Wood Lily, and Vincas; in shrubbery Aza- leas, Sweet Shrub, Jersey Tea, Sweet Fern, Privet, Bush Honeysuckle, Flowering Raspberry, Snowberry, Coral Berry and Viburnum. In annuals or plants from seed Begonias and Vincas take the lead. 75 Flowers for Table Decorations Many flowers grown out doors in summer can be used for table decorations. The kinds that are easily grown from seeds are Calendulas, Poppies, Cornflowers, Zinnias, Cockscomb, Asters, Snapdragons, Cosmos, Centaurea, Sweet Peas, Mignonette, Pansies and Scarlet Sage. Some hardy Shrubs have very pretty flowers and are useful for this purpose. All of the Spireas, or Bridal Wreaths, together with Deutzia, Golden Bell, Lilac, Snowball and Bush Honeysuckle are fine in their season of bloom. In plants that grow from bulbs, the Gladiola take the lead for this purpose. Bulbs planted in succession starting May 1st, and each planting made two weeks apart until August 1st, will give you an abundance of handsome spikes of bloom for a long time. Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths make nice flowers for table decorations in winter. Follow the directions as given in this book under cultural direc- tions for forcing bulbs, and you will have these spring flowers for your table from Christmas until late spring. Proper lime lor Pruning Vines ana SnruDbery The proper time to trim all vines is in the early spring before the sap begins to flow. If trimmed later, the sap will flow out of the cut ends and cause the vine to lose much of its vitality. Judgment must be used as to how much should be cut off. Shortening back the ends will cause your vine to throw out numerous side shoots, making your vine verj' nice and bushy. All shrubbery that flowers during the early part of the summer should be cut back immediately after flowering, if your plants are getting too large. The new shoots which they will immediately send forth will be the flowering wood for the following summer. If you do not trim them at this time and wait until the following spring, they will have made their flowering wood, and you have cut it off at the cost of the crop of flowers. Plants for Rockeries A rock garden can be made by placing mossy rocks and stones in imitation of rock banks and allowing spaces between them to fill with good soil for your plants. The plants most suitable for this purpose are Golden Tuft, Aquilegias, Rock Cress, Cerastium, Plum- bago, Harebell, Maiden Pink, Bleeding Heart, Cranes- bill, Baby's Breath, Candytuft, Wild Sweet William, Mountain Pink and Stonecrop. Low growing ever- greens, such as Pinus Mugho, or Rocky Mountain Pine, Juniperius, Fitzeriana, Canadian Junipers and Sabina Junipers all look very pretty mixed in among the other plants. In shrubbery Forsythia Suspensa or Drooping Golden Bell and Spirea Alba planted in groups or single specimens are graceful. Plants for Tropical Effect Sometimes there is a place on your lawn that you wish to have a tropical appearance. This effect can be had by using plants that have large leaves and a bold appearance. If you have a lily pond, the margins look very pretty if planted in this way. The plants mostly used are Caladiums or Elephant Ears, Ricinus or Castor Beans, Abyssinnian Banana, Ornamental Grasses, Cannas, etc. These plants look best if planted in large groups, each kind by itself. Plants for Vases and Window If you want a pretty and well filled vase always use a plant of Dracaena Indivisa or Fountain Plant for your center piece. Fill in around with any of the follow- ing plants: Petunias, Alyssum, Vincas, Geraniums, Coleus, Lantanas, Achranthes and Dusty Miller. For the outside use Vinca Vines or Parlor Ivy. You can use these plants for your Porch and window boxes if in a sunny position. If in the shade you should use 77 Ferns, Begonias, Fancy Leaved Caladiums and small Palms. In the late Fall when your plants in the boxes are frozen, remove them and fill in with small plants of Boxwood, Laurel, and Evergreens. The plants will keep nice and green all winter and will make your home look cheerful. Flowers for Mailing Flowers intended for mailing or express should be cut in the morning and placed in water for 12 hours before packing for shipment. This allows the stems to absorb a lot of water, and helps keep your flowers fresh without putting damp moss around them in the box they are packed in. Always put a piece of oiled tissue paper around your flowers inside the box. It will keep out the air