~ et é fast We eisss Peet By Mae Savell Croy 1000 Shorter Ways Around the House 1000 Things a Mother Should Know 1000 Hints on Flowers and Birds 1000 Hints on Vegetable Gardening 1000 Hints on Flowers and Birds Mae Savell Croy Author of *¢ 1000 Shorter Ways About the House,” ‘‘ 1000 Things a Mother Should Know,” ‘‘ 1000 Hints on Vegetable Gardening ” G. P. Putnam’s Sons New York and London The ‘Knickerbocker Press 1917 COPYRIGHT, 1917 BY MAE SAVELL CROY The thnickerbocker Press, ew Work CONTENTS THE ART OF GROWING FLOWERS . ESSENTIALS IN GARDENING SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE GARDEN Hints on Growing Flowers, Alphabetically Arranged ; ; ; Suggestions for Vines . General Plan of the Garden Soil Fertilization . Seed Transplanting and Pinning Cultivation Weeds . Watering Cut Flowers . Water Plants ’ The Rock Garden . House Plants The Hotbed . THE LAWN . The Care of the ee Grasses SHRUBBERY AND TREES Shrubbery Trees PAGE Contents INSECTS AND SPRAYS. ; “ : : Hints on Insects : : , Sprays which Every Gardener should Know how to Make THE CoLor SCHEME MISCELLANEOUS Opp HINTs ABOUT GARDEN- ING ° . . : A List OF THE COMMON AND BoTANICAL NAMES OF THE FLOWERS MENTIONED HEREIN A List oF FLOwERS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE BLOSSOMING PERIOD . ; : a PLANTS SUITABLE FOR WINTER POTTING . . A List oF PERENNIALS ARRANGED ACCORD- ING TO COLORS . A List oF ANNUALS ARRANGED ACCORDING To CoLors : : 4 ‘ ‘ ; FLOWERS FOR CUTTING . f : ; Flowers REQUIRING LITTLE SUNLIGHT FLOWERS THAT THRIVE IN DAMP PLACES ‘ FLOWERS FOR.THE RocK GARDEN VEGETATION GROWN FOR FOLIAGE . i FLOWERS FOR THE OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN . A List oF EVERGREEN SHRUBS AND TREES ; PAGE 251 253 269 273 279 293 297 299 300 302 304 395 306 | 306 306 306 307 Contents A PLEA FOR THE BIRDs . Bird Houses . Food and Water Bits of Information INDEX BLANK PAGES FOR PERSONAL NOTES 1000 Hints on Flowers and Birds THE ART OF GROWING FLOWERS No country in the world is quite so well adapted to the culture of flowers as America. Even in the crowded city, flowers are possible. The conditions of growing them are more trying but still they can be grown, and in the city the efforts required to produce them will receive far more appreciation than in the country or suburbs. Then why should not Americans have gardening for their art? We have unlimited space; we have a wonderful variety of climatic and soil condi- tions, suitable for a wide variety of flowers, and somewhere in this country flowers of every known Species can be grown. Every flower is worthy of cultivation. Few flowers there are which will not give marvelous results if carefully tended, and some of the com- I 2 The Art of Growing Flowers monest weeds under careful cultivation will produce glorious garden plants. Indeed some of the rare plants of one section of the country are weeds in another section and the great majority of our flowers were once grown wild. A great many who might readily grow flowers with great success hesitate to attempt their cultivation because of limited space, such as the tiny city back yard, or because of what they consider unfavorable climatic conditions resulting in a short season. The first-mentioned obstacle should be no obstacle. A small space well kept is far preferable to a large plot which cannot have the desired attention given it, and though city back yards often get little sunlight there are a number of plants that thrive best in shady or partially shady places. A list of some of these flowers will be found elsewhere in this book by referring to the index. Where there is no yard at all, as for instance, in the city apartment,. window boxes are possible, and even if the windows are on the north side of the house, flowers which require little sunlight will flourish. The lily of the valley, for one, has no superior in fragrance or appearance, and it grows and multiplies rapidly in a shady, damp location, and is just as suitable for a window box as for an outdoor garden. Then The Art of Growing Flowers 3 there are house plants galore for the winter months when window boxes as well as outdoor gardens must be abandoned. One little plant will lend an air of cheerfulness to a room, even if it be not a flowering variety, and anyone can have some sort of house plant. A list of plants suitable for potting can be found by referring to the index. In the city apartment, there arises the problem of obtaining earth but a bag of heavy cotton, or thick paper, and a suitcase, on a day when one wants to take a journey into the woods, will solve this problem, and soil taken from a spot where vegetation is more or less rank can be depended upon to be fertile. Then there are fertilizers to be purchased in commercial form, and a very small package of fertilizer will go a long way with a few house plants. Whatever ob- stacles there may be, flower-growth is possible in every home if one will but take the pains—it cannot be called trouble—to have them. Where there is more than one member of the family able to spend a little time on gardening, competition should be encouraged, for then the flowers will be sure to receive attention and there will be an added zest in watching them grow. Children should. be trained to a love of flowers and to a study of the habits of plant life. It is 4 The Art of Growing Flowers a wonderfully broadening subject and one which never fails to give pleasure, and the results forever justify the labor expended. The cost of flowers is small, very small, in comparison to the study of any other art. A package of seed which will produce a hundred or more plants can be purchased for ten cents and most packages give directions for planting. Small plants of three or four inches in height also are very inexpensive, though the pleasure is greater to watch the plants develop from seedlings. Then there is the pleasure to be derived from developing wild flowers which can be had in the woods for the gathering. Wild flowers of pretty foliage carefully nurtured will grow and often produce wonderful results. Bulbs are immensely satisfactory when house- blooming plants are desired. They require little attention and can be forced for blooming at any period. Directions for forcing can be found on another page by referring to ‘“bulbs”’ in the index. Four features of the garden claim close atten- tion, and these are the lawn, the walks, the beds, and the borders. The first two are discussed elsewhere in this volume, while the last two may be treated as one. One wide bed will give a far prettier effect than three or four narrow ones and The Art of Growing Flowers 5 the plants will have a better chance for develop- ment; and a few large beds with clumps of flowers planted seemingly at random will be far less formal than set beds and borders apparently designed with a view to putting into the garden all that could be crowded in. Straight lines in a small garden are preferable but on a large plot, curves and angles may be indulged in, though elaborate, fancy shapes are never to be desired. It is the plants which should be displayed, not the beds. The more natural the appearance of the garden the more beautiful it will be. Anything suggestive of artificiality will detract from the picture at a glance. The contour of the garden, as well as the pro- portions of the lot, must be studied before the planting is begun. A straight narrow lot cannot be treated in the same manner as the lot irregular in shape. The irregular lot already is informal. If possible, dispense with a fence around the garden. In localities where animals are allowed to run at large this will not be possible, but even then it may have flowers and shrubbery planted near to break the lines, and vines may be trained to grow on it. Both perennials and annuals should be included in the list of flowers, perennials in order that new growth will not have to be 6 The Art of Growing Flowers depended upon absolutely each season, and annuals to furnish fresh, new plant life and a larger variety of flowers. An evergreen or two should not be omitted, otherwise the fence will appear cold and bleak in the winter. Vines furnish the easiest and most graceful manner of hiding an unattractive object, and vine cultivation is not tedious. Many vines are self-perpetuating and most of them abound in foliage rather than in flowers, thus making very attractive screens. And so a fence which must be hidden, can be, or at least it may be covered, in such way that it will not be con- spicuous. The assortment of flowers is deserving of the utmost care in choosing. Any flower is better than none, but there is such a wide variety from which to choose that the individual taste can always be suited. Plants should be chosen always with the idea of getting the most benefit from each one. The tender, delicate plants, like tender, delicate children, require constant atten- tion, and there are many hardy varieties for the gardener who cannot give a great many hours weekly to the pleasant task of gardening. For amateur gardeners the more hardy plants should always be selected. Delicate plants may prove discouraging and the garden may be given up, The Art of Growing Flowers 7 when if easy-growing plants were attempted at first, the knowledge gained by working with them would be a good start toward caring for the tender plants. Many of the less hardy plants are most beautiful, and it is well worth one’s while to spend time on cultivating them. \ So let us hope that America is coming to the adoption of gardening as her art. This is an art every housewife can practice while about her daily work, and the cheer she receives from watch- ing a tender young plant begin to take on growth will help wonderfully in creating the right kind of home atmosphere for her family. ESSENTIALS IN GARDENING THE soil and the air produce our plants. The air furnishes carbonic acid, which is of the most vital importance, and the soil the nourishment which is fed to the plant through the root. Soil without the proper elements in it will never produce worth-while vegetation. A child cannot thrive if it is not fed the proper food, and plants, like children, differ in their requirements. The soil must be suited to the plant. Some plants require a rich soil, some a light soil; some require a great deal of moisture while others will do best in a semi-dry state; and each species of flower must be studied individually in order to supply it with the correct proportions of nitrogen, potash, and phosphate, the three essentials in plant nourishment. No flower will do its best in a hard, dry soil. Before planting, the soil should be thoroughly pulverized. It should first be spaded and harrowed to a depth of from one to two feet for the average garden bed, and even deeper than that 8 Essentials in Gardening 9 for plants with long roots. In setting out young, tender plants in the garden or in potting house plants, the soil should be made as fine as it is possible to have it. A good method to follow is to procure a dirt sifter and sift the earth thoroughly. If a ready-made sifter can be procured so much the better, but even a homemade one will serve the purpose admirably. It can easily be made by simply nailing a piece of one sixteenth of an inch wire mesh to a wooden frame and setting this slantingly on a support, or by leaning it up against a fence. The soil should be thrown, a shovelful at a time, against the wire, when all the soft, fine sand will go through and fall on the under side, and the coarse particles which cannot go through will fall in front of the sifter. The sifted sand will be excellent. Soil should always be analyzed before it is fertilized. An amateur cannot tell what the soil requires until the plant has grown and either flourished or suffered from the soil conditions. A soil already rich in nitrogen should not have nitrogenous food added to it or the plants will die from overfeeding. Nitrates are among the most commonly used fertilizers but most gardens could stand more phosphate than they usually get. Phosphate is the flower-producing fertilizer, fe) Essentials in Gardening and unless there is a sufficient quantity of phosphate in the form of bone meal, basic slag, or a similar product, the plants may grow and flourish with regard to leaf and stem and the flowers be pale and sickly. Potash is beneficial to flowers which are valued for their fragrance. The planting of seed in a way to obtain the best results is simple, but in order to produce the greatest number of seedlings from the amount of seed sown they, like everything else in the garden, must be handled carefully and not sown in a haphazard fashion. The soil for seed should always be finely pulverized and then baked in a hot oven for an hour or more to kill any seed of weeds which may be laying dormant. If this is not done weeds are likely to come up in profusion and if not detected at once and pulled out the flower seedlings will be puny and unhealthy for lack of the nourishment which the weeds have stolen. Seeds require warmth, moisture, and air in order to germinate, and if either of these is lacking there will be a poor crop. The atmosphere of the seed bed should be kept as fine as possible so that the young plants when first bursting forth from the soil may not be injured by being chilled, otherwise they may never reach maturity. The bed should be kept not wet but slightly moist in Essentials in Gardening II order to aid in bursting the pods open, and there must be plenty of fresh air to supply carbonic acid, on which so much depends. The depth at which seeds should be planted varies with the size of the seed. A very fine seed may be sown broadcast and no covering of earth whatever applied, all that is necessary being to press the earth down flat and firm with some flat surface, preferably a board. Larger seed will require a trench or a sprinkling of earth scattered over them, while the very large seeds, such as nasturtiums, moonflowers, and others of the same size, may be placed on the surface of well-prepared soil and gently pushed down into the earth with the flat end of a lead pencil, reaching a depth of two or three times the diameter of the seed. Absolutely fresh seed should always be procured if possible, as a very small percentage of seed has vigorous life after the first year and some will not even germinate. The seed bed should be kept moist, but never wet, otherwise the seed will rot before they can germinate, or if they have germinated the young seedlings will drop off. If the earth is allowed to become dry and hard, then wet and soft alternately, only a dismal failure will confront the gardener at the end of the period set for seed germination. I2 Essentials in Gardening When the young seedlings have appeared they should not be tampered with until they have attained a growth of an inch or more, other than to pull out any weeds which may have started, but if the earth has been baked preparatory to planting, there will not be many weeds. If the seeds have been very successful in ger- mination, they may come up too thickly, in which case some of the less hardy ones should be thinned ' out to give the best plants every opportunity, and after they have grown a couple of good leaves, they are ready for transplanting, if they are to be transplanted. They should not remain too long in the seed bed, for plants which bear transplanting will benefit by having their soil changed as soon as they are old enough to stand it. Transplanting is a new era of life to the young plant, and the work requires the utmost care. Occasionally a plant will grow and flourish if it has been pulled up by the roots and stuck in a hole in the ground, but to insure success, all vegetation should be carefully handled in trans- planting. In most cases the soil should be moderately moist and the earth should be warm enough that there will be no danger of chill caused by transferring the plant to new soil. A good clump of earth should always be removed with Essentials in Gardening 13 the roots in transferring it from one location to another. This will keep the roots from getting a shock at the removal. After transplanting, the soil should be tamped down firmly,—with the hand for the house plants and with the foot for garden plants,—a little indenture being made around the stem so that water will not drain off. In some cases water should be applied to the roots of the plant as they are put into the hole, this treatment depending upon the atmospheric conditions, as well as upon the dryness of the soil. In the case of full-grown plants, shrubs, and trees, water should always be poured on the roots. After young plants have been set in their new home and after large plants have been permanently located, the time for cultivation is at hand. Without it nothing but weeds will thrive. Hoes, spades, forks, and trowels will be necessary for this work, the larger implements for working with large plants in outdoor gardening where there is plenty of space between the vegetation, and the smaller forks and trowels for use in cultivating house plants and small garden flowers which have many fine roots. Cultivation should be given frequently, otherwise the plants will not flourish. An occasional digging around the plants now and then will not be of much benefit. Cultivation 14 Essentials in Gardening not only conserves the moisture in the soil but it permits the air to reach the roots of the plant as well. Hard, dry earth must be broken up. Roots cannot push their way through it when in search of nourishment, and the growth of the stems and leaves will be retarded when root growth is retarded. | Weeds must be kept down. If they once get a start they are hard to eradicate, hence vigilance must be exercised from the beginning. Often there is no other remedy than to pull these nuisances up by hand or with the weeding hook, which will be found most serviceable, as any appli- cation to kill the roots of weeds will be likely to result in poisoning the roots of flowers as well. Watering the flowers is something that every gardener must expect to have to do and to do with regularity. Even out of doors rain cannot be depended upon. Water furnishes the sap which courses through the stems and leaves, and without the amount of moisture suited to its individual need no plant can grow luxuriously. Often whena plant is not thriving, all that is needed is water. Large plants and trees should have a pipe driven into the ground near them, and the water should be poured down this by means of a funnel stuck in the upper end of the pipe. In this way the Essentials in Gardening 15 water will reach the roots in dry weather, and it is really not of very much importance whether the surface of the ground is wet or not. Plants should be studied and notes should be made as to just which require an abundance of moisture and which do not. An occasional watering after the earth has grown hard and dry is better than none but it will not do much to promote growth. ~ SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE GARDEN THE flowers which give the greatest pleasure are those which can be cut and attractively arranged in vases for indoor decoration. Not all flowers are suitable for cutting, and every garden should be planned with a view to having some blossoms for the house at all seasons of the year. Short-stemmed flowers for small bowls and dishes and long-stemmed ones for tall vases will prove a constant source of pleasure for the woman who would give to her living room a note of cheer and to her dining table add an extra charm. Flowers that shatter easily are good only for the yard, and while many of these are so pretty in their delicacy that no gardener would want to eliminate them, they must not be permitted to occupy so much space that there will be no room for more hardy blossoms. The beds should be planted with a view to having a variety of color, for however beautiful the flower may be, it will not receive as much appreciation if it is used continuously instead of being alternated with other blossoms. 