Cornflowers and hollyhocks and poppies will
sow themselves for me, and I never save the seed.
Poppies cannot be transplanted and must grow
where they are sown. The Oriental poppy is a
perennial that is very hardy and will grow
among the grass. It blooms early, dies down,
the foliage all disappears, then in the fall shows
itself a little.
Four-o'clocks and zinnias are two splendid,
easily grown annuals that can be sown early in
the spring and will bloom until frost, when once
started in July. The four-o'clocks sow them-
selves, and are lovely when grown in masses to
cover a bare space, or for a hedge.
Mignonette and sweet alyssum are two anuals
that no country garden should be without.
Sweet alyssum sows itself, but occasionally I sow
a new package of it if mine appears to be run-
ning out. Little Gem is a good variety. My
mignonette I sow each year, just as early as it
234
seems safe. Sometimes it sows itself, but it can-
not be relied upon. Goliath and Defiance are
two splendid growers, though Defiance is pos-
sibly the better.
Watering
I make my flower beds about three feet wide,
with little paths between, so they are easily
handled. I have not many facilities for watering,
can give only what I can carry. Where one has
a hose, the problem is easy. When I do water,
I soak everything thoroughly. This is only in a
very dry spell. I always work the soil around
my plants a great deal, however, as this keeps
the moisture in. It is called mulching. I loosen
the ground carefully with a hoe or weeder, com-
ing within about an inch of the roots. I am sure
to mulch after a rain, as the ground packs and
dries out if you don't do this.
You see I say nothing of roses. I gave up
growing them long ago, as they have too many
insect enemies. Dahlias I do not raise either, as
they are too much trouble, and need too much
feeding and staking. Nasturtiums used to do
very well for me, but I have not had luck with
them for some years, due to a special insect that
seems to affect them.
Start a garden, but do not be too ambitious the
first season. Slow and sure is a good motto in
flower raising as in everything else. Remember
you must love flowers, keep down weeds, and
mulch, or you will not have good luck.
235
Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library
1 1012 01083 7054
DATE DUE
CAVL.ORO
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Page 82
Presented as published in 1913. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Cornflowers and hollyhocks and poppies will sow themselves for me, and I never save the seed. Poppies cannot be transplanted and must grow where they are sown. The Oriental poppy is a perennial that is very hardy and will grow among the grass. It blooms early, dies down, the foliage all disappears, then in the fall shows itself a little.
Four-o'clocks and zinnias are two splendid, easily grown annuals that can be sown early in the spring and will bloom until frost, when once started in July. The four-o'clocks sow themselves, and are lovely when grown in masses to cover a bare space, or for a hedge.
Mignonette and sweet alyssum are two annuals that no country garden should be without. Sweet alyssum sows itself, but occasionally I sow a new package of it if mine appears to be running out. Little Gem is a good variety. My mignonette I sow each year, just as early as it
seems safe. Sometimes it sows itself, but it cannot be relied upon. Goliath and Defiance are two splendid growers, though Defiance is possibly the better.
Watering
I make my flower beds about three feet wide, with little paths between, so they are easily handled. I have not many facilities for watering, can give only what I can carry. Where one has a hose, the problem is easy. When I do water, I soak everything thoroughly. This is only in a very dry spell. I always work the soil around my plants a great deal, however, as this keeps the moisture in. It is called mulching. I loosen the ground carefully with a hoe or weeder, coming within about an inch of the roots. I am sure to mulch after a rain, as the ground packs and dries out if you don't do this.
You see I say nothing of roses. I gave up growing them long ago, as they have too many insect enemies. Dahlias I do not raise either, as they are too much trouble, and need too much feeding and staking. Nasturtiums used to do very well for me, but I have not had luck with them for some years, due to a special insect that seems to affect them.
Start a garden, but do not be too ambitious the first season. Slow and sure is a good motto in flower raising as in everything else. Remember you must love flowers, keep down weeds, and mulch, or you will not have good luck.
Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library
1 1012 01083 7054
DATE DUE
CAVL.ORO
^»»iivTcoi(yu.».^.