and help preserve them. Put your flowers in a good strong box for parcel post and tie securely, as they receive some very rough treatment in transit. Flowers for Weddings The most popular flowers for weddings are Roses, Sweet Peas, Lily of the Valley and Carnations, very few flowers grown from bulbs being used. The flowers are mostly used in bouquets and basket arrangements for the bridal party, and the room and table decora- tions are usually of the same kinds of flowers. Flowers for Funerals Ten years ago white flowers were considered the proper thing for funerals. Nowadays most every flower on the list regardless of color is used. The only thing considered is the keeping qualities of the flowers used. Those kinds which wilt very easily out of water are usually placed in damp moss which is concealed from view among the greens used in the makeup of the bouquet or design. How to Make Floral Pieces This is indeed an art. It requires good judgment, experience and skill in making a handsome floral piece. A very pretty corsage bouquet can be easily made by using Roses, Sweet Peas, Carnations, or Violets, and mixing a few sprays of Asparagus Plumosus or Lace Fern with the flowers. A spray of flowers, or a flat bouquet, which is the most popular flower arrangement for funerals, is made by using a flat wire frame for your foundation on which to fasten your flowers, plants and greens. Place Asparagus Plumosus or Sprengeri on the frame first, wiring it on with very light wire, then wire your flowers to the Asparagus according to your plan and judgement. Build your flowers up high in the center, gradually tapering down to the bottom or the part where you tie the ribbon. Put on a becoming bow of ribbon and you will have your bouquet finished. Any kind of light wire will do for your frame, making it according to the size you wish your bouquet. If you do not have the Asparagus, pieces of Laurel, Rhododendron, Hemlock, or even Autumn branches will make you a foundation on which to place your flowers. Chrysanthemums look well when placed among Autumn branches. You can make a wreath by using a heavy wire bend- ed round and wiring your greens to it, after which you put your flowers on to suit your taste. The directions I give you in making these floral pieces are intended for the beginners and will come in handy if you are miles away from a regular florist and wish to make something out of your own flowers to send to the funeral of a friend. The handsome floral pieces in different shapes which you seeat many funerals are expensive, requir- ing specially made wire frames and hundreds of blooms and are made by regular floral artists. 79 ^J. AN ATTRACTIVE DRIVE Along all drives sKould be places wnicn tempt people to stop and feast tneir eyes. iiere is a concrete Dridge wnicn arrords an oppoitunity. TKe Tour vases are used witn nne errect being adorned with graceful plants and vines. Tnousands of visitors stop nere to take a look at tne score of wnite swan tnatmnabit tne lakes w^itnin view. Tne snade trees nere also offer tneir invitation. Altogetker it is one of tke most en- joyable spots in or around Hersney. 80 Making anj Care of tke Lawn The first thing in the making of a new lawn is to see that is is properly graded. Do not fill in the low places with loose stones or trash, as this is bound to make your seed bed too porous at these spots and cause your grass to die or burn out on account of drying out too rapidly when the weather is hot and dry. This is very important. Coat your lawn to the depth of 4 or 5 inches with good loamy soil, rake level and you are ready to sow the seed. Sow on \'ery evenly at the rate of 8 quarts to 20 square feet. Rake in very lightly, and roll or tamp the soil with a shovel. If the soil is damp the seed should begin to ger- minate in one week. About the first of May, is the best time to sow the seed, although I have had very good results in sowing at any time during the Summer and Fall. After you see that the young grass is 2 inches in height, you can mow it carefully with a lawn mower. Do not mow it more than once every two weeks for the first month, after which you can mow it every week. Go over it a few times and cut out with a knife any big weeds that might appear in the grass. One good water- ing once a week during dry weather will be very bene- ficial to the grass and will give it that fresh appearance so essential to a nice lawn. An application of fine manure or bone meal during November will show re- sults the following spring. All Lawns should be rolled or tamped every spring before the grass begins to grow very much, as during the winter the ground freezes and thaws and causes the roots of the grass to become loosened in the soil, and if not pressed back again a lot of the grass will wither and die. If any bare spots appear on your lawn after it is a few years old you can reseed these in the spring by raking them up and sow- ing seed on them again, raking and tamping it the same as above. 