16 Special Features of the Garden 17 For cut flowers the deepest shades usually give the greatest pleasure. There is nearly always sur- rounding color indoors and not the quantity of green for a background which is afforded in the open garden, and pale, delicate hues are likely to lose their identity amid the strong contrasting colors of indoor decoration. The style of vase for cut flowers will have an important bearing upon their appearance, and the beauty will be either enhanced or detracted from according to whether the right vase or the wrong one is used. Long-stemmed heavy flowers placed in a delicate dainty vase will not show to advan- tage, while short-stemmed blossoms stuck in the top of a tall vase will certainly seem out of pro- portion if not somewhat ridiculous. Vases should never be gaudy in appearance, nor even profusely decorated. If a vase is to be used as a piece of statuary it may be of fanciful design, but the vase used to display flowers should be simple in line and decoration. Yellow daffodils in a plain yellow pottery vase will be most beautiful, as will pink roses in a pink rose-bowl, but not red roses in a pink rose-bowl. And flowers should never be crowded in the vase. Nature does not crowd her flowers on a stem and the more natural the arrangement, the more beautiful the flowers. 18 Special Features of the Garden Cut flowers cannot be procured every month of the year unless one has a greenhouse or patronizes a florist constantly, so a simple and inexpensive way of insuring flowers is to have a collection in pots. Everyone can have one or more house plants. There is really no excuse in the world which will hold good when it comes to denying a house the right to a blossom. No other mark of decoration will do so much for a room and no other object will yield so much pleasure as the growing plant. Outdoors much of their real value is lost among the foliage of other plants, but in- doors they receive the appreciation due them, and among objects remaining stationary day after day the growing plant, with its ever-changing form, will be of great interest. A variety of color among the house plants should be selected; and if the plants are kept in the conservatory, or some place which serves as a conservatory, and are brought out one at a time and placed in the living room or on the dining- room table, each will be a new delight in its turn. No house plant should remain more than two or three days in the living room without being replaced by another while it is set in the sunlight again, otherwise it will soon droop. House plants usually get plenty of attention, as Special Features of the Garden 9 generally they are placed within easy reach of the houseworker, and it is more readily observed when they are in need of water and when bugs and worms are making their raids. An old fork kept handy will insure frequent cultivation, for it is an easy matter to dig around a plant when an implement is near at hand, while the plants might be neglected if search had to be made for a fork or trowel. As a rule very few plants are used as house plants, while there really is a great variety which can be grown successfully indoors. A list of such plants, will be found by referring to the index. House plants should be transferred to the open ground in the summer time. Taken out of doors and allowed to stay, they will thrive splendidly and the new growth will have become hardened for the fall. Pot and plant should be set in the ground together and there will not have to be a retransplanting when the plants go back to the greenhouse in the autumn, with root disturbance attendant upon removal. The location for house plants should be one of the best in the house. They require sunlight and air, and a southern exposure will be admirable, for not having to fight the cold drafts which seep through the cracks on the north side of the house 20 Special Features of the Garden they will not run the constant risk of chill. If glass is between them and the sun so much the better. A specie of plants which are not commonly cultivated are the water plants. They not only provide a flower different in type from the garden plants but they are novelties which soon win their way into the hearts of flower lovers and retain for themselves a prominent place in the garden catalogues. Water plants may be grown with equal success indoors or out if the conditions are favor- able, and while the variety is not extensive most of them are beautiful enough that the owners will not tire of them. There is no flower more beautiful in form nor more delicious in fragrance than the old-fashioned pond lily. It grows and flourishes from Maine to Florida and from Cali- fornia to New York, though its season is short in the colder sections of the country. However it is well worth cultivating for the short time it does last. This flower is not often used as an indoor plant because of its demand for water, and yet where it can be used it furnishes a most beautiful means of decoration. I once attended a wedding in the little town of Bagdad, Florida, at eight o’clock in the morning, where the decoration consisted solely of pond lilies and smilax in Kate Greenaway baskets hanging from the chandeliers Special Features of the Garden 21 and other convenient places. This was a novel flower decoration and it meant gathering lilies at five o’clock in the morning, but who would really mind being one of a gay bridal party gathering pond lilies even at that hour? One objection which is frequently uttered against the garden pool is that it breeds mosquito larve, but this objectional feature can be avoided by placing in the pool a small collection of goldfish which will eat the larve and at the same time add to the charm of the pool. In close proximity to the pool or collection of pools may be placed the rock garden. The land- scape plan naturally calls for this proximity and water near the rocks will seem a natural result though it may be wholly man’s arrangement. Some of our most beautiful plants will thrive best in the rock garden, with its well-drained soil and the heavy foundation of rock surface which lends value to the beauty of the surroundings and furnishes splendid background for the reds, whites, greens, blues, and yellows of the flowers growing among them. No attempt is made to enumerate here the variety of plants which are suitable for the rock garden. This list is reserved for another page. The season for blossoms in the rock garden is 22 Special Features of the Garden limited, and the plant that can be transplanted without harm had best be started in the hotbed in paper cups or dirt bands and transferred to the garden after the sun has warmed the soil in the early spring. While the majority of the plants for the rock garden should be of a spreading nature there is always a place for tall growing plants such as the dianthus, snapdragon, and phlox, and there will be very apt to be nooks and corners which will need some of the taller plants to serve as a background. A variety of color should be planned and bright reds, brilliant blues, and deep yellows should be generously supplied, otherwise the dark rocks will give the garden a more or less cheerless aspect. Here probably more than in any other part of the garden one should strive for balance in coloring. The rock garden should be planned as early in the season as the weather will permit, for most rock- garden plants blossom during the early summer months. The soil should be most carefully mixed and a good composition is one part leaf-mold, two parts of loam or turfy soil, and one part of sand. A little lime can be added to advantage in the places where edelweiss, saxifrages, primroses, and poppies are planted, or the soil may become a bit sour for them. Special Features of the Garden 23 Gardening can hardly be carried on advan- tageously without the aid of a greenhouse or a hotbed, and as the majority of gardeners cannot afford a greenhouse a plea is entered for the hot- bed, which anyone can afford. In the following pages are suggestions for making and caring for the hotbed, which will show how simple it really is, though it is generally looked upon as being some- thing difficult to make and as more or less hard to operate. With the aid of the hotbed the length of the flower season is increased almost one third. In the hotbed only can heat, light, and air be properly regulated for tender young plants. When the attempt is made to plant seed indoors in boxes, awaiting transplanting to the out-of-doors later, they are often killed by someone thoughtlessly leaving the door open and creating a draft, or by neglect to keep them supplied with moisture, as watering so often means wetting the floor unless the box has unusually good drainage. When the soil becomes dry and hard, and wet and soggy, alternately, they will not live. The hotbed has no other motive than to protect and promote the life of young plants, and it should be placed in a corner so easy to reach that when the hardening-off pro- cess has begun the plants may receive daily atten- 24 Special Features of the Garden tion without giving too much trouble. When a hotbed is once started it will not require much thought. Soil need only be changed every two or three years, though occasionally a little fertilizer may be added while the plants are growing or before the seeds are planted. This had best be added with growing plants in liquid form in order not to disturb the young roots. And so I would advise every gardener to provide himself or herself with a hotbed of as generous proportions as his garden demands. GROWING FLOWERS Abutilon The abutilon makes an excellent climbing plant. The shoots should be pruned back each spring and the main stem fastened to the trellis or other support on which it is to climb. Jt requires a rich soil and good drainage, though the earth should be kept moderately moist. Abutilon plants are among the most beautiful of plants for the house. It is very easy to grow if given a good loam soil and sufficient drainage by placing pebbles in the bottom of the pot. Achillea The achillea is a most satisfactory plant when rapid growth is desired to spread over a bare space. It will thrive in ordinary garden soil, and is at its best when massed in large clumps. The seed should be sown in the hotbed, or indoors, and the 25 26 Growing Flowers young seedlings transplanted to the garden as soon as danger of frost is over. The outer shoots of the achillea should be removed to keep it from spreading to spaces designed for other plants or it may soon crowd them out. It should be staked to keep it in good condition, as the branches will soon lie flat on the ground and the rain will beat the earth upon them to their detri- ment. Achillea plants require little attention after they have once attained a good growth. ‘The soil will not demand much in the way of fertilizer, a little liquid fertilizer applied once a year being all that is needed usually, though to lift the plants and work into the soil a little manure will be beneficial every two or three years. A geratum Ageratum grows well in almost all soils and through a wide range of climate. The seed may be sown in the cold frame in March and the seedlings transplanted as soon as the ground is warm enough. Seeds sown in August will pro- duce good plants for winter flowering. Everyone Growing Flowers . 27 should have blue ageratum, at least, as there are so few blue flowers. Ageratum is very attractive when planted among sweet alyssum, candytuft, and other small plants. Alyssum Sweet alyssum should be given a liberal amount of fertilizer. The blossoms are profuse, and unless kept fairly enriched the foliage will be dull and unattractive, sometimes falling off altogether. Alyssum should be sown where tt 1s to grow, though it may be transplanted with fairly good results as soon as the soil is warm enough in the spring. For winter bloom, it may be sown in August. The plants should be thinned to four inches apart. Cuttings may be made from alyssum, using only the strong new side shoots. To cut back the first flowers of alyssum when they fade will cause other flowers to be produced. 28 Growing Flowers Anchusa Cuttings may successfully be made of anchusa, or alkanet, from stems two inches in length. They should be rooted in light, sandy soil, and are best made in the fall of the year. The flowers of the anchusa are great favorites with the bees and they are among the few beautiful blue flowers. Anchusa plants require plenty of sunlight and a rich loam in order to thrive and produce the best flowers. The plant is self-propagating and does not require a great deal of care. When it branches out and crowds other plants, it will be benefited by pruning, removing the lower branches first. Anemone The anemone is commonly called japonica, or Japanese windflower. In the South it grows to be a large tree, attaining a growth of ten or fifteen feet. It requires a rich soil, though it should not be too heavy, and plenty of moisture. In planting anemone as a hedge, it should have an extra supply of fertilizer applied to the roots, as the root growth is strong, and will soon take the substance from the soil. This plant should Growing Flowers 29 be removed only in the spring, as interfering with the roots in the fall will disturb them so that they will hardly become adjusted before cold weather. The Japanese anemone may be propagated by cuttings. The cuttings should be taken from growth a year old, and each cutting should have one or more joints. The joint should be buried in the ground, in sandy soil, and kept very moist until the roots appear. Arbor-Vite- The arbor-vite lives to be seventy-five or eighty years old. The arbor-vite requires a rich, well-drained soil in order to produce handsome foliage, for which it is grown. It isa native of Japan and makes a hand- some hedge. When planted merely as decorative shrubbery, it should always have some lighter leaved evergreen clustered with it, otherwise, it will have a somber, cemeterial effect. Arbutus The arbutus requires a soil composed of sandy peat or loam which 1s moist, but well drained.. It should be planted where it is to remain, as it does 30 Growing Flowers not transplant very well when it has grown to a fairly good size. The arbutus is a most satisfactory plant for expert- ment in grafting, and when grafting is successful, flowers of two colors, and also variegated flowers, may be found on the same tree. Asters Aster seed sown in the open ground in May will bring forth blossoms in September and October, when the flowers are seen at their best. For July and August flowering, the seed should be sown in the hotbed or in boxes in the house. They should be covered to a depth of half an inch and covered with rich, light soil. When the seedlings are transplanted they should have three or four leaves and should stand a foot and a half apart Small quantities of air-slaked lime or of fresh wood ashes stirred into the surface of aster beds will prove very beneficial. The plants require plenty of water. Fresh manure used in large quantities will usually prove injurious to asters. Only thoroughly composted manure should be used. Growing Flowers 31 When asters are being attacked by the black potato beetle, the plants should be covered with mosquito netting or other thin cloth. Green netting will enable the plants to show through better than if white is used. Nicotine solution should be used on asters when the black beetles make their attack. The asters should be closely watched for this pest, for it does great damage in a very short while after its appearance. Azalea The azalea belongs to the rhododendron family and is an evergreen generally used as a house plant. It requires a rich soil which should be kept moderately moist at all times. There are many varieties in the color of the flowers. Jt is excel- lently adapted for grafting. Azaleas for Christmas blooming should be forced about the middle of November. ‘The plants should be kept in a temperature of 60 degrees if the buds have already shown color, otherwise a warmer temperature will be necessary. The plants should be hardened by taking them gradually into a 32 Growing Flowers cooler temperature before they are taken out of doors. A potted azalea may be planted out of doors during the summer, the plant remaining in the pot, and taken up again in the fall with excellent results. Plants will blossom profusely for several winters just at Christmas time if properly cared for. It should have a great deal of sunlight for several weeks before Christmas. Azaleas should be pruned immediately after the flowers fade, and the plants should be kept in a warm moist temperature for several weeks after pruning when they should be brought to the fresh air and sunlight to remain until fall. In potting azaleas, the earth should be put into the pot in layers and each layer packed down firm. Loose soil will prove detrimental to the root growth and the plants will not flourish. Azaleas require very careful watering. If they become dry they will soon die. If too much water is applied to them, they will damp off. They should be kept moderately moist at all times. Growing Flowers 33 Leaf-mold should be applied to azaleas and laurel, and plenty of dead leaves placed over the surface in the fall will help to make leaf-mold. For leaves to remain on the soil near the plants during the summer will also be beneficial, tending to keep the earth damp and moist. Bachelor’ s-Buitton Bachelor’s-bution will thrive under almost any soil condition, and about the only attention it needs is to renew the soil once in every two years. It grows rapidly and should not be planted among other small plants or it will soon crowd them out. It is most suitable for corners where it is difficult to get less hardy plants to grow. Bachelor’s-button is most attractive when set out in groups. Single plants do not appear to advantage. In large numbers, the flowers are suitable for cutting. Balsam The old-fashioned balsam requires rich soil, a hot sun, and plenty of water. The plants are quick growers, and seed sown in the ground in May will 3 34 Growing Flowers blossom eight weeks later. They should be from twelve to eighteen inches apart. Transplanting balsam planis two or three times will dwarf the plants into a pretty shape and will also make the flowers more double. Begonias Begonias serve both as a plant and as a flower, with their beautifully colored leaves. T hey require rich, moist soil and plenty of sunlight, as well as plenty of room for their roots to spread. Begonias are among the most delightful of house plants, and can also be successfully planted in the garden. The soil should be very rich and moist, in order to produce rapid and tender growth of the leaves for which the plants are valued. When begonias have stopped blooming, the roots should be kept dry to check growth and give the plants arest. After a week or so water may again be supplied, when fresh shoots will come forth to be taken off and replanted as cuttings. One very satisfactory way of preserving tuberous begonia bulbs is to cut off the foliage when they Growing Flowers 35 have ceased blooming and allow the earth in the pots to become thoroughly dried out, when they should be set away in a dark place. They should be set in fresh, new soil in the spring. Beliflower The Japanese bellflower is often called the balloon flower. The soil for growing these flowers should be deep and rich, but not too heavy. ‘The flowers should be covered in the fall with a mulch of stable manure or leaves. The bellflower blossoms profusely in July when propagated in the spring by seed. Root division should be made in the spring of the year also, as the plant cannot stand the change of soil just before cold weather. When planting bellflower plants, never bend the roots to fit the hole. Instead dig a hole deep enough to set the plant in it with the roots set straight. To bend the roots may bruise them, as they are tender. Blazing Star The blazing star should be set in a fairly rich soil and be propagated from a division of the roots in 36 Growing Flowers the spring or from cuttings, though the former method will prove the more satisfactory, when roots are to be had. Bougainvillea When the bougainvillea is just coming into flower it should not be allowed to become dry, but should have frequent waterings or the flowers will not thrive, and some of the buds may never even unfold. Bougainvillea can be propagated by cuttings of half-ripened wood. The cuttings should be taken from the plant the latter part of February or the first of