THE PLANT BED.
The enterprise in getting out the artistic and truly beautiful Floral Guide, and sending it into our homes during the inclement weather of these winter days, when we have time to sit by the fireside and study its pages, enables us, against the time to plant seeds, to know exactly what we would like to have among vegetables and flowers. This beautiful compendium of vegetables and flowers came as a herald of the new year, and as the new year seems always to bring the spring season near, so it naturally fills the mind with the pleasurable anticipations of the task of seed planting.
The plant beds are little squares made of very rich soil, black and friable, with sand intermixed, on the sunny side of the garden palings that have a solid base board, or a wall or house, to afford protection. The rich soil makes a good bottom heat for forcing gentle growth. My old colored mammy, who always saved the garden seeds and gave them out as needed and directed the gardening operations on the plantation, had the plant beds made on each side of the garden gate, one set of little beds for early vegetable plants, the other for flowers. The soil thoroughly pulverized, and the seeds planted thickly, it is surprising how they would spring into life, and the rapidity with which they would grow. Thick planting of seeds is only to be advised when they are intended for transplanting. I have seen the cabbage bed so full of plants that it seemed as if two plants or more had sprung from every seed. Early and late cabbage, the rows labeled, can be planted in the same bed; lettuce, pepper grass, parsley and radishes in another, taking care to sow the radish seed thinly as the plants will not transplant well, and the radishes must be used for the table taken from the place where the seeds are sown. Cabbages grow better when the small plants are transplanted to the large bed where they are to stand for their season’s growth.
After these early vegetable plants have been set out, later on tomato and egg plant seeds can be sown in the same beds. Nothing is gained by forcing these latter, for in my experience certain vegetable and flower seeds do better planted late, as the heat of summer is needed for their development.
The plant bed can be made and planted early in the season. Here in the South many persons plant in “old Christmas,” the first twelve days after New Year, but February or March is better, I believe.
The flowers that do so well in company with these vegetables are sweet alyssum, nemophila, mignonette, snapdragon, candytuft, verbena, sanvitalia and petunias. Japanese pinks and Marguerite carnations, Phlox Drummondii and poppies are better planted where they are to bloom as they do not transplant well. Sweet alyssum and nemophila begin to bloom when about an inch high, and can be transplanted at any stage of growth, even in bloom; they are sweet little flowers that make lovely borders, cute little jars, beautiful hanging baskets, and when planted in the sides of jars that contain large plants, hang over the sides in masses of bloom. The speckled pretty little blue nemophila always makes me think of birds’ nests full of speckled eggs in the cool green grass. Sweet alyssum I love too well to write about; it would sound like exaggeration.
Petunias do well in the early beds, but also flourish and bloom finely if their planting is deferred until the torenia, portulaca, cypress, zinnia, tageta and real midsummer flowers are planted. None of these last do any better for early planting. They will not bloom until their season, summer, no matter how early they are planted. The beautiful fall bloomer, cosmos, may be classed with them. Snapdragons, carnations and verbena do not bloom in early spring from seed, but require an early start to bloom in summer as their growth is not rapid. Sanvitalia, vinca, and a long list of annuals are beautiful and well worth raising. Annuals are cheap, but they subserve a purpose and nothing quite takes their place, and I confess to a liking for flowers which I have raised from seeds. It is easy to exaggerate the beauty of anything that stands in striking contrast to its surroundings, but these plant beds early in the season, green and growing, ahead of everything else, are as pretty as a picture, and the young, crisp, green vegetables are suggestive and appetizing.
If twenty-five years of putting Mr. Vick’s seeds in the ground does not entitle me to render a verdict in their favor as the best to be had, then experience counts for nothing. A sure return for every seed put in the ground is the answer they give to the question “What shall the harvest be?”
Further north, doubtless, cold frames are better for early planting of seeds, but in the South the plants are more healthy and stand transplanting much better for exposure to the moderate cold of the early season in their rich, warm little plant beds.
Mrs. G. T. Drennan.
Lexington, Miss.
March Work.—At this time, the dividing line between winter and spring, finish all the pruning in the open grounds. Grape vines, fruit trees, deciduous hedges, and roses and many other plants will need attention. In this climate sow peas as soon as the ground can be put in order. Start hotbeds, and cold frames. Look after those flower seeds which should be sowed early in the house.
HELPS IN ECONOMY.
Stylish Gowns of Handsome Color at Small Cost—Diamond Dyes Make Old Clothes Look Like New—Two Useful Books Given Away.
With a few packages of Diamond Dyes wonders can be done in making old dresses, gowns, and suits look like new. Many families have not bought a single new dress, wrap, or suit this winter, yet they dressed well and fashionably, by dyeing their clothes with Diamond Dyes.
Those who buy one package as an experiment, find the dyes so easy to use that they color over gowns, cloaks and suits for the whole family. The Fast Black Diamond Dyes are especially popular, being easy to use and making a rich black that will not fade, crock, or wash out.
COUPON.
This entitles any reader of Vick’s Magazine to one copy of “Successful Home Dyeing,” and “Mats and Rugs; Art and Fancy Work.”
For the home-dyer or rug-maker these books give complete directions with many illustrations. Send above coupon to Wells, Richardson & Co., Burlington, Vt. and both books will be mailed free.