81 Care oi Gold Fisli Always be careful to get nice healthy fish to start with. Sometimes the fish are sick when you get them, and it is only a question how long they will live. Some dealers buy a lot of fish and do not take care of them. Consequently the fish get sickly from stagnant water, sour food and other causes. An aquarium that holds 3 or 4 gallons of water will accommodate 10 or 12 small fish. Put some sand in the bottom and put in a bunch of Washington Grass for the fish to nibble at. You can buy this grass from any dealer who has gold fish. Put in some shells and ornaments in the center of your aquarium and your fish will look at home. Dip out half of the water each day and replace with fresh. Feed your fish prepared fish food, which you can buy in boxes. It is made in small sheets which resembles white paper. Give 12 fish one sheet twice a week. Never allow your aquarium to stand in the full sun. Give the fish some sun in the morning, but keep them in the shade in the afternoon. The plain Gold Fish are the hardiest. The fancy Japanese Fan-Tails are very tender and hard to handle. If you have a large aquarium or fountain which has running water, it will be much easier for you to grow the fish. Sometimes fish get sore eyes, which is a disease that will kill them. If they are not fed properly, they will eat at one another's tails, which disfigures them. Plants for Water Garden Water gardens are damp marshy places and are suitable for plants that do not thrive on ordinary dry ground. Japanese Iris, Hibiscus, Mallows, Calamus, Cat-o-nine Tails, Black Alder, Day Lilies, Plantains, etc., are useful for this purpose. Once established these plants take care of themselves and increase in size and beauty each succeeding year. 82 Vines for Shading PorcLes The vines best adapted for shading porches are in the hardy varieties, Honeysuckle, Clematis, Paniculata, Kudzu vine, Dutchman's Pipe and Variegated-Leaved Grape. Vines from roots or bulbs that are not hardy and must be taken care of each winter season are Maderia vine, Cinamon vine, Moon Flower, etc. Vines from seed to be planted every year are Morning Glories, Cobeas and Nasturtiums. All kinds of Climbing Roses should be considered, as they make a fine show when in bloom, but are not worth much for shade. Vines for Climbing on Buildings The list of vines that will cling to stone and brick walls is not lengthy. The best three for this purpose are Boston Ivy, Virginia Creeper and English Ivy. English Ivy should always be planted on the North or East side of a building. It is an evergreen and is likely to get its leaves sun-scalded during the winter if planted on the sides where the direct rays of the sun will strike it. 83 Gardener's Calendar January A top dressing of well rotted manure will be a great benefit for all hardy plants if you have not already done it. It is not too late if the weather permits to top dress your lawn, which will insure a fine velvety green appearance the following summer. February Flowers such as Pansy, Snapdragon, Carnation, Verbenia, etc., may be started in hot beds or in the house to be transplanted later. M arcJ Pruning of all shrubs and vines that have not been pruned during the summer should be finished as soon as possible. The bulb bed should be gradually uncover- ed, lawns raked off and top dressed, if not already done, with bone meal or pulverized sheep manure. Toward the end of the month if the soil is dry enough, new lawns may be made and the old lawns renovated. Don't forget to sow some sweet peas. Hardy flower seeds should be started now either in a hot bed or in boxes in the house. April This is a busy month for the lover of flowers. All bulb beds and such plants that have been covered during the winter must now be uncovered. Pansies and daisies, forget-me-nots, hardy primroses, etc., should be planted out now. Sow all the hardy varieties of flower seeds, as they will flower earlier. This