March and inserted in sandy soil, kept somewhat moist, until the roots have attained a good growth, when they should be planted in rich, friable soil. Bridal Wreath The bridal wreath, or Francoa, is a hardy peren- nial in the Southern States, and is most satisfactory either as a garden plant or for cutting to decorate with indoors. The soil should be light and well drained, though the plant will grow in almost any ‘soil. Growing Flowers 37 Plants of the bridal wreath for indoor growing require very little care. A soil composed of fibrous loam, leaf-mold, compost, and sand will give excel- lent results. The loam should predominate. Branches of the bridal wreath may be successfully grafted on plants of different colors, with very satisfactory results. Cuttings may be rooted easily by placing them in moist sand and keeping them fairly warm. Butierfly Flower Seed of the schizanthus or butierfly flower should be sown under glass the latter part of March or the first of April. If sown where the plants are to grow, two or three weeks later will be the proper time. Mixed packages usually contain good strains of seed. Fairly rich soil will force a pretty ' growth of the pinnate foliage. The butterfly flower is equally satisfactory as a house plant or as a garden annual. The stems should be supported while the plants are very young. Calliopsis For a plant having flowers for a long season, the calliopsis, or coreopsis, is as satisfactory as any 38 Growing Flowers that can be found. It is easy to grow and is well suited for both outdoor flowering and indoor decoration. Its colors are yellow, brown, and red, and are very rich and handsome. For summer flowers in localities having a climate corresponding to that of New York City, calliopsis seed should be planted in the hotbed in March. In warmer localities, the seed may be sown in the open ground in May. The flowers will last until frost. Calliopsis plants should be staked to prevent the heavy rains washing the stem of the flowers and beating them to the ground. The calliopsis, or coreopsis, requires light well- drained soil, and the plant will not need much cultivation. To produce very fine showy flowers, cultivation will be necessary, but there will be an abundance of flowers if left alone. Candytuft As an edging for flower beds, the little old- fashioned candytuft will be most pleasing. The soil should be rich and the plants should be kept motst. Growing Flowers 39 If candytuft ts grown for cutting the flowers, some of the flowers, at least half, should be removed in order to secure large blossoms for cutting. The seed of candytuft should be sown in the garden during the month of April in the location where the plants are to grow, and the plants should be thinned when they have attained a height of an inch or two. Seed planted in Sep- tember in the cold frame will produce flowers for the winter months. Cannas Cannas require a rich sotl, plenty of water, and bright sunlight for their best development, hence they should never be planted near a shade. Their broad leaves need a great deal of nourishment, and unless watered freely will be a sickly green. Cannas and dahlias are accustomed to warm climates and the bulbs will not stand the cold winter very well. They should be dug up in the fall, as soon as flowering ceases, and stored in the cellar during the winter. If the cellar is damp, the bulbs will be likely to freeze if cold and start growth if warm, while if it is too dry, the bulbs will shrivel. They should have plenty of air. 40 Growing Flowers All the earth possible should be left clinging to the roots or bulbs of cannas and dahlias when taking them up to store away for the winter. Cannas and caladiums can be used to good purpose in shrub borders and masking groups before the shrubs are sufficiently grown to produce the effect desired. They can also be used io great advan- tage with the castor-o1l bean. In separating roots of the cannas for the next summer’s beds, a piece of the old stem should remain attached to each piece of root. This division of roots may be started in February or March with good results. Canterbury Bell The Canterbury bell requires a rich, sandy soil with good drainage in order to thrive, though it will grow under rather adverse conditions. Canterbury bells comprise perenmal, biennial, and annual flowering plants, and there should be a place for this little flower in every garden. For outdoor effects, they are glorious, and they can be grown with equal success in pots. Growing Flowers AI The seeds of biennial Canterbury bells should be sown out of doors in July, while annuals should be sown in April or early in May. ‘There are two ways of preserving the perennials. One is to cover the outdoor plants with leaves or manure and another is to transfer the outdoor plants to pots during the winter, setting them in the garden again as soon as the ground grows warm. The Canterbury bell, or slipperwort, or bell flower makes a beautiful Easter plant. ‘The plants of the season previous should be kept | pruned to produce flower buds at the right season. Carnations Carnations require a rich soil and an abundance of moisture if they are to flower profusely. They may be started in dirt bands and transplanted to the ground when danger of frost is over. The plants should not stand nearer than ten inches apart. To root cuttings of carnations, strip the shoots that grow around the base of all the leaves growing on the lower half, and bend these shoots into the ground, making an incision with a sharp knife on the under side of the shoot. Pin the shoot A2 Growing Flowers down with two small sticks in the form of a crotch and do not disturb for a couple of weeks or longer. Carnations will root in boxes of sand quite readily. The shoot should be cut near a knot and the cutting should be four or five inches in length. A litile indigo blue, placed in the water in which carnations are placed after being cut, will color white carnations a pretty blue. In trying to get red, white, and blue flowers for decorative pur- poses on Washington’s birthday, or at other times when blue flowers are hard to obtain, this plan should be used. February and March are the best months in which to plant carnations. Carnations should have good drainage but the soil should be kept moderately moist, particularly while the seeds are germinating. The seedlings should be hardened before being transplanted. A soil highly recommended for carnations is composed of one part of barnyard manure mixed with three parts of fibrous loam and two parts of coarse sand. This should be well mixed and kept in a damp place a month before using, when a couple of ounces of basic slag may be added to act as a tonic for the flowers. Growing Flowers 43 Carnations will be much benefited by a fertilizer composed of an ounce each of sulphate of ammonia, kainit, and a superphosphate, dissolved in three gallons of water. Castor-Oil Bean The castor bean plant is very desirable for making shade in sunny spots, as well as for forming a very pretty temporary hedge. Jt grows very rapidly and often reaches a height of ten feet. The castor bean requires a rich soil and plenty of moisture, but it will thrive very well indeed in a sandy soil and with little moisture. It is, indeed, one of the easiest of plants to grow. When planting castor beans for shrubbery or hedge, plant them sufficiently far apart that the lower part of the plant may receive plenty of sunlight and the leaves branch out near the bottom. The use of the castor bean plant with cannas, caladium, scarlet sage, or coleus will produce a very striking effect, and as a background for lower growing plants it has no equal among garden annuals. Its rich, luxuriant growth produces a semi-tropical effect. 44 Growing Flowers Chrysanthemums Chrysanthemums bloom more satisfactorily if the seeds are sown in hotbeds and the young plants transplanted to the open as soon as the soil has become sufficiently warm to receive them. They should be set about a foot apart when set in permanent locations. If chrysanthemum buds are pinched back the work will be rewarded by a great increase in the size of the flowers, as well as by branching and stocky plants. Chrysanthemums in pots require liberal feeding with fertilizers from August until the flowers come out. Liquid manure is the simplest way of fertilizing them. Chrysanthemums require a rich, well-drained loam. Lice frequently take up their abode on the tender terminal shoots of the chrysanthemums. To get rid of them, the leaves should be sprayed with a commercial nicotine solution or with water in which smoking or plug tobacco has been steeped for several hours. Soaking the tobacco in cold water for twenty-four hours will answer. Growing Flowers 45 Propagating chrysanthemums from seed makes a very interesting study. Seeds saved from single- flowering plants often produce greatly improved varieties. The plants usually will be thrifty and will bloom the first year. Cuttings of chrysanthemums should be inserted in pots of sandy soil. They should not be kept in a room which has a great deal of heat, for they are a cold-weather plant. As soon as they are well rooted they should be transferred to a rich loam with which has been mixed a little leaf soil and sand. When it is desired to produce fine large chrys- anthemums without regard to the number of flowers, all but one bud should be pinched off as soon as they appear. Usually the first crown bud which forms in the apex of the shoot will be the largest flower. An excellent fertilizer for chrysanthemums may be made by mixing five ounces of nitrate of soda with five ounces of kainit, five ounces of a super- phosphate, and one ounce of sulphate of iron. If this is desired in liquid form, dissolve the mixture in fifteen gallons of water. 46 Growing Flowers A good soil for chrysanthemums is composed of three parts of turfy loam mixed with one part of well-rotted stable manure. Three or four ounces of basic slag or bone meal added to this will have a beneficial effect on the flowers. Clarkia Seed of the clarkia should be sown out of doors early in the spring and the plants should be par- tially shaded. The best soil is a warm, light soil. The clarkia is most beautiful when planted in window boxes and hanging baskets, and also as a border for the flower bed or other low massing, as it not only has a pretty foliage growth but it blooms freely and has a variety of flowers. Cobea Scandens The cobea scandens requires a rich, well drained soil and under favorable conditions is a rapid grower. A trellis should be provided as soon as the plant is up for it will soon begin to climb. Cobea scandens seed should be planted where the vines are to grow, or else should be planted in paper cups and transplanted when the ground has be- Growing Flowers A7 come sufficiently warm. The plants will not do their best under transplanting. The vine is grown as much for the foliage as for the flower. Rabbit netting is more satisfactory than cord or wire for tender vines such as the cobea scandens. Cockscomb The old-fashioned cockscomb 1s prized princi- pally for tis decorative features in the garden. Massed with shrubbery, it gives a most striking and pleasing effect. It is extremely easy to grow and is self-propagating. They come in both deep red and a striking yellow. Cockscomb can be grown from seed sown in slightly warm soil in April and will be ready for transplanting during the month of May. If sown where the plants are to stand, the seed should be sown in May. In transplanting cockscombs, see that the soil into which they are transplanted is very rich. If they are not transplanted until just as the combs begin to form, the combs will be large and handsome. In cutting cockscombs for drying for house decora- _tton in the winter, cut them before the seeds are 48 Growing Flowers ripe and they will not fall apart. They may be dried in a moderately warm room in the house. Columbine The seed of columbine should be sown in the open ground in the spring and the seedlings should be thinned to about twelve inches apart. Seed sown in the autumn will produce flowering plants the following season. They are very easy to grow and require little cultivation. They will thrive in almost any soil but fertilization helps them. The fact that the columbine blooms profusely for a long season, that it is hardy and requires little care, that it makes a striking appearance, that it can be grown in any locality, and that it is one of the few flowers with colors red, white, and blue, recommends it strongly as our national flower. Columbine and honeysuckle are among the flowers that strongly attract the humming bird and every garden should contain these two vines, if for no other reason than to have the birds come around. Growing Flowers 49 Coneflower The coneflower 1s a perennial and is very hardy but it may be treated as an annual with successful result. It is easy to cultivate and will thrive in almost any soil and climate, though a more hand- some growth will be attained if it is kept slightly moist. It perpetuates itself through selfsown seed. The coneflower, or rudbeckia, may be propagated by cuttings which should be taken while the plant is dormant. It is very satisfactory for cutting and the pretty yellow shades add greatly to the variety of cut flowers. Cornflower The cornflower has several names, among them being ‘‘ragged sailor,”’ ‘‘blue bottle’ and ‘‘kaiser blumen.”” They are among the most attractive and graceful of the old-fashioned flowers. The cornflower grows well on moderately rich garden soil. Seed should be sown in the garden in April or May and the young plants should be thinned to a distance of six inches between them. 4 50 | Growing Flowers Cosmos Cosmos is a strong, hardy plant but if the flowers are to be at their best it should have a rich soil in which to grow. In favorable climates and with good soil, the plants will perpetuate themselves. The plants should be set a foot and a half apart. Cosmos seed should be started in the house in March or April. ‘The plant is a notable fall flower and often reaches a height of four or five feet under favorable conditions. Therefore, it makes a pretty background for small flowers and should be in- cluded in every garden plan as one of the flowers to receive appreciation in the late months when flowers are scarce. __ Cosmos is most effective at a distance, and when planted in masses, or as long background borders where it can be viewed at not too close range, it is one of the most attractive of flowers. By pinching out the terminals of cosmos and phlox they immediately make a second blooming growth in great numbers and beauty. Do not allow seed to mature that is not needed or the flowers will be small and poor in color. Growing Flowers 51 Crocus Crocuses require a rich, moist soil. The bulbs should be planted in the autumn to three times their depth, and these same bulbs taken up again as soon as they have stopped flowering and stored in a dry, airy room until the next fall when they may be again planted. Crocuses are easily flowered in the house in the winter and may be planted either in earth, in glass bowls of pebbles and water to which has been added a little white sand, or in vegetable fiber, a special preparation for house plants. When grown in water, the water should be freshened every few days. Crocuses, narcisst, tulips, and hyacinths should be kept in an atry room without a fire and where gas 1s seldom burned. They should be placed in the sunlight daily and when the buds have almost burst forth brought into the sitting room or dining room. Plant fall bulbs early that they may get a good start in root growth before the ground freezes. The roots will then have a good lot of roots to start work with in the spring and the flower will appear much earlier than if the bulbs are not 52 Growing Flowers planted until late. The latter part of September is not too early for this work. The best of soils for bulbs is well rotted barnyard manure. ‘This should be well worked into the soil before the bulbs are set out, and the ground should not be disturbed by cultivation. The soil should be finely pulverized and the manure should never be put on fresh. Cyclamen The plants of the pretty little cyclamen should be given a rich, moist but well drained soil. They require a moderate amount of sunlight but the soil should not be allowed to become dried out by the sun’srays. They are most satisfactory as a house plant. Cyclamen really should be renewed every year in order to obtain the best result in the flowers, though it will grow year after year with little care. All roots for house plants should be repotied every year. This plant should not be subjected to extremes in moisture and drought norin temperature. A tem- perature of fifty degrees is quite warm enough and very moderate moisture is all that is necessary. Cyclamen should be repotied in August. Growing Flowers 53 Dahlias Dahlias require rich, moist soil. In the Southern States they may remain in the ground during the winter, but in the colder climate the bulbs should be taken up in the fall and stored in a dry place until spring, when they may be planted as soon as the ground is warm. Dahlias should be trained to stakes or planted near a fence or other support. ‘The canes are not very strong and a strong wind is likely to blow them over. In placing near a support they should not be deprived of sunlight or they will not thrive. Dahlia bulbs should be looked over once or twice during the winter to make sure that none are shrivel- ing from too much heat and dryness, nor starting into growth from too much moisture. Dahlias should be kept down to three or four stems at the most. All other shoots should be cut off as fast as they appear, otherwise all the strength will go into the plant instead of blossoms. Big, bushy plants and no flowers are not desirable. Dahlias will mature just as early if planted out of doors after danger of frost 1s over as if planted indoors 54 Growing Flowers and set out in the garden early in the season. The change gives them a shock from which it takes them a long time to recover. Dahlias are among the most satisfactory of the late summer flowers and are most effective when planted among shrubbery. They have such a wide range of color that it will be possible to complete almost any color scheme with them. Daisy This simple, attractive little flower is adapted both for the garden and as a house plant, and asa cut flower it has no superior. Jt will grow in almost any sotl, but thrives best in moderately rich, slightly moist surroundings. The giant daisy is propagated by seed or from cuitings, which, however, had better be rooted before cutting from the plant by bending them down and placing earth over them, and laying a stone on top, to keep the shoots in position. The Shasta daisy is a member of the chrysanthemum family and is propagated by a division of the roots, by seeds or by rooting cuttings. Growing Flowers 55 Dianthus Dianthus plants should be planted in a bed of well mixed turfy loam, leaf-mold, and well decayed manure. Good drainage should be provided as they are more likely to die from too much moisture than from not enough. Dianthus seed should be sown indoors in March and the young plants transplanted as soon as the ground is warm. They should stand from six inches to a foot apart. : Young dianthus plants give the largest flowers but old plants are the first to bloom each season. The plants will remain green all winter if lightly protected by a mulch of straw, fodder, or leaves. Dogtooth Violet The dogtooth violet is really a lily and should be treated as a lily. It grows well among rocks in the garden and thrives best if the surrounding soil is composed principally of leaf-mold. It does not require much sunlight but a great deal of moisture. Dogtooth violets come in such a variety of color that every garden should have a place for some of them, at least. 