However, father suggested I might succeed by planting the seed in the shade out of doors, and even though it was quite late in the summer I got more seed and sowed it broadcast in a hedge of lilacs, syringas and so forth, kept the ground moist, and in a short time had many plants coming up.  I also had ordered a few to be shipped me in the fall.

By fall my seedlings were large enough to be transplanted into boxes, to be moved as we were moving from Austin to Waltham.  With those I had ordered for fall delivery, they were moved to our new place, the boxes sunk in the ground, and the next spring put into a hedge with other plants—­for while they do not stand transportation very well in the spring, I have been successful in transplanting them from one part of our grounds to another at that season.

Since coming to Waltham I have started the seeds of the poppy, larkspur, columbine and gaillardia in a grove near the house, where they are easily kept moist.  If I get the seed in early in the spring, the plants are often large enough to transplant in the fall.  However I like better to plant the seed later, about the time the first blossoms from each variety have ripened their seed.  The seedlings will then be large enough to withstand the winter with a little protection and ready for spring transplanting.

With a comparatively small amount of work, and very ordinary care, once the plants are set out anyone can have continuous bloom from early spring until frosts come, by setting iris, peonies, phlox, columbine, poppies, larkspur, gaillardia, giant daisy and painted daisy.  Such a selection would make a big variety of color and form in the garden, and all but the first three kinds can be very easily raised from seed.  Or not wishing so many kinds, one can have flowers all summer by a careful selection of several varieties of iris, peonies and phlox.

Why Should We Grow Seedling Apples?

ISAAC JOHNSON, WEST UNION, IA.

There is no work in fruit growing that has more taken my attention and given me more pleasure than the growing of seedling apples.  For many years I have been of the opinion that apples for this severe climate must be grown from seed.  If we succeed in growing hardy, productive and good keeping varieties, they must be native, or raised at home.  By experimental work along in this line of growing fruit we have come to this conclusion that fruit trees do best grow at home.

In looking over the list of apples we grow this far north, we all know that the hardiest and the most productive kind are seedlings, either from Minnesota, Iowa or Wisconsin.  Minnesota has the Wealthy, the banner apple; for early and late fall apple it has no equal.  Wisconsin has the Northwestern Greening and the Wolf River, which are very large, showy and good market apples.  We all know what Mr. Patten has done along in this line of growing seedlings.