is the ideal month for renovating and starting new lawns. Attention paid to the rose garden now will be amply repaid by abundance of flowers later on. Feed your roses with bone meal or sheep manure and as soon as growth commences, spray once a week with Pyrox or Bordeaux Mixture. The latter is the only remedy against the rosebug. May Annuals that have been started in the house or hot bed may now be planted in the open. Practically all hardy and half hardy annuals can be sown in the open ground. Keep your flower beds well hoed or raked to keep the weeds down, which will mean an immense saving of labor later in the season. About the middle of the month, set out dahlias, gladiolas, and cannas. It is still a good time to sow grass seed. J. lune It is still time to sow annuals, especially nastur- tiums, asters, marigolds, zinnias, etc. Most of these bloom until frost and are splendid for cutting. The hyacinth and tulip beds should be dug up now and filled with such plants as geraniums, coleus, and other bed- ding plants. Finish planting of dahlias and gladiolas. July Tall plants such as gladiolas, roses, dahlias, and cosmos, etc., should be supported by plant stakes to prevent their being blown down or broken off by storms. August Sow perennial flower seeds that you wish to have for blooming size next season. 85 September Pansies, daisies, forget-me-nots as well as all other perennials must be sown now. Lily Candidum or Ma- donna Lily should be planted early this month. For winter flowering indoors plant freezias, oxalis, White Roman Hyacinths, and Chinese Lilies. This is also one of the best months to make new lawns and to re- novate old ones and to seed them. October This month is still a good time to sow grass seed either for new lawns or renovating old ones. Plants of hardy perennials and shrubs should be set out now. November Bulbs such as hyacinths, tulips, narcissus, crocus, snow drops, etc., should be planted now. In fact finish planting of all bulbs for spring flowers. Top dress the lawn with bone meal, sheep manure and wood ashes, or some other good fertilizer. December If you have not already done it, topdress your lawn with bone meal, wood ashes or some other good fertil- izer. Cover all hardy perennials and other tender plants with horse manure or leaves. INDEX Page Achyranthes 9 Ageratum 9 Alternanthera 10 Alyssum 10 Aristolochia 29 Araucaria 49 x\sparagus 10 Aspidistra 11 Asters U Azalea 13 Balsams 43 Begonias 13 Black-Eyed Susan or Thunbergia 15 Boston Ivy 15 Cactus 15 Caladiums or Elephant Ears 16 Calliopsis 16 Campanula, or Canterbury Bells 17 Canna 17 Canterbury Bells 17 Cardinal Climber 18 Carnations 19 Castor Oil Plant or Ricinus 21 Chinese Wool Flower 21 Cineraria 21 Cobaea 22 Cockscomb or Celosia 23 Coleus 23 Columbine 24 Cornflower or Centaurea 24 Cosmos 25 Cowslip or Polyanthus 25 Crotons 27 Cut Flowers, How and When 75 Cyperus or Umbrella Plant 27 Cyclamen 27 Daisy 28 Dahlias 28 Digitalis or Fox Glove 29 87 TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS WKen tills Leautiful building was nnisnea it was surrounaea by bare land. Work for a gfood lawn was begun at once ana the success was excellent, but tbe building still lacked a proper setting. So, tbe woods witnin twenty miles of Her- sney w^ere searcbed and bandsome cedars and otber evergreens w^ere found. Tbe work of transplanting these presented problems, but vfith carefulness the task was accom- plished and the results have been altogether satisfactory. Every neighborhood has its fine trees and shrubs that should be studied and utdized. Page Dracaenas 29 Duchman's Pipe Vine or Aristolochia 29 Dwarf Otaheite Orange 30 Echeveria 30 Elepliant Ears 16 English Ivy 30 Everlasting Flower 70 Ferns 31 Floral Pieces, How to Make 79 Flower Beds, Care of 74 Flowering Maple or Abutilon 31 Forget-Me-Nots 32 Four-0'clocks 32 Fox Glove 29 Funeral, Flowers for 78 Gaillardia 32 Gardener's Calendar 84-6 Geranium 33 Gladiolus 35 Godetia 35 Gold Fish, Care of 82 Helichrysum or Straw Flower 36 Heliotrope 36 Hibiscus 36 Hollyhocks 37 House Plants, Care of 73 Hyacinths 37 Hydrangea 39 Impatiens 41 Iris 41 Jerusalem Cherries 42 Kochia or Summer Cypress 43 Kudzu Vine 43 Lady Slippers or Balsams 43 Lantana 44 Larkspur 44 Lawn, Making and Care of 81 Lemon 57 LiHes 45 Lily of the Valley 47 Page Lobelia 47 Mailing Flowers 78 Marigolds 47 Mignonette 48 Morning Glory 48 Narcissus 48 Nasturtium 49 Norfolk Island Pine or Araucaria 49 Palms 50 Pansies 