56 Growing Flowers Dragon’s Head The dragon’s head grows best in a rich, light soil and when permitted to have plenty of sunlight. It is propagated by dividing the roots in the spring after the flowering season is over. The dragon's head does not make much of a show- ing in the garden but the flowers are beautiful when picked in quantities and putin a vase. It should be planted in places where it can spread in order to have plants enough for a generous supply of cut flowers. Dusty Miller The dusty miller requires a light but fairly rich soil and it should be planted in a sunny location. It occupies but little space and should be planted in clusters to make an advantageous showing. When grown in clusters it is extremely pretty and three or four plants about three inches apart will make a pretty little clump. Dusty miller is one of the plants that bloom all summer. It should be sown every few weeks from February to August. The plants are easy for the amateur to raise from seed. Growing Flowers | 57 Edelweiss The Swiss edelweiss should be given a sunny posi- tion and a sandy loam on a stony foundation. It requires plenty of roomandair. Itisa very choice little plant and well worth the amount of care needed to cultivate it. It may be propagated by dividing the roots or by sowing seed. Edelweiss is best propagated by seed as the divi- sion of the roots is not always successful. A few seed planted in the cracks of rocks where there is good sandy loam will usually germinate and flour- ish, though some gardeners find it best to plant the seed in shallow pans of sandy soil and leaf-mold, keeping the pans setting in a cool place and the soil moist, Elephant’s Ear Elephant’s ear 1s unequalled for a_ striking, tropical-looking effect. It is quite tender and the roots should be taken up every fall and planted out again in the spring as soon as the ground is free from frost. It requires a “rich soul, and if given plenty of moisture will grow rapidly in a few weeks. 58 Growing Flowers The elephant’s ear plants are excellent for planting in places where shade is lacking. They will cast a shadow for several feet around and are very satisfactory when shade is needed for smaller plants. They should be watched closely for bugs and worms which will soon spoil the appearance of the leaves when once they attack the plant. Owing to the color and nature of the leaf, the bugs are easily detected and may be readily picked off. Ferns Ferns require an exceedingly moist soil, with a great quantity of plant food mixed in it. They can hardly have too much water. An occasional application of well composted stable manure will be beneficial to ferns. In selecting wood ferns for planting in the garden, choose the small, hardy looking plants. The small plants will stand the best chance of living and the large ones are very sure to lose their foliage after a few days, anyway. Whenever possible, in planting ferns, give them the same sort of soil in which they grew naturally. Growing Flowers 59 It is hard on them to have to readjust themselves ‘to different soil and it will usually take some time for them to get a good growing start. In cold climates ferns must be brought into the house during the winter, where they are apt to gather dust with no refreshing rain to wash it off. The pores become clogged and the plants droop from apparently no cause, while what they need is air. If they are placed in the washtub and sponged off with soft soapy water every two or three weeks, they will remain fresh and green. The Boston fern is one of the most popular ferns. Its fronds grow to a length of several feet when soil conditions are right. It should have a light, spongy soil and only a moderate amount of water, never applying enough to make the soil muddy. When a fern does not thrive, try putting a couple of raw oysters under the dirt very close to the roots of the plant. The oysters will nourish the plant and in most instances it will grow like magic. In preparing soil for ferns, mix one part of leaf- mold with one part of sand and two parts of turfy loam. This should be prepared a month or 60 Growing Flowers six weeks ahead of planting time, and should be dampened and turned over once a week. The last week, add five ounces of bone meal and an ounce of soot. Among the low-growing ferns suitable for table decoration are the following: Adder’s Tongue Bulblet Hart’s Tongue Oakfern Beech Cliff break Maidenhair Polypody Brittle Hairy Lip Moonwort Purple stemmed Feverfew One of the cleanest-growing and most satisfactory of old-fashioned posites is the featherfew, or feverfew. It is commonly listed in the florists’ catalogues as an annual but it will live through severe winters and remain green from one season to another. Feverfew 1s self-sown each year from the seed of the previous season’s production, and its blossoming season is long as three or four crops will be pro- duced each season. It is a very valuable plant in a garden when continuous bloom is desired. It transplants very readily. Forget-me-not The dainty litile forget-me-not is an excellent little plant for use as an edging or for filling in spaces Growing Flowers 61 among the shrubbery. It can be taken indoors in the fall and kept as a house plant all winter with very pleasing results as a table decoration. Forget-me-not seeds should be sown in the spring in a warm sunny place. These plants love a cool, moist soil with moderate fertilization. They are very satisfactory planted as a border flower. Forsythia Forsythia is an easy growing plant. A liberal quantity of bone meal or other phosphate should be applied to the roots in the fall in order to produce large clusters of flowers the following spring. The foliage is not unusually beautiful and the plants are cultivated for the flowers alone. Every garden should have a corner for forsythia or golden bell. This is a very early blooming plant and its yellow flowers receive much appreciation, coming, as they do, before very many flowers are out. The plant requires a rich, loamy soil in order to make its best growth. Forsythia should be cut back severely, to within a few buds of the main branches, as soon as the Jlowers fade. This pruning throws the strength 62 Growing Flowers of the plant into the main branches, which in turn feed the new branches the following spring. Forsythia may be successfully propagated from cuttings. The shoots should be buried in sandy loam, kept moderately moist and somewhat warm, and the roots will soon appear. Cuttings may be made from prunings, though the tender tops and most of the foliage should be removed. Four-o'clock The four-o’clock is a pretty garden plant for the Southern States. The seed may be sown in a hotbed in February and set out in April. Owing to the great variety of colors, and the ease with which it is grown, it is a much desired outdoor plant. The four-o’clock is not exacting with regard to soil conditions, though it thrives best where there is good drainage. Lack of fertilization will produce an abundance of flowers but not much foliage. As the plants are grown for the flowers, however, which open at about four o’clock in the afternoon, foliage is not at all necessary. The four-o’clock is self-perpetuating and plants will come up year after year when once they have been started. The odor is very fragrant. Growing Flowers 63 Foxglove Foxglove requires a deep, rich soil. The seed should be sown fresh every year in May in the open ground, but transplanting will benefit the plants. In changing the plan of the garden, do not move foxglove, gaillardias, or sweet william after the third week in September. Freesias The best fertilizer for freesias is composed of loam, sand, and leaf-mold. A little well-rotted stable manure may be added but it should first be sifted, as the soil should be fine and soft. _ Freesia bulbs potied in July will bloom soon after Christmas. The bulbs should be covered to a depth of an inch and a half and should be an inch and a half apart in the pots. They should be kept cool and moist for six weeks, when they may be gradually brought to the light. Freesias will need no more watering after the stems and leaves die down. ‘They should be placed in the open sunshine so that the bulbs may become thor- oughly ripened before storing away for the next season’s planting. 64 Growing Flowers Fuchsias Fuchsias are not satisfactory as @ winter house - plant, though sometimes they will flourish. The proper place for them during the cold months is the cellar, where they should be set in their own pots, and given just enough water to prevent the soil from becoming too dry. They should be kept in the dark until March, and should not be in a warm spot. Fuchsias are very tender planis and require careful treatment. They had best be grown under glass during the early spring and may be planted in the garden after the soil has become thoroughly warmed, where they may remain until the leaves fall. When taken indoors they should be kept in a dry, dark place until March and should then be brought to the light and given a little water occasionally. They will thrive in ordinary garden soil. All pruning should be done in March before the sap rises. Fuchsias may easily be grown from cuttings. The best method of rooting the cuttings is to bend the branches to the ground, cut a notch in the stem near a joint, and bury the stem in sand, hold- ing it down by means of two little wooden pegs. Growing Flowers | 65 Gaillardia Gatllardia may be propagated from seed grown $n the open ground or by sowing the seed in a hotbed and transplanting the seedlings to the ground as soon as danger of frost has passed. The plants should stand about twelve inches apart. Gaillardias require a fertile but light and well drained soil. Where gatllardias are growing in the garden, iry making cuttings from them for plants for winter flowering, or keeping the plants over to set out next spring. In the hothouse, cuttings can be made from these plants early in the spring, giving an additional stock of plants for bedding out. Gaillardias have a profusion of flowers for a very long pertod and are well adapted for mixed borders. They keep fresh a long time when cut if the water is changed every other day. Gardenias Gardenias are not difficult to grow, regardless of the high prices asked by the florists. They require only moderately rich soil, an abundance of moisture, 5 66 Growing Flowers and plenty of sunlight. In the South they stay outdoors year after year and grow to be small trees, but in the North they should be potted in large bucket pots, to give plenty of room for the roots to spread, and should be brought indoors in the fall. In planting out the next season, plant the bucket with the plant. Gardenias are really more satisfactory as garden plants than as house plants as the extremely fra- grant odor becomes rather pungent when in a close room. ‘The flower is very delicate regardless of its heavy waxlike appearance, and turns brown where bruised. Gentian The gentian ts a@ more or less fickle plant. It grows and flowers successfully at times under cer- tain conditions, while at other times under the same conditions it not only refuses to flower but refuses to attain a good growth as well. The gentian is most likely to thrive in a rich, loamy soil, which has some stones in it, and which ts very moist. If the plants are protected in the winter by a pane of glass, they will be benefited. Growing Flowers 67 Geraniums Geraniums require a light soil in order to produce beautiful flowers. Avery rich soil will make leaves but will produce no flowers. They should be given plenty of water and kept slightly moist all the time. To start geranium plants for winter blooming break off slips from the old plants in August and put them in the ground by the side of the old plant. Let them remain there until the weather begins to grow cool, then pot them and take them indoors and place where they will get plenty of sunlight. The dead flowers should be removed from the geranium plants immediately upon their beginning to droop. This will encourage further blooming of the plant. For fresh, vigorous plants, slips should be taken from the old plants, but a few plants of great growth will be much appreciated, hence some gera- niums should be kept in pots the year round and fre- quently cultivated and fertilized when not in bloom. Geranium cuttings can be rooted by keeping them in a glass of water, but a little sand in the bottom of the glass will be helpful. 68 Growing Flowers The average woman will find that eight or ten geraniums of various colors will give her a great deab more pleasure as house plants than almost any other jlower. They will bloom profusely, give plenty of color, will stand neglect, and will not die if a light frost nips them or if she should forget to water them, and they are seldom troubled by insects of any kind. The quickest and best method of rooting slips of geraniums, nasturttums, and other plants is by placing them in a glass of water in a sunny spot. The roots will start in a few days and they should then be planted in soil. A geranium bed may be staried at little expense by purchasing in the fall one large full-grown plant such as is usually considered past the prime of usefulness, and taking off small slips to plant in individual pots. The slips should be made from the new growth and each slip should have one or more joints from which the roots will sprout. Caring for them during the winter will not be difficult as they require so little attention, and by spring a dozen geraniums will be ready to trans- plant to the window boxes and flower beds at very slight expense. Growing Flowers 69 Geraniums for winter flowering should be potted in June and should be set in the pots in which they are to remain during the blooming period. They should be kept in the open until the days begin to grow too cool for them and should be gradually brought to a warmer temperature or they may wither from heat. Geraniums, fuchsias, begonias, and roses slipped in the fall to make plants for bedding in the summer will insure good plants at little expense and not a great deal of care during the winter months. Shallow dishes filled with sand and water should be used for starting the roots. When the roots are strong and firm, earth should be added gradually if in a pot, or the slips may be transferred to a pot if they are rooting in a glass. Geraniums will do better if slips are taken from new shoots. There should be a joint, and preferably two, on each slip as the roots start from the joints. Gladiolus Gladiolus bulbs should lie dormant tn a dry place in the cellar all winter and be planted in the open ground in the spring. Or they may be planted in 70 Growing Flowers cold frames in March when they will bloom as early as May. Under ordinary circumstances, they bloom in June or July. Gladioli require a rich soil for profusion of blos- soms, though they will flourish in almost any soil. Gladiolt should be staked when the plants have reached a growth of from twelve to eighteen inches, or the wind will be likely to blow them down. Even a heavy rainstorm will beat them down and wash up the roots which are not deeply covered. When digging gladiolus bulbs, save the small bulb- lets for future planting. In time these little bulbs will make flowering bulbs. For a succession of gladiolus flowers, plant the bulbs every two weeks until August first. After that time it will be useless to plant as the cold will kill the flowers before they mature. Three times as many bulbs will come from gladiot planted in June than from those planted in April. It seems that Nature, knowing that the late plants will not mature seed, provides more abundantly by multiplying the bulbs. Growing Flowers 71 To get the best out of gladiolus flowers, cut them when the first flowers open on the stalk and place in cold water. Change the water every other day. Every flower on the stem will open and the stem will last for ten days or two weeks. Gladioli planted among the roses the latter part of June will flower in September when the roses have begun to dwindle away. If gladiolus bulbs are kept in a@ very warm place during the winter they are likely to become dried out and there will be little vitality left when they are set outin thespring. The result will be a very poor crop of flowers and the bulbs may not even root. Godetia The godetia requires a light, sandy soil and will not thrive in soil that has been heavily fertilized. It is a delicate little plant and requires frequent cultivation, but its beauty well repays one for the attention which must needs be given. If godetia plants are set among the china asters, they will bloom early and be out of the way before 72 Growing Flowers the asters come to overshadow them. They should be planted in clumps as the delicate shell pink shade will not show to advantage in single plants. Gypsophila Gypsophila ts charming as a cut flower. Its grace and lightness have given it the name of ‘‘Baby’s Breath,”’ and it will add distinction to what would otherwise be a very ordinary selection of plants. Gypsophila should be given plenty of room for its full growth and development. It grows rapidly and in three or four years a bush will grow to five or six feet across and three or four feet in height. Bare spaces surrounding it may be filled in with annuals until the gypsophila has attained its growth. Itis usually propagated from seed, though cuttings may be made. Gypsophila will grow under almost any soib conditions, and while sunlight is beneficial, it will grow in partial shade. It received its name from a Greek word which means ‘‘lover of gypsum or chalk,” and was perhaps first found on rocks, Growing Flowers 73 Hehotrope The old-fashioned little heliotrope is a delicate little flower and should be given a fairly rich, well- drained soil. It makes a pretty border plant, and if all dead flowers are clipped off it will bloom until frost cuts it down. The tall heliotrope grows to be three or four feet in height and is most effective when planted with the shorter variety at its base. It may be propa- gated by cuttings in the early spring or in the fall after the flowers have ceased, though spring cut- tings will be much easier to root. Hibiscus The hibiscus thrives best in the South and when grown in the North should be planted in large wooden tubs that they may be taken‘indoors in the winter. The soil should be rich and friable and the plants should be frequently watered. The hibiscus is remarkable for its large, brilliantly colored flowers of great variety. The leaves, too, are beautiful, and the foliage would be worth cul- tivating if there were no flowers. 74 Growing Flowers The hibiscus may be propagated from cuttings, or from seed, though cuttings are more satisfactory. Plants grown from seed will not bloom the first season, and often do not bloom until the third season. The plants do not require pruning and cuttings should be carefully taken. Hollyhock That old-fashioned perennial, the hollyhock, has never lost favor. The plants ‘should always be grouped together or planted in rows, to get full benefit of their beauty, and never planted singly Any ordinary garden soil will suit the holly- hock, and too much fertilization is not advisable, otherwise the plants will run to foliage rather than flowers. Bone meal will be beneficial if applied to the roots in the fall and it will have a good effect on the size and color of the blossoms. Hollyhock seed should be sown in April or May, not later than June, to flower the next year. Each plant should have a foot or more of space on each side to allow for full development. They will flourish in almost any soil and require little care. Growing Flowers 75 Seed sowings of hollyhocks should be made every year. The flowers on young, vigorous plants are far superior to those grown on old stock. Seeds of perennials, such as hollyhock, colum- bine, larkspur, foxglove, and sweet william, may be plantedin the open garden in the fall in the warmer sections of the country. They should be protected during the winter by a covering of straw. Hollyhocks seem to like to have their foliage sprayed at evening during the hot, dry weather. The wind 1s likely to blow down plants in exposed positions unless properly staked. ‘To use them as a back- ground for other flowers or to plant them against a building will be best for them. Liquid manure applied to hollyhocks throughout the season will produce massive flowers, though they will keep right on blooming with little fer- tilization. In order to have large blossoms of hollyhocks late in the season cut out all the flower buds for the first few weeks. All the strength will then go into the plant and the later flowers. 