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but the pure, transparent glass that shows the twining stems of the flowers, and the ivory white Parian marble, around which the graceful vines will clasp so tenderly.

Silver and bronze are always beautiful, but a tasteful straw basket, holding a glass dish filled with flowers, will often produce as lovely an effect as the precious metals.

Flowers in Churches.

In adorning the Communion Table or the Font with flowers, we should select those that are bright and gorgeous, as such colors were used by the artists of the middle ages, and from time immemorial there has been a symbolism, especially in religious ceremonies and decorations. Red is the symbol of Divine love; white, of Divine wisdom; yellow is a symbol of the revelation of the love and wisdom of God; blue, of Divine eternity and of human immortality.

Our Puritan forefathers, in fleeing from the persecutions and ceremonies of an established Church, cast from them all outward adornments; we, of these later days, desire to see our churches adorned with the "Green Things of the Earth," and the practice of adorning our churches with vases and baskets of flowers is becoming quite universal. I hope it will spread, until every little village church can boast of its sweet floral adornments, from the earliest May flowers of the Spring to the crosses and crowns of "Christmas Greens."

It is but little labor for several ladies in each congregation to agree to furnish the flowers. A large marble “tazza” can be purchased either out of the church funds, or through the benevolence of the rich of the parish. To fill these every Sunday morn with all that is lovely and sweet, cannot but be a work of love.

I recall a village church which I once attended, whose pulpit was made beautiful with large vases of Roses and Spireas, mingled with the trailing vines of the Money Wort. The old deacon brought them in, with an half-concealed air of pride, and placed them on each side of the pulpit cushion, upon which lay the Bible. His daughter arranged them from the flowers that were in season every week, and he delighted to carry her floral offering to the Lord, and lay it upon His altar.

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"If there is any kind of adornment which more than another seems fitted to God's house, it is that thoughtful use of the Green Things of the Earth.””

Flowers are the painted sculpturings of nature-the shapes and colors of beauty, which the Creator has lavished upon the world—and surely they can never be employed for a better purpose. In the church, flowers suggest thoughts that are in unison with the occasion, and the time and care thus bestowed on the adornment of the church are not without their reward.

Pious thoughts arise while skillful fingers are busy with the work which, as it is done for the sake of God's honor, must, from its very nature, be linked with good to all concerned in it. "Whoso offereth me praise, glorifieth me."

"Bring flowers to the shrine where we kneel in prayer,

They are nature's offering, their place is there!

They speak of hope, to the fainting heart,

With a voice of comfort they come and part;

They sleep in dust through the wintry hours,

They break forth in glory-bring flowers, bright flowers.”

CHAPTER XX.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE GARDEN.

The Soil Best Adapted to its Growth.

The most desirable soil for flowers, particularly for Annuals, Perennials, etc., is a mellow loam, that will not bake down and crack open under the influence of hard showers and hot suns. If you do not possess a good soil, why, of course, you must do the best you can, and you can improve a stiff, clayey soil by adding sand or ashes and manure.

A flower garden must have good drainage; if water settles upon its surface, and freezes and thaws during the winter, you may be sure that your plants will not survive. There is no use in trying to grow flowers in poor soil; but every one can make a small compost heap, in an out-ofthe-way corner, and give it all the soap suds on washing days that are not needed on the borders. When the leaves fall, secure all you can; hire a small boy to gather them for you, and put them on the pile; they are said to be the very poetry of manure-certainly, they contain the best elements of flower food. Add to this heap the weeds that are collected, but don't have any seed-pods among them; throw upon it all the slops from the house, and, by the next year, you will have good plant food. It must be turned over several times so as to expose it to the action of the air. A load of grass sods from the meadow is the best foundation for such a "bank." To use this season, procure a large barrel, and fill it up with as good soil as your garden can boast, then turn into it, every morning, the slops from the chambers. No disagreeable odor will arise from it, but a rich soil will be made. Use it carefully, putting a few tablespoonsful about the roots of the plants, and digging

them in, so as not to touch the stems. Dig this about the roots of your Geraniums, Roses, Verbenas, Pansies, etc., not letting it come in direct contact with the tender roots, and you need not complain of the poverty of the soil; while the rich blooms of your flowers will fully repay the extra labor. The barrel can be hid away under vines; and, as the earth is used up, add more to it. The Japanese and Chinese gardeners can teach us a lesson in these matters. Nothing is wasted in their country and their flower gardens are wonderfully beautiful and gorgeous.

