IN THE FLOWER GARDEN - January to December - Introduction

Oct 13, 2026

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A practical flower-cultivation guide by George H. Copley, N.D. Hort., framing the “full-length, breadth, and height” of flower-growing as a source of leisure, health, and peace for busy people. The Introduction emphasizes hands-on experience and aims to help gardeners make their gardens beautiful in simple, practical ways, followed by early reader comments addressing fertilizer application methods and how to strengthen and protect plants.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages88

Reading Time3 h 42 min

AccessFree to download

INTRODUCTION

Comments on My Post-Bag

# IN THEFLOWER GARDEN JANUARY TO DECEMBER BY GEORGE H.COPLEY N.D.Hort. 1/-net. W.&R.CHAMBERS,LIMITED In The Flower GardenJANUARY TO DECEMBER BYGEORGE H.COPLEY,N.D.HoRT. W.&R.CHAMBERS LTD. 38 SoHo SQUARE,LONDON,W.I;AND EDINBURGH First Edition,April 1935 MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN Printed by T.and A.CoNSTABLE LTD.,at theUniversity Press,Edinburgh # INTRODUCTION THE cultivation of flowers is one of the mostabsorbing and uplifting arts under the sun.Theworker in the busy world,whether he toils withhand or brain,finds in watching the developmentof leaf and bloom an antidote to the mundanecares that beset him.Amongst his flowers hefinds leisure,health,and peace.Though glimpsesof this peace come to all who see flowers,the fulllength,breadth,and height of it are only concededto those who sow the seed,and tend the plantthrough the many phases of its interesting life. It is as a lover of flowers that I take up my pento translate into words a long and happy experi-ence.Iam anxious to assist the practicalgardenerin a simple,practical way.If I attain that object,I shall feel that I have rendered some service tothe many people who love their gardens and aspireto make them beautiful. https://archive.org/details/inflowergarden0000unse # COMMENTS ON MY POST-BAG DURING the past year I have received interestingletters from many readers.Some of them raisedsuch important issues that I should like to makeshort comments on them. One point was whether,when dressing a lawnwith artificial fertilisers,it is permissible to dis-solve the latter in water.There is no objectionon technical grounds to this course,provided thatthe fertilisers will dissolve properly.In somecases,as with superphosphate of lime,only apartial solution can be obtained,which meansthat constant stirring must take place during theapplication,or some sediment will be left at thebottom of the vessel.This will be wasted,andthe lawn receive an inadequate supply of food. The principle extends further than to lawns.Whenever you desire to apply an artificial fer-tiliser,it can be given dry or in solution,whicheveris the more convenient. All viola growers know how destructive eelwormscan be.In dry,summery weather fine plantsmay collapse with dramatic suddenness.Nothingcan save them after they wilt,because the rootsare simply swarming with eelworms,and all sapcommunication with the leaves is cut off.Inconnection with this matter I received a lettercalling attention to the sulphate of potash treat-ment so often recommended.I believe that 6 IN THE FLOWER GARDEN when an ounce of sulphate of potash is rakedinto each square yard before planting,violas areimmensely strengthened,and are able to resistthis insidious and destructive foe.A similardressing might be given in mid-May and mid-Junewhere the ground is known to be infested witheelworms. Another question concerned the destruction ofclover on lawns.To some gardeners the sug-gestion that clover should be destroyed would beunacceptable.They like to see its green,tri-foliate leaves amongst the turf.In the driestweather a lawn with clover in it never looks brownand dried-up.To other gardeners clover is apestilential weed.They will go to any lengthto destroy it.So far as the ornamental lawn isconcerned,there is no settled rule.The mattercan safely be left to the individual to decide.Onplaying-lawns,however,the position is entirelydifferent.Clover is a great hindrance to a goodgame of bowls,tennis,or croquet,because itinterferes with the free run of the ball.A bowler,for example,cannot judge his throw if there arepatches of clover between him and the jack.Forthis reason I feel it my duty to include in thisbook a reliable clover-destroying mixture.It isas follows:three parts sulphate of ammonia,one part calcined or kiln-dried sulphate of iron,and twenty parts of sand.Apply at the rate offour ounces per square yard in dry weather.Ifrain falls within three or four days,the applicationmust be repeated,for moisture

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Introduction in In the Flower Garden?

It explains why flower cultivation is absorbing and uplifting and states the author’s aim to assist practical gardeners with simple, practical guidance from long experience.

Is it permissible to dissolve artificial fertilisers in water for lawns?

Yes. The text says there is no objection on technical grounds as long as the fertilisers dissolve properly, noting that partial solutions require constant stirring to avoid sediment and wasted supply.

How does the book recommend strengthening viola plants against eelworms?

It recommends raking an ounce of sulphate of potash into each square yard before planting, with additional dressings in mid-May and mid-June where ground is known to be infested.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Eliana