76 Growing Flowers Hollyhocks will not bloom the same season the seeds are planied. It takes a second season to mature the plants for blossoming. Honesty Honesty, or lunaria, was a great favorite in old- fashioned gardens a generation ago, and owing to the ease with which it can be cultivated should have a place in every list of old-fashioned flowers. It will grow in sunlight or shade, in rich soil or poor, and comes up each year from self-sown seed. Honesty pods are very pretty when dried and taken. indoors for winter decoration. ‘There are several varieties and all are attractive. Hyacinths Hyacinths require rich, moist soil, and the soil should be moist all the time, though not sodden. Hyacinths, narcisst, tulips, and crocuses should be planied im masses when planted out of doors. Only in this way can the best effect be obtained, though to dot a few bulbs here and there on the lawn will be a pleasing little surprise in the spring- time as they come up one by one before the grass is cut. Growing Flowers 77 Tulips and Dutch hyacinths are best adapted for design bedding. Solid bright colors in contrast should be planted together, such as a bright red and a deep yellow, dark red and white, etc. Bulbs should be set out in the fall, not later than the first of November, for spring blooming. They should be planted twice or three times the depth of the bulb in rich compost, and the beds covered over with leaves to keep them warm. The grape hyacinth is an unusually pretty flower, yet it is not so much grown as the other varieties. When naturalized in colonies 1t remains undis- turbed for years. Used as an edging it is most charming. te A prepared fiber may be purchased for growing hyacinths and other bulbous plants. It is clean and light and bulbs kept sufficiently moist, not wet, thrive well in this fiber. It is particularly advised for hanging baskets, and for city people who experience difficulty in obtaining good soil. Hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and nar- cisst should have their bulbs taken from the soil when they have stopped blooming and stored away 78 Growing Flowers - in a cool dry place until fall when they may be replanted with very successful results. In plant- ing, all the small bulbs will, if broken from the main bulb, start new plants, though if a cluster of blossoms is desired these small bulbs should re- main attached to the parent bulb. A shallow bowl filled with pebbles, sand, and water will make a beautiful foundation for hyacinths and other bulbs. ‘The roots will be white and curl- ing and almost as pretty as the blossoms. To force bulbous plants, such as hyacinths, nar- cisst, and daffodils for Christmas blooming, pot them in August and set in a cool, damp place until six weeks before Christmas. Then bring to the warmth of the strong sunlight behind window glass in a slightly heated room. | The best bulbs produce the best flowers. When potting hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, crocuses, etc., imbed them in the earth, water well, and set them away inacool, dark place. They should not be disturbed again until the roots have acquired good growth and no water should be added as long as the soil remains moist. When the pots are full Growing Flowers 79 of roots, shoots will appear and the pot should im- mediately be transferred to the light, gradually giving it a little more light all the time until it is finally placed in the bright sunshine. Eight weeks is usually the amount of time required to produce flowers for Christmas blooming, but to make sure of having blossoms at this time, a succes- sion of bulbs should be planted, say every four days. To produce flowering bulbs very early in the spring cover with a mulch of leaves and over the leaves sprinkle a light covering of manure, just enough to hold the leaves in place, and lightly cover them. This will keep the ground warm and the bulbs will become warm and will start to sprout be- fore the sun has warmed the surrounding sur- face of the earth, and when all danger of frost is past the bulbs will grow rapidly and flower soon. October is the best time for planting narcisst, hyacinths, and tulips. They may be planted any time before the ground freezes but if planted in _ October they have ample time in which to estab- lish a good root system, which is the secret of get- ting fine flowers. 80 Growing Flowers The best soil for bulbs, hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips is that which was well manured the previous spring for summer flowers. Any manure added in the fall should be well rotted and it should be spaded in thoroughly and deep. To mulch the daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, narcisst, and other bulbs well with manure before the ground freezes and while the bulbs are perfectly hardy will give them protection and prevent the ground heav- ing. Ifthe ground heaves the bulbs will not become well rooted and the size and quality of the flowers will be poor. ‘An ideal soil for use in growing bulbs indoors is made of one part sand to three parts rich soil. The pots should be well drained by placing small stones in the bottom. - Hydrangeas Hydrangeas are beautiful either as a hedge or as tndividual planis. ‘They will thrive in almost any soil, but should have cultivation once or twice a season and the application of a little liquid man- ure at each cultivation. Growing Flowers 81 White hydrangeas may be colored blue by digging a hole near the roots and pouring into it a little indigo blue. Hydrangeas should be pruned immediately after they cease blooming. In the South during the win- ter the tops should be protected by placing over the bushes a straw or brush covering. The flower buds form in the fall and the cover will keep them from being killed by the cold of the winter. In the severe climates, the plants should be taken up and carried to the cellar, or placed in the green- house. Cuttings should be taken from hydrangeas in August and should be chosen from growth which has not flowered. The cuttings should be buried about two thirds the length in sandy soil, and each cutting should have at least one good, firm joint. Iris The Japanese iris requires a rich soil and plenty of moisture. It should be taken up every two years and the roots divided and more fertilizer added. To start plants from seed will take a long time as this is one of the plants which do not blossom the first season when grown from seed. 6 82 Growing Flowers Manure should never be applied direct to the roots of the tris. It should be applied in liquid form or worked into the soil at a short distance form the roots. Jack-in-the-Pulpit The wild flower, jack-in-the-pulpit is a much appreciated plant when cultivated. It is one of the marshy plants but will thrive either in low, marshy land or in the water. The flowers of this plant catch and hold securely bugs and other insecis and thus aid in destroying plant enemies. Jessamine Jessamine requires a loamy soil to which a litile leaf-mold has been added, and a little sand mixed with this heavier soil will help in insuring drainage. Much of the success in growing jessamine depends upon the pruning. It should always be pruned in the springtime after the flowers are gone. It will then have the whole season in which to mature new shoots for the next winter’s flowers. If it is pruned in the fall, the shoots which would have borne flowers will be destroyed. Growing Flowers 83 Lantana The name commonly applied to lantana is Indian nettle. Thisisa tender shrub and it can be trained in the form of a tree or left to grow asa bush. A loamy soil, mixed with leaf-mold and compost and a litile sand, is the best soil for this plant. Cuttings from lantana should be made in the spring or fall and should be inserted in sandy soil, kept fairly moist and warm. To train a lantana plant to tree form, pinch off the lower branches as fast as they appear, leaving the strength of the plant food to feed the upper branches. Jf a bush 1s desired, the central buds, or top, should be pinched off that many side shoots may appear. The earlier this is done, the prettier and more regular the bush will be. Larkspur Larkspur seed may be sown either in the fall or spring, in the fall, preferably, so that germination may take place early in the spring. The plants should be thinned to about a foot apart. They thrive best in a cool, moist soil. The dwarf larkspur should be used for borders, 84 Growing Flowers while the tall variety may be used among the shrubbery as a background for other low flowers, or be cultivated for cutting. The withered stems of larkspur should be cut away as soon as they appear, in order to keep the plants flowering until late in the season. Larkspur, hollyhocks, iris, and perennial poppies should be covered in the fall with a good coating of manure or other litter to a depth of three or four inches. This will hold the frost in the ground and keep the plant from alternately freezing and thawing; in cold climates the manure will protect the plant from freezing to a depth that will cut off its water supply. If lilac blossoms are waxed just after the blos- soms have opened, they may be kept a long time in the natural color. The flowers should be cut in the early morning and not be allowed to wilt before being waxed. Lavender Every home should have its lavender bush, either in the garden or in a pot. The foliage is orna- Growing Flowers 85 mental and the flowers are very fragrant and nothing gives a sweeter, more delicious odor to clothing when packed away with it. Lavender bushes thrive best in light, sandy soil and a great deal of sunlight, though they are not particular with regard to soil. They may be grown from seed or from cuttings, which should be taken in October and should comprise a piece of new growth attached to an older stem. Lavender leaves should be gathered on a dry, sun- shiny day in midsummer, preferably as late as August, and should be hung in a cool dry place for several weeks before they are ready for use. Lilacs Lilacs and other shrubs which make their buds one season for the following season’s blossoming should be pruned within a month after they stop blooming to promote fine blossoms. Lilacs should not be pruned very frequently. The common lilac succeeds well in trying locations. It may be used as a hedge with excellent results, or as specimen plants about the lawn. It grows into a graceful shrub or high hedge with very little care. 86 Growing Flowers A bunch of lilacs has its place in every garden, however small. They require little cultivation, an application of manure once a year being sufficient to keep them going, and they will thrive somewhat even without the annual applica- tion. They are among the early flowers and much appreciated. Lilacs should not be pruned directly after blooming, but should be left alone until the spring of the following year. They do not need to be covered during the winter even in cold climates. A hedge of lilac is most beautiful even after the flowers have ceased. It should be kept pruned as closely as privet, and small flowers or shrubs should be planted near to hide the bare lower branches Lihes Lilies-of-the-valley require a rich, leafy mold, plenty of moisture, and little or no sunlight. The bulbs should be planted in the fall and covered over well with soil and leaves. A cluster of bulbs of the lily-of-the-valley should always be separated and set three or four inches apart. They will multiply rapidly in one season, hence should be given plenty of root room. Growing Flowers 87 The lily-of-the-valley makes an excellent house plant for the winter months. By taking it in at intervals during the winter a succession of flowering plants may be kept up. The flowers will last several weeks. : Where there is a plot too shady to grow the aver- age flower set out clumps of the lily-of-the-valley and between them plant slips of running myrtle. These will grow rapidly and soon cover the ground, making a most beautiful bed. Even after the lily has stopped flowering the ground will have an attractive covering. Tiger lilies are easy to grow, requiring practically no cultivation and little fertilization. When once started, they will come up every year. The bulbs may be planted either in the spring or fall with equally good result. A small piece of a bulb with a bit of root attached will grow and flourish. Tiger lilies attract both the birds and the butterflies, and planted as a background for other foliage they are at their best. The stem can be cut off with the buds but half grown and they will mature and come into flower in the vase and will last from ten days to two weeks if the water is changed frequently. 88 : Growing Flowers Madonna lily bulbs should be planied early in September, though most bulbs should not be planted until a month or six weeks later. Madonna lily bulbs are less likely to rot in heavy soils if surrounded with a little sand and laid on their side. Calla lilies require plenty of water when flowering and should also be given a good supply of liquid manure once or twice during the season, other than the first fertilization. Roses and lilies should not be planted so close that the branches will come in immediate contact, or the rose thorns will lacerate the branches of the lihes. October is the time for planting irises or flag lilies. They will flourish in the shade or sunshine, in rich soil or poor, and will even grow on rocks with the scantiest of soil. Irises will not bloom the first season after plant- ing, hence they should be placed in a permanent location. Lobelias For borders, for baskets, and for pots there is noth- ing prettier than the lobelia. The seeds germinate Growing Flowers 89 quickly and may be sown out of doors in the early spring where the plants are to grow. If sown in- doors, they should be sown in dirt bands or paper cups and the cup or band transplanted with the seedlings. The plants should not be set per- manently nearer than eight inches apart. The lobelia requires a rich, somewhat moist soil, and liquid manure applied to the surface and worked in while the plants are in bloom will greatly improve the size and coloring of the flowers. Love-Lies-Bleeding Love-lies-bleeding, or amarantus, seed may be planted out of doors where the plants are to grow, but as the plant is successfully transplanted, the seed may be planted in the house early in February. Outdoor planting should take place in March or April, according to the severity of the weather, as the plant requires a warm, moist atmosphere. Love-lies-bleeding is cultivated for its foliage, which is unusually beautiful if the plants are properly cared for. The dried blood of cattle or sulphate of ammonia applied to the roots will create rapid growth and beautiful leaves. 90 Growing Flowers Lupin The lupin is a hardy annual and requires a rather rich soil and plenty of moisture. It will thrive best in a somewhat shady location though a moderate amount of sunshine will not be harmful. When it is once established in a garden, it will perpetuate itself for years. The lupin can be propagated from seed or from cuttings. Seed should be sown where the plants are to grow as it does not stand transplanting well. When rooting cuttings they may be taken from the plant and inserted in moist sand, or the branch may be bent to the ground, a notch cut in it near a joint, and left there to root. Either method will prove satisfactory. Magnolias Magnolias require a rich loam and plenty of mots- ture. Also plenty of sunlight if they are to bloom profusely. There are many varieties, but the most beautiful of all are the huge trees which grow in the swamps of the far South and which have creamy white blossoms with petals eight and ten inches in length, and two and three inches in width. A tree Growing Flowers gI planted in a naturally moist part of the garden will thrive with little attention. Magnolias bloom in the spring and early summer and give excellent results when planted among other flowering plants which do not blossom until later in the season. In watering, the water had best be applied by means of a pipe driven into the ground near the roots and the water poured down it. In this way the roots will receive the moisture and feed it to the rest of the plant. Maliese Cross The maltese cross requires plenty of sunlight and a well drained, moderately rich soul, though it will grow in almost any soil. Planted in groups, this plant is most effective and the plants should be set close together. The maltese cross 1s propagated either by seed or by dividing the roots of fully matured plants. The division should be made in the spring. Marguerite Marguerites will grow in any soil and when once started they will come up every year from self- 92 : Growing Flowers sown seed. Seeds sown in September make good plants for the next season. Margueriies should be staked when they have grown to be ten or twelve inches in height to prevent the wind blowing them over or the rain beating them down, but other than staking, they will require little care. They will live through the winter without covering in the South but should have a light covering applied in severe climates. Marguerites are most effective when bushy, and in order to attain this bushy appearance, the center shoot should be pinched out as soon as it appears. In taking cuttings from marguerite plants for growing other plants, neither the very hardy nor the very weak shoots should be selected, but cut- tings of medium vigor. All flowers and buds and all but two or three leaves of the cutting should be pinched off before planting. Marigolds There are two distinct types of the marigold and each type has a great number of varieties. The French marigold is compact and regular and the Growing Flowers 93 African marigold has a spreading habit. The former is best suited for bedding or for borders and the latter for herbaceous or shrubbery borders. Marigolds will be benefited by transplanting. If the seed is sown in a hotbed or cold frame very early in the spring and the young plants trans- planted first to pots which confine the roots of the plant and check it, and after a couple of inches growth, again transplanted, the increased food supply will promote a splendid growth. The soil should be rich and the plants kept fairly moist. Marjoram Sweet marjoram belongs to the origanum famuly. It is a very pleasing little plant which grows about ten inches in height and which will thrive in a rock garden. The soil should be light and sandy. The leaves of sweet marjoram should be picked in the heat of summer and kept in a cool, dry place for drying out before using. If taken from the stem they will dry more readily. When cuttings are made they should be taken at the season when the plants are not growing and should be put into sandy, damp soil for rooting. 94 Growing Flowers Mayflower The mayflower grows wild in the Southern States. It requires light soil mixed with leaf-mold, very litile sunlight, and plenty of moisture. It is very successfully grown in the rock garden and requires practically no care after once having a good start. Mignonette Every garden should have mignonetie in plentiful supply. ‘The seed can be sown at any time and if successive plantings are made every three weeks, it will last until late autumn in the out of doors. The last sowing should be made the latter part of August. A pot of mignonetie for the dining table will be much appreciated in the dead of winter. Seed should be sown in July. The mignonette requires rich, friable soil, plenty of moisture, and frequent cultivation to conserve the moisture. The ground should be well drained for if it becomes sodden the stems of the plant may rot. Growing Flowers 95 Mint Large sprigs of mint may be placed in a jar of water where they will not only remain fresh but will actually grow. Roots will sprout and practically no attention need be paid to the plant except to add water and to place it in the sun occasionally. When mint is once started in the garden it will perpetuate ttself yearly, and should, therefore, be planted in a spot which will not be needed for other vegetation. To give fragrance to the air in the garden, there is nothing more pleasing, and the leaves make extremely pretty foliage when used as low-growing shrubbery. Mistflower The mistflower requires a rather rich soil if it cs to thrive. Its roots will multiply rapidly and the plant has a long life. It may be propagated by the suckers which shoot up from the lower stem, these being inserted in wet sand for rooting, or cuttings may be taken from the upper branches. Do not give up the mistflower for dead because it shows no sign of life until late in the spring. 