the centre, sow balsam ; in the second, asters ; in the third or out- 18 274 THE hearthstone; or, life at home, side circle sow candytuft. When the seeds come up, thin the balsam and asters six or eight inches apart, and the candytuft two inches ; if any are missing, transplant. This plan is a much better one than to throw the seeds in the ground promiscuously, without regard to size or color. In this bed, of course, can be used different seeds than those named ; but be sure to have all the tallest plants in the centre, and blend the colors. This arrangement will be liked ; the balsams hide the long, naked zinnia stalks, while the white candy- tuft looks like a rift of snow around the bed. Another Way. — Select then for a rich and gorgeous show of bloom a few varieties of zonal geraniums, both single and double flowers, verbenas, heliotrope, etc. For a more artistic show, select lantanas, yellow jessamine, a half dozen fuchsias and varieties of flowering begonias. Of foliage plants, for ornament, the coleus, rex begonias, cannas, ricinus, and the caladium esculentum are not sur- passed in producing a tropical effect when properly massed in the door-yard or lawn. An attractive bed of these may be formed by first planting for a background a row of the ricinus, then a row of cannas, leaving two and one-half feet space in centre of row for the caladium esculentum, the next row may be of dark or velvet coleus, another of light colored or golden coleus, finishing off" with a row of cineraria maratima. This forms a very attractive bed on the lawn, even when viewed from a distance. In front of this, but not too close, will be wanted a bed of the queen of flowers, the rose. They should be of the ever-blooming class, as they, with good soil and culture, make a grand show of sweet-scented buds, from early summer until late autumn. If you are not ac- quainted with the varieties you had better send your order to the florist and let him select for you, as he will in nine cases out of ten send you a better selection, variety, and color than you could your- self. As a late-blooming plant none excels the china aster. Sow the seed in a box about the middle of April, or in the open ground two FLORICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE. 2/5 weeks later. When the plants are about three or four inches high transplant to a bed in the lawn or garden, made very rich, and in the full sunshine. Seasonable Hints. — Plants growing with full vigor with the pots full of roots will require an abundance of water — every day will not be too much if the weather is clear. Take the same plant with but a few leaves on it, just shifted into fresh soil, with but a few roots, and watering once a week may even be too much for it. The tem- perature of the water supplied to plants should be about the same degree as the temperature of the room in which they are growing, and when water is applied sufficient should be given to thoroughly saturate the soil. A mere dribbling on the surface does more harm than good, as it draws up what moisture there may be in the soil when it is wet. Let the water run through into the saucer and then empty it out, but on no account allow the plants to remain in it.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

the centre, sow balsam ; in the second, asters ; in the third or out- 274 THE hearthstone; or, life at home, side circle sow candytuft. When the seeds come up, thin the balsam and asters six or eight inches apart, and the candytuft two inches ; if any are missing, transplant. This plan is a much better one than to throw the seeds in the ground promiscuously, without regard to size or color. In this bed, of course, can be used different seeds than those named ; but be sure to have all the tallest plants in the centre, and blend the colors. This arrangement will be liked ; the balsams hide the long, naked zinnia stalks, while the white candytuft looks like a rift of snow around the bed. Another Way. — Select then for a rich and gorgeous show of bloom a few varieties of zonal geraniums, both single and double flowers, verbenas, heliotrope, etc. For a more artistic show, select lantanas, yellow jessamine, a half dozen fuchsias and varieties of flowering begonias. Of foliage plants, for ornament, the coleus, rex begonias, cannas, ricinus, and the caladium esculentum are not surpassed in producing a tropical effect when properly massed in the door-yard or lawn. An attractive bed of these may be formed by first planting for a background a row of the ricinus, then a row of cannas, leaving two and one-half feet space in centre of row for the caladium esculentum, the next row may be of dark or velvet coleus, another of light colored or golden coleus, finishing off with a row of cineraria maratima. This forms a very attractive bed on the lawn, even when viewed from a distance. In front of this, but not too close, will be wanted a bed of the queen of flowers, the rose. They should be of the ever-blooming class, as they, with good soil and culture, make a grand show of sweet-scented buds, from early summer until late autumn. If you are not acquainted with the varieties you had better send your order to the florist and let him select for you, as he will in nine cases out of ten send you a better selection, variety, and color than you could yourself. As a late-blooming plant none excels the china aster. Sow the seed in a box about the middle of April, or in the open ground two weeks later. When the plants are about three or four inches high transplant to a bed in the lawn or garden, made very rich, and in the full sunshine. Seasonable Hints. — Plants growing with full vigor with the pots full of roots will require an abundance of water — every day will not be too much if the weather is clear. Take the same plant with but a few leaves on it, just shifted into fresh soil, with but a few roots, and watering once a week may even be too much for it. The temperature of the water supplied to plants should be about the same degree as the temperature of the room in which they are growing, and when water is applied sufficient should be given to thoroughly saturate the soil. A mere dribbling on the surface does more harm than good, as it draws up what moisture there may be in the soil when it is wet. Let the water run through into the saucer and then empty it out, but on no account allow the plants to remain in it.

The hearthstone; or, Life at home