50 Peonies 51 Peperomia 52 Petunias 52 Pinks or Dianthus 53 Phlox 55 Plants for Tropical Effects 77 Poinsettias 56 Polyanthus 25 Ponderosa or Dwarf Lemon 57 Poppies 57 Portulaca 59 Primrose 59 Pruning Vines and Shrubbery 76 Ricinus 21 Rockeries, Plants for 77 Roses 60 Rubber Plants 61 Salvia or Scarlet Sage 61 Sansevieria 63 Shady Places, Plants for 75 Snapdragons 63 Stocks 64 Straw Flower 36 Summer Cypress 43 Sunflower 64 Sweet Peas 65 Sweet Williams 65 Table Decorations, Flowers for 76 Thunbergia 15 Tulip 66 Page Umbrella Plant 27 Vases, Plants for 77 ^>rbenas 67 Vinca 67 Vinca \'ine 69 ^'iolets 69 Vines for Shading Porches 83 Vines for Climbing on Buildings 83 Water Gardens, Plants for 82 Weddings, Flowers for 78 Windows, Plants for 77 Xeranthemum or Everlasting Flower 70 Zinnia 70 ILLUSTRATIONS Portrait of Author Page A Roadside of Roses Frontispiece The Health of Flowers 8 Lake and Fountain 14 Flower Garden in the Park 20 Flowers for Statues 26 The Rock Garden 34 In an Italian Garden 40 Japanese Garden 46 Canna Bed in the Park 54 In a Dutch Garden 58 Location of a Greenhouse 62 Fountain Flower Beds 68 Again the Japanese 72 An Attractive Drive 80 Transplanting Evergreens 88 91 Much of the bea uty of Hershey is due to its w^onderful Lavs/ris All th.e seeds for these lawns are sold by the Hershey Department Store This store carries a complete line of flow- er seeds and garden seeds— seeds that g'ro^w Large supplies of g'ar- den tools always on hand Herskey Department Store Hershey, Pa. IS //M IV^ New York London Flowers arranged a la natural or De Luxe The House of Flowers Charles Uttley, Artist 321 Walnut Street Harrisburg Pa. Brides' Bouquets a Specialty Wedding decorations and out-of-town Weddings given special attention The last word in floral arrangements Cut flowers for Dinners, Lunches or Bereavements I JAPANESE MAPLES A merlcan-Qrown Charming Shrub-like Trees that add interest and color to your grounds 'T'he Japanese Maple is one of the most interestingly unique things that Japan has given us. Planted singly or in groups, it forms a delightful sparkle point of color. In the warm red kinds the new Spring growth of shoots and leaves is of a rich hue. Its leaves are distinctly Japanesque in shape. None of our Japanese Maples are now imported. All are Meehan-grown and thor- oughly acclimated to Ameri- can weather conditions and absolutely hardy. Their growth is invariably broad and bushy. Don't let another season go by without claiming one of these gems of the orient. '*Plansand Plants asa Gardening Guidepost" *'Plans and Plants'* gives m concise form some very help- ful hints about the planning and planting of gardens and grounds. It is distinctly unusual in its scope. It is truly a handy refer- ence book on "Plans and Plants." "PlansandPlants " will be sent prepaid for 25c Thomas Meehan © Sons 6721 Chew Street Germantown - Philadelphia, Pa. B. F. BARE & CO. JfloristB Landscape Gardeners and Nurserymen Lancaster, Pa, Greenhouses and showgrounds at 942 Columbia Ave- nue, Lancaster, Pa. We have i 8 modern greenhouses, where we propagate trees, shrubs and tender plants, and where are grown the thousands of cut-flowers sold in our store in Lancaster. We have here also a nine-acre show garden from which one can make one's selection of the trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants grown in our nurseries. On Marietta Pike are our trial-grounds and nurseries, one mile west of Lancaster. Here 100 acres are devoted to growing our nursery stock. We have a flower palace in the heart of Lancaster at 1 16 North Queen Street. It is the largest and most com- plete floral shop between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It is also our main office. We are glad to welcome visitors who are interested in hardy plants and those who contemplate extensive plant- ings of Irises and Peonies can make their selection in the field from the blooming plants. We also grow a great quantity of Roses, Carnations, Sweet Peas. Violets for Cut Flowers, and thousands of Potted Plants suitable for beds, window and porch boxes. Flowers and Plants sent anywhere by express, parcel post or freight. We guarantee all flowers and plants sent out to be delivered in first-class condition. Decorations for Dances and Weddings a Specialty All Kinds of Designs for Funerals Write for Our Catalog 4*31 LI Waterer's Special Evergreen Lawn Grass Seed J^ HIGHEST T J QUA T LITY IvcivthiivgySr d5(* Garden dji9 f6