96 Growing Flowers It lies dormant a long time but it will appear even- tually. A permanent stake should be driven in the ground near the roots when it is planted in a large garden. Mistletoe The mistletoe is of parasitic growth but it is much desired for decorative purposes at Christmas time. It grows slowly and has a bad effect on the tree on which it feeds, hence it should be kept from choice trees. A little moss tied over the cracks in which mistletoe seeds are placed will prevent the birds eating the seeds. Birds find the seeds very quickly and their disappearance may not be noticed for some time, if at all. The male and female plants of the mistletoe grow on different plants, and fruits, or berries, are not borne on the male plant. To establish the mistletoe on a tree, take the fruit in February or March and rub the seeds lightly into the crevices in the bark. It is usually propagated by birds carrying the seed from one tree to another. Growing Flowers 97 Mock Orange The mock orange is a beautiful ornamental shrub with very fragrant flowers. It thrives best ina rich, loamy soil which is kept rather moist at all times. When the flowers of the mock orange fade, the branches on which the flowers appeared should be cut back to the point from which young shoots are starting. Cuttings may be made from these prun- ings and they should be inserted in sandy soil and kept in a warm spot. Monkshood The monkshood thrives in ordinary garden soil and in either a sunny or a shady location. It is an ex- cellent flower for planting on the north side of a house, and requires little care. Indeed, when the plants are thriving, and the flowers are in good form, they should be left undisturbed for several years at a time. Monkshood will thrive for five or six years without replanting, as the seeds fall to the earth and are covered by wind-blown dirt. It is best, in order to secure the best growth, to replant every two or three years, and this may be done either by 7 98 Growing Flowers planting new seed and carefully tending the seed- lings or by dividing the roots of older plants. After five or six years, the old roots should no longer be used, but new plants should be started. Black blight on monkshood can be gotten rid of by spraying thoroughly and frequently with Bor- deaux mixture. The leaves and buds should be sprayed when the stalks begin to turn yellow around the blooming period. Moonflowers Do not fail to plant moonflowers to have a show- ing of beautiful flowers in the late afternoon and at night. These vines are very easily grown from seed, which should be soaked for twenty-four hours in lukewarm water before sowing. The moonflower vines should be given a rich moist soul, and the soil should be well enriched before the seed is planted. Little or no cultivation should be given as the roots are very near the surface and are likely to suffer from disturbance. Nasturtium No other annual will produce such a profusion of flowers for so long a time as the nasturtium. It can Growing Flowers 99 be grown as a vine or as a short bush flower with equal success. It never flags through the hottest weather and has a wide range of colors. Nasturtiums flower best on thin soil, but if a wealth of leaves is desired, the soil must be en- riched. The plants should not be kept very moist or they will rot off, especially if standing too close. Nasturtiums may be started in the house in paper cups or dirt bands and transplanted to the out of doors as soon as danger of frost is over. When planted in the open the seed should be sown an inch deep and the seedlings thinned to ten inches apart. Nasturtiums make beautiful winter pot plants, and the trailing nasturtiums may be planted in hanging baskets with great success. Nasturtium flowers appear within two months from the time of planting the seed. A bed of one hundred square feet will produce about a thousand blossoms per day. Try planting dwarf nasturtiums about three inches from sweet peas along both sides of the rows. The 100 Growing Flowers nasturtiums shade the ground and the sweet peas seem to do better than when grown alone. As nasturtiums require little nourishment, they will not be checked by the drain made on the soil by the roots of the sweet peas. Grow nasturtium seeds for sprinkling among pickles when putting them up for the winter. The leaves of the nasturtium among the pickles will give them a nice green color and a very pleasant flavor. Nemophila Among the flowers which have a long blossoming season is the nemophila. All species may be pro- pagated from seed, though plants will form from cuttings. Seed should be sown in the garden in April where the plants are to stand, and for early blooming planted again in August and transplanted late in the autumn into pots. The nemophila loves a rich, moist loam with some shade. The strong sunlight will wither and parch the leaves and kill the tender young buds of flowers. As a cut flower for small vases, the nemophila is most satisfactory. Growing Flowers 101 Nicotiana The nicotiana is a hardy annual and will grow in fairly rich soil. It requires shade as the flower petals will close when the bright sun shines on them. It perpetuates itself from seed, and it also transplants very readily. When the nicotiana plants have acquired a good growth, the lower leaves should be picked off to prevent the plant from crowding other plants. The plants should be set not nearer than twelve inches. Oleander When the oleander has grown large and unwieldy and the growth is rough and homely, cut away all the old branches, leaving nothing but stubs appearing above the ground. Ina short while new branches will appear which will produce much finer flowers than the old branches would produce. The oleander does not require an extremely rich soil, though a little stable manure applied to the roots in the fall will strengthen and nourish the plant. Basic slag or bone meal worked into the soil near the roots will give excellent color and growth to the flowers. 102 Growing Flowers Orchids Orchids are beautiful flowers, but difficult to grow. They require a soil of peat and loam and should be kept in a cool, moist spot. They are very delicate. They do not like to be disturbed and should be planted very early in the fall and left~ alone. A little sand mixed with the soil will aid in securing good drainage. Palms Palms require a loamy soil, well drained, and enough water should be given to keep the soil always moist—not moist at times and dry at others. Palms do not require sunshine. A little sweet milk added to the water in which palm leaves are washed will give a beautiful gloss to the foliage. A piece of raw beef chopped fine and worked into the soil around palms, ferns, and rubber plants will give nourishment to the plants and there will be a marked increase in their size before very long. A tablespoonful of castor oil poured on the ground around the roots of palms and ferns, once a month, will give them a rapid growth, and keep them look- Growing Flowers 103 ing fresh and green. If it is worked into the soil, it should be worked into only the first inch or so. The oil will help to conserve moisture and also gives the plant quite a bit of nourishment. Palms and other foliage plants can be kept free from scale by washing the leaves with a strong yellow soap solution applied by means of cotton batting. The leaves should be well rinsed also. This will not only keep off scale but will keep the leaves free from dust and give them a chance to breathe fresh air, which they need. Pansies Pansies will thrive and flower in almost any soil, but a moderate amount of fertilizer will tend to increase the size of the flowers. The roots grow near the surface and should not be molested, hence liquid fertilizer will be excellent for applying if the plants must be enriched after growth has started. Phosphate fertilizer should be sagasecraind in the soil for the benefit of the blossoms. If all the old branches are cut away from the pansy plants in midsummer, new branches will grow and produce fine large flowers for the fall. Fertilizer 104 Growing Flowers should be applied at the same time to give the plants something to feed on for the new growth. Pansies can be made to flower until Thanksgiving if given a southern location and protected from the east winds. A light covering of leaves may be applied, not too heavy or the sun’s rays will not penetrate, or where the bed is small enough, a board may be placed over the plants slanting it by means of stakes. This board should always be in place at night and removed during the warmest part of the day. As there are so many dark shades of pansies, the lighter colors should be planted in greater quantity than dark shades, otherwise there will not be a very striking effect when the pansies are in bloom. Every garden should have a pansy bed. The plants bloom all: summer and the more they are picked, the more prolific they become, producing a larger flower as the season advances. For early outdoor bedding of the pansy, sow the seed in a cold frame ia the autumn, September or October. In transplanting the young plants they should be given from three to six inches of space if they are to do their best. Growing Flowers 105 Outdoor pansy beds should be covered for the winter with a mulch of dry leaves and over that stable manure. ‘The plants will come up in the spring and bloom until midsummer, and if properly cared for, until the end of the summer. Pansies for midsummer blooming will do better af they receive the sun only a co::ple of hours in the morning. ‘Too much heat will vause small, puny flowers. Seed sown in June will produce plants that will flower in the fall. Panstes should not be allowed to go to seed. If they do, the succeeding blossoms will be small in size and faded in color, and the plants will soon stop blooming. Take a few pansy plants indoors for the winter. Given attention, 7. e., warmth, watering, and cul- tivation, they will keep right on blooming until Christmas time and sometimes even longer. Peontes When peonies are crowding out other plants, as they so frequently do, they should be trimmed by cutting off some of the outer branches and then tying the stalks together. In the middle of the 106 Growing Flowers summer, the plants may be cut down considerably as they will by that time have acquired most of the vigor necessary to sustain bloom for the next season. July or August, after the peonies have stopped blooming, is the best time to fertilize, as the growth of the plant will not then be interfered with from digging around it and no harm can be done to the flowers. This is also the best time for moving the roots to a new location, as they will then have time to start growing afresh before the ground becomes chilled. Peonies are among the most satisfactory of plants. The foliage alone is beautiful. They have a long season, and if planted in rich, well-drained soil will require very little attention beyond cultivating once or twice during the season, and covering with an inch of manure before cold weather. The fall of the year is the best season for planting peonies. If set out in the spring the work should be done just as early as the danger of severe cold is over or they will not reward one with blossoms that season. When planting early in the spring, the soil should be well mulched with stable manure. Growing Flowers 107 Peontes should be mulched with a good coating of manure or other litter in the fall and this coating allowed to remain on during the winter. This will tend to warm the ground and will prevent the plants alternately freezing and thawing, which is hard on any plant. This treatment will be bene- ficial for any hardy perennial, and particularly for larkspur, hollyhock, columbine, iris, and peren- nial poppies, and flowers will be produced much earlier the following season than if the plants are grown from seed. When grown for the purpose of propagation, the peony ramifies more in light soil, but when blooms are desired, a well-drained clay subsoil, with the surface of rather rich loam, will be beneficial. Peontes require an abundance of water at all times, but particularly when they are blooming are they very thirsty. Liquid manure will furnish an en- couraging method of both watering and fertiliz- ing them. When peontes flourish but fail to bloom, the fault often lies with the way they are set in the ground. The crowns should not be set too deep or the blossoms will be affected. 108 Growing Flowers Pepper Plants Pepper plants require rich, well-drained but moist soul and frequent cultivation. They should be given plenty of fresh air and occasionally should be placed in the strong sunlight. The plants should be kept free from dust by sponging with a soapsud solution. A pepper plant for the house during the winter months will lend a touch of color when all flowering plants refuse to blossom. ‘These plants require sunlight and should be put in the sun for a little while each day. Periwinkle The periwinkle is a tender little plant but it grows and spreads rapidly and is self-perpetuating. The seed should be sown in a flat or hotbed and the young plants transplanted when about two inches in height. Jt requires a rich soi and plenty of motsture. When planting periwinkles in rows, make double or triple rows and the effect will be very pleasing. The plants should be set from six to eight inches apart. Growing Flowers 109 Petunias Peiunias are excellent as house plants or for filling window boxes. If staked, they will hold up their branches prettily, but even drooping over the side. they will be graceful and attractive. Petunias have a long season and require very little care. Petunias are not exacting with regard to soil and will thrive in almost any arable soil, enduring drought well and blooming in great profusion. _ They should be sown in a hotbed in March and transplanted to the open when the soil is warm enough. The seed of the double varieties requires more attention to prevent extremes of temperature and of moisture than the seed of the single flowers. A pane of glass placed over the seed will be helpful in preventing loss of moisture. In planting pe- tunia seed in the open ground, do not cover with earth. Phlox The phlox will thrive in any ordinary garden soil and when once started it is self-perpetuating, some- times from the seed, and, where the climate will permit, from root increase. 110 Growing Flowers Phloxes are useful as window garden plants and as undergrowth for tall bare-stemmed plants. They shoula be sown out of doors as soon as danger of frost is over. They require very little attention. The phlox transplants readily and if planted too thickly will suffer from mildew. Sulphur dusted over the plants will usually rid them of mildew. To remove the seedpod and dead flowers of phlox will insure their blooming throughout the season. When phloxes are used as cut flowers they should be put into a vase or jardiniére large enough to support them. The flowers are heavy and are not attractive when crowded. They will last for days if the water is changed. Pomegranate The pomegranate not only bears beautiful scarlet flowers but also an edible fruit. It isa very hardy plant and requires little care. A loamy soil is best for it, though it will grow in the sandy soil of the far South and do well. It requires plenty of sun- light and a well-protected location. Growing Flowers III The pomegranate was introduced into this country from Persia where it is a popular fruit. It may be propagated from cuttings, though little pruning is necessary. Poppies A_sandy loam sutis poppies best. Seed sown in the autumn and at intervals in the spring will make a long succession of flowers. The seed should be sown thinly and covered very lightly, and plants should be thinned to a distance of one foot. California poppies, petunias, Shirley poppies, and sweet alyssum should always be sown where they are to grow and flower as they will not bear trans- planting successfully. The Shirley poppy is par- ticularly adaptable for cutting and some of these should be included in every garden; they are bold and brilliant, delicate and airy. The poppy plants which bloom most profusely are those which were sown in the fall of the year, or during the very early spring months while the earth was cool and moist. The Iceland poppy should be sown outdoors in September for early spring flowering. Seed planted in April where the climate will permit will produce 12 Growing Flowers| blossoming plants in August of the same year. Grown in clumps these plants make a splendid showing. Portulaca Portulaca will grow anywhere and under any sotl condition. In fact, so prolific is its growth that it has almost become a weed in warm climates. Portulaca seed will not germinate without warmth, and as it should be sown out of doors, there is no need of sowing until quite late. Portulaca re- quires little care and there is no other plant of low growth more pleasing. This plant will perpetuate itself by self-sown seeds. Portulaca can be best transplanted when in full growth and if the plants are blooming profusely — they will not be harmed by being moved. When looking for edgings, rockwork plants, or something to fill in gaps, try portulaca. It makes beautiful foliage as an undergrowth for tall plants and will flourish under most adverse conditions. Poi Marigold The pot marigold requires a rich, light soil, though it will grow in almost any soil. The plants Growing Flowers 113 bloom freely and earlier than the marigold, and there are both single and double forms of the flower. If pot marigold seed is sown in the open ground very early in the spring the planis will bloom early in the summer and will continue to bloom until late in the fall of the year. The colors of the flowers range from ivory, through the many shades of yellow, to deep orange. Seed sown in the hotbed during the first week of April will be ready for transplanting the middle of May. The dried flowers of the pot marigold give an excel- lent flavor when pui in soups or added to stewed meat while cooking. This will furnish a novelty in flavoring. In hot climates where the soil 19 not very rich nor very moist, the pot marigold seed should be sown in May as the plants will not grow so rapidly as those started in June under more favorable conditions. The primrose is equally satisfaciory as a house plant or planted to form border lines or solid beds. It blooms from early spring until the frost falls on it and the height averages eighteen inches. 