Floriculture is the most charming of all those out-of door amusements to which American girls are more and more devoted. Here, as well as in the drawing-room, is opportunity for artistic culture; and this has direct stimulus from the inspiration of Nature herself. No well-balanced young woman will consent to forego having her own little plot of ground in summer, and window-garden in winter, on which to essay her skill. She will dress suitably for her work, - in stout material, made with loosely belted waist, and plain skirt not falling below the ankles, thick-soled boots, old gloves, and a garden-hat. She is then fitted to take her light garden spade, hoe, and trowel, and wield them as easily as dumb-bells, though with the hope of a more tangible reward.

It is in April, and the ground has been well spaded and manured, whether it be a small plot under the windows of a village or city house, or on the lawn of a larger country home. The soil has been mingled with leaf-mould and old manure, and thoroughly pulverized. She is about to sow a few seeds of the hardier flowers in the open air, or to arrange her grounds for early planting. Happily, the old, stiff, formal geometrical beds of our grandmothers are things of the past; and as much greater latitude is permissible in the fashion of flower-arrangement as in dress. Our maiden, therefore, will display the refinement of her eye in the selection of plants that are to grow side by side. For instance, she will not plant her crimson-purple petunias beside her scarlet geraniums.

Of course she has some of last year's plants in the cellar, such as geraniums, roses, carnations, fuchsias, and arbutilons, to bring out to the light. They had been planted thickly in shallow boxes in the fall, closely trimmed, and kept on the piazza till near frost. Having slept through the long night of winter, they are ready to open their eyes in the spring sunshine. Her window-garden, too, is ready to empty its contents out of doors. But we must not haste, for only the hardiest plants are safe before the middle of May. And we will beware of having too many varieties. A few kinds well planted and tended, in masses, are much more satisfactory to the eye than mixed beds, making blotches of color. Then, again, delicate shades of blue or yellow may be grouped in contrast with deep, rich tones of scarlet or crimson; but they must be judiciously managed.

So, also, must be the size and shape of the beds themselves, depending on the size of the lawn or garden, and their distance from the house. Flowers near the windows may reasonably be smaller and finer than those to be seen from a distance. The mignonette and alyssum would be useless two hundred feet away; while even old-fashioned hollyhocks, grouped in masses, are very decorative in effect if planted against a background of evergreen at a sufficient distance. The harmonies of form and color must be studied to give effective richness to the scene.

It is not best for our young amateur to begin the ribbon or carpet style of flower-bed, which requires a perfect knowledge of tint, habit of growth, and mode of treatment. She will, instead of this, make a few beds of annuals and perennials, and set some herbaceous plants, which require less attention still.

Here is a list of some of the most desirable plants for bedding (the first thirteen are low, and may be near the house), - pansy, alyssum, aster, verbena, phlox Drummondii, portulaca, balsam, petunia, heliotrope, ageratum, coreopsis, gilly-flower, dianthus, nasturtium, escholtzia, and salvia Many of these are to be found double, but they are not so interesting as the single blossoms. By procuring the seeds at any reliable store, we can learn, from the printed directions on the paper, just when to sow them, though much depends on an early or a late spring; and some of them, like the various pinks and the pansy, may be sown in the open ground the preceding September, and, when large enough, transplanted to beds prepared for them, and made very rich. It is not generally known; but the exquisite pansy can be kept in beautiful bloom for six years by gradually cutting off the old stalks, after the flowers begin to fade, leaving only about two inches above the ground. These will send out new shoots, so as to make almost constant blossoms. Like all other perennials, they should be covered lightly with leaves or straw kept in place by brush during the winter.

If seed are to be sown in open ground, after the surface is prepared smooth and very fine by the rake following the spade, scatter the germs with a light and even motion of the hand. Follow with a delicate sprinkling of earth, when the seeds are small, increasing the thickness with their size, to an inch for the largest. But, if you can, start them in shallow boxes in a half-warmed room, perhaps in a corner of the kitchen, where they can get light and air. These boxes are filled with the finest earth or leaf-mould mixed with sand, ind there are crevices at the bottom for the surplus water to escape. Here the tiniest seeds will quickly germinate, and, as they are sown very thickly, must be transplanted into pots or the open ground in a month : afterward the weak ones are to be remorselessly thinned, leaving only one stalk in a place. This is a nice operation, suiting dainty fingers.

In planting out, we must remember that certain flowers flourish best in the shade, though all require a little sunshine. These delicate plants are pansies, fuchsias, lilies-of-the-valley, violets, lobelias, phlox. The hardier herbaceous blooms may be set without reference to shade, and foliage-plants, like the coleus, fairly revel in the sunshine.

As our experience increases, we shall find that annuals make a great deal of work, though many are very beautiful. Here is a list of the most desirable, - aster, balsam, carnation, clarkia, marigold, mignonette, nasturtium, petunia, por-tulaca, zinnia, poppy, larkspur, and phlox. These are all propagated by seed.

Herbaceous perennials, which are renewed by either seeds, divisions of the roots, or cuttings, though growing less rapidly, with care will last for years. Such are the monkshood, columbine, harebell, the tribe of pinks, dicentra or bleeding-heart, the wonderful varieties of lilies (numbering about one hundred), the iris, the narcissus (including jonquil and daffodil), the cardinal-flower, evening-primrose, lilac, and various spireas. These all require occasional replanting in fresh soil, and the ground frequently stirred about the roots, and enriched.

Of hardy shrubs there are a legion, and many lovely climbers. Among those frequently employed are the Virginia creeper, bignonia or trumpet-vine, virgin's-bower, the honeysuckles, the woodbines, wistarias, and many roses. We have not spoken of the rose before : that glorious family procession, to recognize which requires a liberal floral education, deserves and repays especial study. Indeed, we have only touched upon floriculture, the most invigorating and enticing of all pursuits. Our maiden, with her spade and hoe, her rake and trowel, will soon acquire a genuine enthusiasm for her pastime, learning therefrom more than books can teach.

Where the question of profit comes in, a greenhouse is involved if any elaborate work be undertaken. Here, however, as in every thing else, one thing perfectly done will insure a larger return than miscellaneous work. Violets are always salable; and their cultivation, when the special beds and frames they require are once made, is one of the easiest and most profitable forms of floriculture.

There are books which have proved themselves faithful guides to such work, and the titles of several are given on p. 427. The work being so practicable, enjoyable, and remunerative, it is a constant surprise that there are so few women florists. A few months of special training under a good gardener would be a great gain; and this is afforded at one or two of the agricultural colleges, the Iowa one doing especially valuable work in such directions