The Garden City Of Europe

Although Americans are apt to boast at many signs and facts of superiority over Europeans, yet in the seed trade there must be a very large allowance of prudence in statements.

The city of Erfurt, Prussia, is surrounded with so many immense horticultural establishments that it has been called The Garden City of Germany. The area devoted to horticulture in and around that city is over 1,200 acres, of which 400 acres are market gardens. There are 27 firms who do a wholesale trade, besides 120 market gardeners, who employ in all over 500 hands. Over 300,000 catalogues and price lists are issued annually.

In the neighborhood of Rochester or Geneva, N. Y., the acreage devoted to horticultural occupation is undoubtedly much larger, but it is a question whether the amount of trade is as great.

Garden Flowers

THE sketch on the opposite page, represents a floral scene in one of the most finished of European villa grounds. It is the frontispiece to Daisy Eyebright's new book " Every Woman her own Flower Gardener," the mention of whose name is alone sufficient to promise a rich treat of contents to all floral readers. The book will be ready September 1st.

Garden Flowers #1

Quite a number of new garden flowers will be introduced this spring to public notice, by the various dealers. Although many novelties are brought forward, which they or we have never seen (because the descriptions are copied from foreign catalogues), yet there are a few perfect gems really worthy of encouragement. We name the most desirable:

The Garden Library

Mr. William Robinson, publisher of The Garden, London, England, has commenced what is known as the Garden Library, viz., a list revised weekly of all books on gardening now obtained in England and for sale or to purchased through his effice. The idea is a good one, for many rare and valuable books, the moment they are offered in market, are immediately added to this list and made public We trust such a plan may yet find imitation in the United States. We observe the evident prosperity of The Garden continues, and that its size is increased from 32 to 40 pages weekly. Its paper and arrangements are very tasteful.

Garden Topics. A Good List Of Homes

EACH season lists of Roses are made out by the respective florists for the gratification of flower lovers and they all get into print, and none of them agree. We observe that every florist's idea of a good list of Roses is gauged considerably by the question: Are they easily propagated? If so, he can sell them, and, of course, endorses them. It has become so much the rule now for every florist to recommend as best, only those sorts which he can propagate easily, that we must beg pardon for saying we cannot trust their interested opinions altogether. The following list was made out by an amateur who considers the list a very good one because the flowers are good, and in climate south of 42 deg. are all good growers. We doubt if the list can be excelled.