8 II4 Growing Flowers Primrose seed should be sown in an open border or in a cold frame in the spring. When trans- planted, the plants should stand about a foot apart and should be set in rather thin or sandy soil. If the seed of primrose is planted in July and the seedlings transplanted to the cold frame when the weather grows cold, they may be kept during the winter months and set out again in the garden in May, when they will bloom much earlier than if planted that season. Primrose Primulas should be sown in light, sandy compost and given ample drainage. If sown in pots, one third of the pot at the bottom should be filled with stones or pieces of broken pots. The plants should have plenty of air and not too much water at any time. Prince’s-Feather Prince’s-feather makes a beautiful background and adds brilliant coloring to the garden. Red, yellow, and green should be included in every col- lection. The heads can be cut in the fall and pre- served throughout the winter months. Growing Flowers II5 Prince’s-feather will thrive in almost any soil, but a deep, rich soil, fairly moist, will produce hand- some showy heads, and the seed will come up year after year. The young plants that are not desired should be weeded out in order to allow the best plants to get all the nourishment they need from the soil. If the flowers of prince’s-feather are given a thin coating of melted paraffin, they will not fall apart for a long: time. Rhododendrons Rhododendrons require moist, loamy soil. Dead leaves buried near the roots each fall will prove most beneficial. The drainage should be good. Rhododendrons do not produce the finest flowers if grown from cuttings, seed plants being by far the most satisfactory. It is necessary to prune them while young to insure hardiness. When old rhododendron plants begin to fail, water every other day with water in which cow-manure has been soaked. This water should be applied to the roots by means of a pipe driven into the ground to a point where it will come in contact with 116 Growing Flowers the roots. They will not thrive in the glaring sunlight. The best roots are usually near the surface but all roots should be fed in order to invigorate the plant. | Manure should never be applied to rhododendrons. It is far too heavy and heating for them. Leaf- mold should be worked into the earth to a depth of at least twelve inches and the plants should be kept moist and cool by a covering of straw or dead leaves on the ground near the plants. Rock Cress The rock cress 1s, as its name indicates, a plam for the rock garden. It has a matted growth and is excellent for ugly bare spots that should be entirely hidden. Ten or twelve small plants will be neces- sary for as many inches square. Rock cress may be propagated either from seed, by cuttings, or by division of the roots. It grows best if planted in a sunny spot and it must have some sun. Rose Geranium The rose geranium can be trained to tree form by pinching off the small lower branches. This Growing Flowers 117 should be done while they are quite small and before they have used the sap for growth which might better go toward the growth of the perma- nent branches. It will thrive under the same soil conditions as the ordinary geranium. Rosemary Rosemary makes a very preity informal hedge. It is not difficult to cultivate, requiring only a moderately rich soil. Pruning is not necessary every season, but only when the bushes begin to present a scraggly appearance. The leaves are very fragrant and the flowers quite pretty. In the south of Europe the rosemary is cultivated largely for rosemary oil which has commercial value. It may be propagated by cuttings without much trouble, but when extensively grown seed is usually sown. Roses Rose cuttings should be taken from the bushes early in October. From eight to ten inches is a good length, though successful rooting can be made from even half this length. The cutting should always be made immediately below a joint. 118 Growing Flowers In rooting rose cuttings, plant the cutting two thirds or three fourths of its length, leaving only a small portion above ground. This portion will be of little value, as the main thing is to get the roots, and the new branches will look out for them- selves. The soil should be kept moist, though not wet. In securing rose cuttings for rooting, the slips should be taken from the branches which are a year old. Tender, new shoots have not sufficient strength and if they succeed at all will take a much longer time than the slips of older branches. One very successful method of rooting rose cuttings is to notch or cut the stem an inch or two below a joint. This cut should be made direct through the stem to the center and should then extend up- ward until it has passed through the joint. A little pebble may be placed in the cut to keep it well open. The branch should then be laid in the soil and firmly covered with earth and it should remain in the ground until the following autumn, if placed there in midsummer. A stone, or two little pegs driven in the ground, will hold the branch down. In growing roses for seed, keep them in the green- house. The flowers will then come early and the Growing Flowers 119 seeds will ripen in good season, and they will be more reliable than those that ripen out of doors. A piece of stalk should remain attached to each seed pod when gathered, and stalk and pod should be buried in pots of moist sand. Tender, young rose seedlings should be handled very carefully. It is extremely difficult to raise plants from seed. The seed should be kept cov- ered with a glass in a temperature of forty-five degrees, and when the young plants appear, the glass should be removed and the seedlings brought to the light. They should be hardened gradually before transplanting, and when transplanting is being done, as much soil as possible should be taken up with the plants. Entirely new roses are bred often by chance from home seed pods. The growing of roses is one of the most fascinating bits of work in floriculture, as one can never tell what a new rose will be like. Always the finest blossoms should be left to form rose-apples, or seed. Rose bushes should be kept clean to aid in keeping them free from insects and disease. All fallen leaves should be gathered and burned or they will harbor insects. 120 Growing Flowers To rid rose bushes of black spot, spray, after the leaves have fallen, with a solution of one ounce of sulphate of copper dissolved in two gallons of water. This spray should be applied to the sur- face of the ground immediately surrounding the bushes as well as to the bushes themselves. If the rose garden has a drainage foundation of cinders or pebble under its rich loam, the roses will be much benefited. Clay soil is excellent for roses, though some varieties of roses will thrive in any soil, hence it is possible for everyone in every locality to have roses. Roses cannot be planted too carefully. Sufficiently large holes should be dug that the roots may be arranged in such way as not to be crowded. The space between rose bushes should be twice as great as their height. Roses will not flourish if they are crowded, and always there should be a depres- sion in the soil surrounding the rose bush that the water may sink into the ground instead of draining to the surrounding surface. When mildew affects the rose bushes, spray the plants with a solution of one half ounce of sul- phide of potassium dissolved in a gallon of water. Two or three sprayings will usually be sufficient Growing Flowers I2I to rid the leaves of mildew and give the bushes a healthy start again. Always have some potted roses and you will have early buds. They may remain in the same pots without being repotted for several years and no harm will be done, though a firm potting of turfy soil which has mixed with it one third the amount of compost should be the bedding. Crushed bone should be applied at least once each season. Covering rose bushes and other plants with dry earth during the winter is better than covering with leaves, as the mice frequent bushes covered by leaves and will often gnaw all the bark from a plant when they once come in contact with it. If roses are sprayed frequenily with nicotine solu- tion the green fly and other insects will not molest them. It is much better to spray before insects make their attack, than to wait until injury has been done to the rose bushes. Scotch soot applied to the roots of rose bushes once or twice during the season will give a richer shade to the color of the petals and the leaves. Dried blood should be applied to the roots of roses once a season. Blood gives nourishment which is 122 Growing Flowers not supplied in abundance by any other form of fertilizer. Sheep manure is a splendid fertilizer for roses. It may be mixed with hardwood ashes, which are also beneficial, and both applied at the same time. In planting roses, a little basic slag should be mixed with the soil at the bottom of the hole in which the plants are to be set, and a cupful of crushed bone should be mixed with the soil which is poured into the hole around the stem. Nearly all varieties of roses require a rich soil and a moderate amount of moisture. All roses are hardy in the South but must be nurtured somewhat carefully in the Northern States. They should be transplanted in the spring, though to transplant in the fall will do little or no harm. A dose of liquid manure worked tn around the rose- bushes twice during the summer months will en- courage their growth. They use a great deal of the earth’s sustenance when in bloom. The first crop of buds of the Clotille Soupert should be cut off or they will remain in the ‘“‘button”’ stage and there will be no perfect roses during the season. If the first buds are cut off there will be a Growing Flowers 123 splendid crop of beautifully grown roses during the entire season. All climbing roses should be trained on a trellis or other support as soon as they start growth, other- wise the young, tender growth is likely to be nipped off and the growth of the vine will be greatly checked. In the North, roses should be protected throughout the winter months by a mulch of leaves, straw, burlap, or earth several inches thick. A mulch of manure should be applied unless the soil already is quite rich enough. Remember that wood ashes are excellent for the rose bushes. A hole should be dug near the roots of the rose and the ashes buried therein. Putting it on as a top dressing will do no good whatever. The rose bushes should be carefully watched to see that no slugs or leaf-miners are working on them. A thorough spraying with Bordeaux mix- ture early in the season, and at intervals throughout the season, will keep the rose bushes free from bugs. Prune all rose bushes as soon as they stop bloom- ing. Not to prune the bushes will result in many 124 Growing Flowers shoots and very poor flowers. It is only on the young laterals that the best roses appear. Most rose bushes can be trained to become rose trees by trimming off all shoots‘near the ground, staking the plant, and allowing the top branches to spread. The centers of the top branches should be pinched out to form spreading tops. In the fall in localities where the climate is severe, remove all climbing roses from their supports, if possible, and cover the branches with earth. A little trimming may be desirable to lessen the space occupied by the branches on the ground. Mounds of earth from five to ten inches high drawn up around the base of the rose bushes will protect the stems from mice. As an added protec- tion, the ground should be permitted to freeze slightly before winter protection is supplied. When mildew comes on the rose bushes, the bushes should be dusted with powdered sulphur. If this does not prove to be effective the rose bushes should be removed to some other location the next spring. Too much shade will often cause mildew, or too little circulation of air. Growing Flowers 125 Moss roses and sweetbriers should be washed occasionally if planted where they get much dust or where there is soot in the atmosphere. The leaves gather dust and soot easily and when they are covered the plants cannot breathe enough oxygen and they will soon become sickly looking and may die. The sweetbrier rose makes an excellent hedge as a shelter for rose beds, as it is proof against exposure, thus protecting the rose bushes from strong winds on the north or east, and also serving as a beauti- ful background. | Charming hedges and backgrounds may be made by planting a number of Ayrshire, multiflora, Scotch, hybrid perpetual, and ‘tea roses. There . is nothing quite as satisfactory to the gardener as a plenteous supply of beautiful roses, and one can never have too many. A southern exposure ts the best for the rose bushes, or if this cannot be had, then at least some pro- tection from the cold winds of the north should be provided. In arranging this protection, do not deprive the roses of sunlight or they will not thrive. | | I ) A We | hdc A he A an Dalit | | i | t | } ina Roses Enchantress - Gloire de Dijon La France Jacqueminot Duke of Edinburgh Baroness Rothschild Grace Darling Clio Waltham Climber Crimson Rambler In planning a color scheme, one should never neglect the roses. There is such a variety of color among them that it makes them almost the most important flower in the garden during their bloom- | Growing Flowers ing season. 127 Below is given a list of some of the best growing roses according to color: White Boul de Niege Coquette des Blanches Gardenia Lacharme White Lady Bessie Brown Pink Aurora Marie Verdier Clara Watson Captain Christy Ethel Brownlow La France Light Yellow Caroline Kuster Cloth of Gold Duchess of Portland Maréchal Neil Medea Etoile de Lyon Madame Camille Pink Rover Duchess of Fife Baroness Rothschild Killarney Dark Yellow Lady Roberts W. A. Richardson Pierre Notting Dark Red Crimson Rambler Duke of Albany Prince Arthur Emperor Zanzibar Duke of Fife Liberty Betty Berkeley A list of climbing roses which are easily trained over doorways and arches: White Yellow Rampante W. A. Richardson Aimée Vibert Aglaia Bennett’s Seedling Jersey Beauty Wichuriana Cloth of Gold Pink Red Dorothy Perkins Crimson Rambler Euphrosyne Ard’s Rover Flora Carmine Pillar Garland Gracilis Waltham Rambler Reine Marie Henriette 128 Growing Flowers Salpiglossis Salpiglossis is sometimes hard to get started and it should be started in the greenhouse or indoors and hardened off before being put out of doors. The soil should be rich but light. In certain locali- ties it does well when sown out of doors and a second sowing can be made for blossoming late in the summer. Salpiglossis, sometimes called painted tongue, owing to the colored veins in the leaves, will bloom for two months or longer under favorable condi- tions. Itis most effective when planted in groups. Scabiosa Scabiosa is not a plant of rare beauty but it _ becomes a great favorite with those who appreciate a flower of long season. It may be treated as an annual and raised from seed under glass; as a biennial and sown in June for planting in perma- nent position in the fall, and in some localities as a perennial. Scabiosa requires a sunny location, but 1¢ will thrive in almost any soil and is particularly adapted to the rock garden. It may be propagated either Growing Flowers 129 by seed or by a division of the roots. The root division should be made in the spring or in the early fall. Scarlet Sage Scarlet sage is one of the most satisfactory of autumn flowers. It makes a good plant for window boxes, for pots, and for cutting in decorating. As a hedge or border plant it cannot be surpassed. The seed of salvia, or scarlet sage, should be sown in cold frames or window boxes in March or April and the young plants transplanted during the latter part of May. If the seed is to be sown where the plants are to stand, it should not be planted until the first of June and the young seedlings should be protected from strong wind and heavy rain. A rich light soil is required. Silene The seed of silene should be sown in August in the cold frame and the young plants transplanted to the garden when the frost is out of the ground. The plants should be set four or five inches apart, or they may be planted for mass effect or in rows. They require light, well-drained soil. 9 130 Growing Flowers In cold climates silene plants should be covered in the winter with a thin mulch of leaves, or straw, or even a slat frame will answer. Silene mixed with German tris makes an atirac- tive combination. If the plants are kept mozst, they will continue blossoming until late in the season. They should not be planted where they will receive too much strong sunlight. Smilax Smilax has a great commercial value as there is no vine which lends itself more prettily to decora- tion. It is of vigorous growth and requires plenty of room for spreading. Jit should always be planted in a rich, loamy soil. The roots of smilax are used in making sarsaparilla which isin such common use. It can be propagated by detaching sections of the roots in the fall of the year. Little pruning should be done, instead plenty of room and good soil should be given to induce rapid and prolific growth. Snapdragon Seed of the snapdragon sown in the open ground in May will produce flowers in July or August. For Growing Flowers 131 earlier flowers, the seed should be sown under glass in February or March and the young plants trans- planted to the open ground as soon as the weather grows warm enough to slightly heat the ground. While the snapdragon is a perennial it will pro- duce a greater variety of flowers, and much more handsome ones, if the seed is sown every year. It should be treated in every way as an annual. To protect the snapdragon through the winter for early spring blooming, it should be protected by a mulch of leaves or manure during the cold months. The snapdragon requires a moderately rich soul and a good, sunny location, with frequent waterings. The average height of this plant is from fifteen to eighteen inches. Sneezeweed —Sneezeweed thrives in ordinary garden soil, and requires little attention, other than a semi-occa- sional cultivation and a division of the roots every two or three years. Sneezeweed, or helenium, planted as a group is very effective. Each variety should be kept sepa- 132 Growing Flowers rate in this case, to give a more pronounced effect. The plants should be staked before they have at- tained much growth, otherwise the rain or wind will soon beat them down. Snowdrop The bush snowdrop will grow in almost any soil and requires litile cultivation. ‘The flowers are harbingers of spring and hence receive an enthu- siastic welcome. For planting among shrubbery, in rocky places, in shady places, or in clumps it is equally satisfactory. Spirea Spriea is beautiful as a separate and distinct bush, in clusters, or for forming a hedge. It thrives in rich, loamy soil and should have an appli- cation of manure every fall, though it will grow and flower very prettily in a sandy soil. There are somany members of the spirea family that some one kind may be chosen for almost any site or location, or garden scheme. It is not neces- sary to prune it, but an occasional pruning, say every two years, will prove beneficial. Growing Flowers 133 Stocks Stocks require a deep, rich soil in order to do their best. They are most satisfactory for both garden plants and as cut flowers. They are easy to grow in almost any soil and have a great variety of flowers. Frequent transplantings will give them a stocky growth. Stocks that bloom late may be preserved during the winter if they are lifted carefully and potted before the earth falls from the roots. As much earth as possible should be taken up with them, and the temperature of the room in which they are kept should be fairly cool and the soil kept somewhat moist. Sunflowers For planting in a garden where there is plenty of space, the sunflower will yield satisfactory results. Planted among shrubbery, the yellow blossoms are at their best. It will thrive under almost all conditions and in any soil, though a moderately rich soil, with good drainage, is best. Sunflower seed should be planted in the open ground in the spring, as soon as the ground is free 134 Growing Flowers from frost, and the plants should be thinned to stand three or four feet apart. Some plants grow to a height of ten feet. Sweet Peas A mixture of bone meal and soot applied to the soil in which sweet peas are to be planted will help greatly in securing large, long-stemmed flowers. All but three or four stems on each plant should be pinched off as soon as they are large enough to determine which will be the best ones to leave on. Sweet peas should be planted in trenches eight inches deep and the seed covered to a depth of one inch. After the plants have attained a growth of five or six inches, the soil should gradually be banked up around them until it is within an inch of being level with the surface of the earth sur- rounding the trench. This tends to conserve the moisture and quickens the growth of the vines. The most satisfactory way of growing sweet peas is in long rows provided with rabbit-netting wire, supported by strong anchor posts and intermediate stakes to prevent the wire from sagging between its supports. Growing Flowers 135 Sweet peas require soil well supplied with plant food. Ten inches of rich garden loam, in the bot- tom of which has been worked in three or four inches of compost, and over that two inches of fine top soil, will produce wonderful results. A coarse top soil of sand is very important. The soil should not be too rich and a balance is some- times difficult to strike, but when once struck, sweet peas no longer will be hard to grow. In the South sweet peas should be sown 1n the fall in order that they may get an early start before the weather becomes too warm. In the North, all preparatory work should be done in the autumn that the seed may be planted as early in March as practicable. Sweet peas should be thinned out in order that the roots may have branching space. A vine every six inches will produce better results in growth and blossom than plants only two inches apart. They should be cultivated frequently. When sweet peas are to be transplanted, they should be started in small paper cups, or dirt bands, and transplanted by setting the cup in the soil. The paper should be torn away gently in order not to disturb the young roots. 