"Eternal vigilance," Gen. Jackson's pet phrase, applies particularly to gardening. One cannot grow fine flowers without some labor; and you will soon learn that constant efforts are needed to make the flowers grow into fine-shaped plants, filled with blossoms. You cannot garden one week, and let it alone the next; but you must watch it, and water it, and weed it, daily, if you would be successful. It requires as much care to cultivate a handsome garden, as to grow cabbages, melons and tomatoes, and no more.

An open exposure is desirable, where the sun will have free access to the plants; there are some flowers like Fuchsias, Primroses, Daisies Pansies, etc., which bloom far better in beds that are sheltered from the noonday sun; and their tastes should be gratified. Yet nearly all plants love the sun, and grow better, if directly under its influence.

Selection and Sowing of Seeds.

This is a matter of importance to amateur gardeners, who usually desire the handsomest kinds that can be grown. It takes no more time and care to grow a small, poor, single flower than a rich, double variety; and the cost is but little more. Always purchase your seeds of reliable, well-known seedsmen, and do not content yourself with those offered by small traders.

Seed raisers who make it a business, raise only the finest kinds; the poorer sorts do not pay. Hundreds of dollars worth of good seeds are annually wasted because the growers do not know how to plant them. They require a very finely pulverized soil; and, if the coarser particles are sifted out, the seeds will germinate more surely. In the Chapter on ANNUALS, minute directions are given for sowing seeds. Since writing it, I have sowed sixty, or more, different varieties, and hardly one has failed to germinate. Every seed of some varieties has come "up." There is no difficulty in their culture, if you will only take a little pains

in planting them, and shield them from the sun, with newspapers, for two or three days.

Weeding.

This is usually considered a terror; but if you will use a small rake and hoe, as heretofore advised, every morning, for a few minutes, you will keep the upperhand of them. The first leaves of weeds or plants are their sole nourishment; cut them off and the young weeds must die, however tenacious of life they may be.

Watering.

Leaves absorb and give out moisture, and inhale and exhale air; they are the lungs of every plant, and if they are destroyed the whole plant suffers. The pores in the leaves of all plants, by which they transmit air and moisture, are exceedingly small, and liable to be filled up if exposed to smoke and dust; therefore, if there are not plentiful showers, you must water them freely every evening. It is of but little use to give water after the sun has risen. In this hot, dry climate the watering pot is a necessity, and tubs of water should be drawn from hydrant or pump every morning, and allowed to set in the sun, to take off the chill; then, after seven o'clock P. M., apply it.

Planting Out, Pruning, etc.

The branches and leaves of plants rarely touch one another while growing, and you should learn from them not to crowd your plants in bed or border; for air and light are quite as needful as water and good soil.

When shrubs produce an abundance of foliage and no flowers, either remove them to a purer soil, or cut through some of the principal roots. Root-shortening is often resorted to, by florists, to force plants to bloom. By checking the growth of plants, you throw strength into the flowAll shrubs produce their flowers on the terminal points of the branches; after the bloom is past, if these are pinched off, you will have two or three branches for one in the succeeding year.

ers.

All plants are in their most vigorous growth while in flower, and should never be transplanted at that time, for it will check their growth, if it does not kill them. This is the time for taking cuttings, as they are then most ready to send forth roots. The throwing off of its leaves by a newly planted cutting, is a sign that it has begun to grow, while

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