an old vegetable, for
over two thousand years ago, the Greeks dined on turnips. I usually
plant mine right out in the open. The soil may be a sandy one.

X

FLOWER CULTURE

In planting the flower garden there are a few things always to be
considered. These are matters of colour, of time and of persistency.
"The subject of colour is not so trying, after all, as many gardeners
seem to think. If you people wish to plant a few of a good many
gay-blooming plants, then I guess colour is a problem. The chief thought
in a flower garden should be, how I can make a beautiful picture of this
garden of mine. You see right off how tiring and dazzling the garden of
too many little dots of colour could be. Look about in nature--see the
beautiful range of the butterfly weed, the pinky purple of Joe Pye, the
scarlet of cardinal flowers, the blue of certain asters, the pink of
bouncing Bet, the yellow of tansy and goldenrod. Nature is constantly
presenting perfect splashes of brilliant colour here and there. And yet
it is not inharmonious. Why? One reason is that much of the colour is in
great masses, and what is not has been softened by stretches of soft
green.

"Let us take a hint from this for our small gardens. Plant colours in
masses, and have breaks of green in between. Not a bad idea! I seem to
hear you say.

"Then a garden should have a strong time element about it. By this I
mean that one should plan a garden for a round of bloom. Why have all
the blooms in August? If you look at this bulb time-table I shall have
ready for you, you will find that it is possible to start with bulbs.
Snowdrops and crocuses will gladly usher in a continuous round of bloom
for you. I do not mean that these two will bloom continuously. Not at
all! But I mean they are the starters. There are conditions, where
spring bloom and fall bloom alone is desired. This is the case with all
school gardens where summer care is impossible. Another table called a
garden of continuous bloom will help you plan this.

"Another point to think of is persistency. Why not plant some seed which
will produce plants that come up year after year? Why not have some
hardy perennials and some self-sowing annuals? Poppy and cornflower sow
themselves. These are annuals. Think of the perennials, which come year
after year to welcome us. I think you should have hardy matter in your
gardens. Peonies come up year after year, iris takes care of itself,
helianthus or pe