136 Growing Flowers To keep bugs off the sweet pea vines, spray every few days, or once a week, at least, with a solution composed of strong smoking tobacco soaked for twenty-four hours in cold water. A pound of tobacco to two gallons of water will be a good pro- portion. When desired to use at once, boil for an hour or more instead of leaving to soak overnight. Sweet peas will stop blooming if they are allowed to go to seed. ‘The blossoms should be picked regu- larly and thoroughly. To keep sweet peas fresh after cutting, take them from the vines early in the morning while the dew is still on them and put in water to which has been added a little soft charcoal. For growing long-stemmed sweet peas, the seed should be sown the latter part of January or the early part of February. The seed should be sown in dirt bands, or paper cups, and the cup planted with the young plant as soon as the ground is sufficiently warm to justify the planting. Sweet pea blossoms should always be cut from the vines, never broken or pulled off. Pulling them is liable to injure the vines by loosening the roots. Growing Flowers 137 If the soil around the sweet pea vines is mulched with the clippings of lawn grass, it will tend to keep the ground cool and moist, a condition necessary to the successful growing of sweet peas. Watering the sweet peas should never be neglected. Sweet-William Sweet-william requires a rich soil and an abun- dance of moisture in order to produce large, showy flowers. Seed should be sown in hotbeds the first week in March, and the young plants transplanted to small pots for a few weeks before setting out of doors. This will give strong, vigorous plants. When seed of sweet-william is sown in the open ground, to get the very best results, the plants should be thinned out so that every plant will stand at least eight inches apart. Sweet-william has along season and requires prac- tically no care after once coming up in the open, or having been transplanted for the last time. In transplanting large sweet-william plants at the end of the season, the middle of September is the latest period at which they should be moved. In re-planning the garden beds, bear this in mind. 138 Growing Flowers Thistle Perhaps no plant bears such a bad reputation as the Canadian thistle. Certainly it is a pest with its habit of laying over winter in a dormant condition and its seeds infesting a neighborhood for miles. The roots as well as the tops must be killed. To prune the tops will make it thrive more luxuriously than ever. Salt spread over a thistle patch will eventually kill off the plants. A coating of straw or manure a foot or more in depth left on for a period of eight or ten weeks will Rill the thistle. Tulips Darwin and cottage tulips are often grown in clusters and never disturbed from one year to another with excellent results. They are cultivated and fertilized with liquid fertilizer, and no more atten- tion paid to them. Tulips require a rich, heavy soil and should be kept moderately moist. They should be planted in the fall and left in the ground over winter. The bulbs should be covered to two or three times their Growing Flowers 139 depth and a covering of straw or compost placed over the earth after covering. This covering should be taken off when the shoots begin to push through in the spring, but it should be removed gradually instead of taking all of it off at once. Tulip bulbs should be planted from four to six inches apart out of doors but three or four bulbs may be planted in a six-inch pot for the house or green- house, as these bulbs are forced, more or less, and usually are not good for a second planting, at least, not as house plants. A round bed of tulips six feet in diameter will re- quire two hundred and fifty tulip bulbs planted four inches apart. To plant tulips between such plants as daisies, moss pinks, sweet alyssum, forget-me-nots, and pan- sies is a most happy plan. The plants act as an effective foil for the tulips. When the shoots of tulips, hyacinths, narcissi, daffodils, and other bulbs first begin to appear above ground, remove a little of the covering which has been on all winter. The next day remove a little more, uncovering gradually as the shoots grow and harden. This will cause the plants to be strong 140 Growing Flowers and hardy and the first cool turn of weather will not harm them. . Verbena Verbena seed should always be soaked in lukewarm water for a few hours before planting and should be sown in a hotbed with light rich soil on the sur- face. In transplanting, the plants should be set first in other boxes and later be set in the open ground at a distance of twelve inches apart, as they spread in growing. Verbenas require plenty of sunlight and good drain- age, though they should be watered frequently, and always in the evening or at night. Verbenas may be grown from cuttings with success, but the best flowers, as a rule, come from new plants. They may be used with excellent effect as borders, in mounds, and in window boxes. They bloom so profusely that a large bed of white verbenas will look like a white sheet spread on the ground at night. The lemon verbena does not properly belong to the flower which we ordinarily class as the verbena. It Growing Flowers I4I is not very successful as a bedding plant but a few plants in a garden will be much admired for their delicious fragrance. Violets Violets should be given a rich, damp spot. Violets should not be permitied to dry out during hot weather. ‘The soil should be kept moist if the plants are to be in good condition for flowering. When rust attacks violets, the diseased leaves should be removed and the plants then sprayed with a solution of one half ounce of sulphide potas- sium dissolved in a gallon of water. Violets will benefit by having some protection. A frame placed over them when growing out of doors, to protect them from cold winds and heavy rains, will cause them to produce finer flowers, and the buds also will open earlier. Wistaria The wistaria requires a rich soil, frequent water- ing, and cultivation while young, but after it has once attained a good wood growth, there will not 142 Growing Flowers be need for much attention, an occasional pruning, once every two years, being all that is really neces- sary. Basic slag or other phosphatic food applied to the roots will produce large, handsome, showy flowers. When wistaria refuses to bloom, see that it is not overcrowded, that the vines are not wrapped around each other, and then cut off a part of the tap-root. This root should be cut off about twenty inches below the surface of the earth. The wistaria vine 1s excellent for use where a screen 1s desired. ‘The growth, however, is slow, which is true of all perennials, and some quick- growing annual should be planted with it for im- mediate effect. Zinnia Given a strong rich soil to begin with, no more attention need be paid the zimnia and it will flourish on poor soil. The zinnia is particularly adapted for outdoor growth. It is not delicate enough to be attractive for use as a house plant or for cutting purposes. Growing Flowers 143 It gives the best result when massed with other old-fashioned flowers, as each separate flower has little real beauty. For June flowers the zinnia seed should be sown in the hotbed the first of April. It transplants easily and if dead flowers are kept cut off, the plants will blossom until frost falls. Zinnias are particularly advisable for planting in spots where other flowers will not thrive, and for heavy effects. Suggestions for Vines A rich well-drained soil is required for vines, and annuals given the proper soil will yield most satis- factory results while waiting for perennials to grow. Some which have rapid growth are the moonflower, the morning-glory, cypress vine, the hyacinth bean, and nasturtiums. Foran immediate screening these vines are indispensable. Vines which attach themselves to wire or wood supports and which are chiefly valuable because of their covering and shading effects are the wistaria, trumpet flower, clematis, ivy, and honeysuckle. To pinch off the top of bean vines and other vines will make them branch out at the top and bloom more profusely. 144 Growing Flowers Among the vines which will thrive on a north wall are the Japanese quince, the winter jasmine, golden bell, ivy, and climbing hydrangea. The branches of vines which are to climb on a wall should not be too close together, or they will not flower. The ground should be well drained in order that it may not become sodden. Here is a list of some vines which are very satis- factory for window box culture: Madeira Vine Tradescantia Vinca Harrisonii Glechoma Othanna Ivy-leaf Geraniums Saxifraga German Ivy The wild cucumber grows rapidly and will cover a summerhouse in one season. It has beautiful foliage and exceedingly pretty, fine white flowers. The wild grape vine is a rapid grower and can be found growing along the banks of a creek or river in all parts of the country. The flowers are very fragrant and altogether it is one of the most satis- factory of vines for use as a screen or shade. The hyacinth bean has brilliant red flowers and it is excellent for training over walls or other sup- ports having a height of seven or eight feet. It Growing Flowers» 145 will come up every year if cut down and when once started will require litile care. The old-fashioned morning-glory has no superior for rapid growth and density of foliage. It will reach second-story windows by midsummer if the seed is planted in dirt bands in February and the plants planted in the bands as soon as the ground is warm. Among the climbing roses are the Dorothy Per- kins, the Crimson Rambler, and, for the Southern section of the country, the Cloth of Gold. These roses are hardy and do not have to be pampered. The Dorothy Perkins is a beautiful pink and the other two bespeak their colors in their names. The English wy gives excellent results even when planted in shady spots, or in rooms where there is not much direct light. It should be washed oc- casionally and when used as a house plant, it may be removed to the out of doors without much trouble and laid on the ground for the rain to wash ‘it off, or for a good ducking from the hose. When the wy looks old and worn, clip it back severely in February or March. All the old leaves to 146 Growing Flowers may come off without detriment to the vine and fresh new leaves will come in their place. This pruning should not take place until just about time for the new growth to start. English wy is easily rooted by inserting cuttings in a bottle of water kept in a shady place. When the roots are well formed, the plants can be potted. Another plan is to take a long branch and peg it down. Every joint pegged down will root, when the stem can be cut, each joint making a separate plant. One of the prettiest vines for the autumn its the bittersweet. It should be planted where it can grow on an arbor or fence where it will give the berries every chance for display. The branches of wistaria and other vines should not be permitted to twist around sister branches. If they do their growth will be stunted and the vine can never be trained to trail where it is wanted. When they once get a start they are hard to unwind. The hop vine, once grown only for yeast, is now often used in the flower garden. It grows quickly and has a beautiful leaf. Growing Flowers 147 Vines such as honeysuckle, clematis, and crimson rambler should be trained over a wall, on a trellis, a summerhouse, or over a gateway. If permitted to ramble at will, they will not seek the best for them- selves but will become a matted mass and half the beauty will be underneath. The following vines can be raised from seed each year and depended upon to act as a screen each season: Gourds Wild Cucumber Morning-Glory Cypress Vine Moonflower Balloon Vine Ornamental Beans Japanese Hop Stumps of old trees covered with vines will make an unsightly spot beautiful. Dead bushes stuck in the earth temporarily and vines planted at the base will be a most satisfactory method of providing a place for such vines as do not require a permanent trellis. Vines are so inexpensive and so easy to grow that no garden should be without them. ‘They are de- lightful for cutting and arranging indoors. Long sprays hanging over the side of a tall vase form a most graceful arrangement and a dining table can have no prettier floral decoration than vines twined around a centerpiece. Round screw hooks inserted in a wooden wall will often answer as a support for vines. They 148 Growing Flowers should be placed in the position in which the vines are to be trained. They are particularly good for vines of single stems. The Virginia creeper is sometimes confused with poison ivy, but there is really no reason for this mistake, for besides the difference in leaves which can so easily be seen when placed side by side, it should be remembered that the Virginia creeper always has five leaves on a stem while poison ivy has but three. In destroying poison ivy, pulling up the vine will not always rid a spot of it. A strong solution of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in boiling water should be poured all over the surface of the ground where the vine has grown in order to kill the young and tender roots which have developed and started growth. When vines are desired for flat table decoration, there is nothing prettier than clematis. Both the feathery white flowers and the leaves are charming, and it has the advantage of staying fresh a long while after it is cut without being placed in water. The Tartarian honeysuckle grows to a height of twelve feet and forms a very graceful specimen plant Growing Flowers 149 with small but very fragrant blossoms. It thrives under dry farm conditions. In every garden, there should be a dishrag gourd vine. Gourds are very easy to grow and the luffa makes excellent dishcloths. These dishcloths never get really dirty or sour and nothing adheres to them. One will last six or eight weeks, becom- ing whiter and softer as it grows older. Three or four cloths can be made from one luffa of fairly good size. Gourd seed may be sown in boxes indoors in March or April and the young plants transplanted to ‘the garden in May for September blooming. The vines are usually large and luxuriant, and the plants will grow in almost any kind of soil, though a fairly rich soil will promote the best growth. Wood ashes applied to the roots of gourd vines will be very beneficial to the vines and will have a splendid effect on the size of the gourds. Sweet pea vines and other plants which have fin- ished blooming should be cleared away. For them to stand will only attract bugs, while they may be utilized by making humus, thus living over again in next year’s plants. 150 Growing Flowers In every garden there can be found a place for climbing vines. No other variety of plant offers so much for the trouble. Among those which are easiest to grow are: Canary-bird Vine Gourds Moonflower Cobzea scandens Hyacinth Bean Morning-Glory Cypress Vine Japanese Hop Nasturtium Clematis Common Hop General Plan of the Garden Plan the garden on the spot. While to put it down on paper will be most helpful, the paper design should be made in the garden itself, other- wise there is likely to be confusion when it comes to working out the plan with actual plants. The size of the plants to be grown should always be taken into consideration when setting aside a certain space. Study the color scheme of your garden as you would study the color scheme of your living rooms. It is just asimportant. A first impression, gained from the outdoor surroundings, means much. A flower garden should have some protection on the north if early flowers are desired. A southern or eastern exposure will permit the garden to get Growing Flowers I5I the benefit of the strong morning sunlight, which is so beneficial to plants. Flowers requiring thorough drainage should be planted on a slope if possible. ‘There should be no depressions on the surface of the garden where water will stand. Aside from the excess moisture rotting the plants nearby, mosquitoes will breed in great numbers. The general lay-out of the garden should be studied before flowers are set out. ‘The location of a flower will have a very important bearing on the vigor and growth of the plant as well as determining the size and season of the blossoms. Certain plants will not blossom at all unless they get sufficient sunlight, while others will become parched from too much sun. A change of location in the garden often ts all that is necessary to make a hitherto sickly plant thrive. Experiment with flowers. Graft kindred plants and watch the result. Nothing will give greater pleasure than making a discovery in plants, and nothing will more quickly yield results. Every yard and flower garden 1s worthy of a plan before planting is begun, and the plan should be 152 Growing Flowers drawn to scale. It should show just what space is to be allotted to flowers, to shrubs, and what will remain merely a grass plot. The trees to be planted should be carefully considered and the loca- tion for planting marked on the plan. In planning a garden on paper, quadruled paper should be procured. Draftsmen use a paper ruled in quarter-inch squares, and in using this, each quarter-inch square should represent a foot of ground. Unless planis are given sufficient room for full development the flowers which they produce will be inferior in size, form, and color. While it isadvan- tageous to sow the seed thickly at planting time in order to make sure that some will germinate, it is equally desirable to have the plants thinned so as to provide ample space for the development of each individual plant. When flowers are grown for the purpose of cutting the blossoms the most satisfactory and economical plan is to plant them in rows instead of clumps or jotted around here and there. For a large amount of flowers in midsummer and for the early beautification of a new place annual Growing Flowers | 153 flowers will prove most satisfactory. Hardy per- ennials are deservedly popular as they need little attention from year to year, but most of them are best fitted as background plants. Planting should be arranged so that it will afford flowers each season of the year. As many colors should be provided as is possible, and plants of different shades of green in the foliage should be included in every garden. In every garden, however small, there should be a seat. Inasmall garden, the seat should be small, but where there is plenty of space, a large seat or a group of seats, a summerhouse or a pergola with seats can be placed to advantage. Let a garden look as if it had human beings taking a personal interest in it. Large vases and statuary of all kinds have no place in a small garden. ‘These formidable looking ornaments are all very well in a large garden where they may be partly hidden by shrubbery, but they are grotesque in a small garden. A gar- den is meant for growing and displaying flowers, — not artificial works of art, so-called. Cedar wood makes the best stakes for outdoor use. Oak, too, is very desirable as it weathers to an 154 Growing Flowers obscure gray. Brightly painted sticks of fancy design do not add to the garden, but rather detract from the natural beauty of the foliage. In selecting a site for a summerhouse, see that the view is the most attractive in the garden. As a rule, a great deal of one’s time, and the time of the guest, is spent in the summerhouse and the view is of the utmost importance The plainer and more simple the lines of the sum- merhouse, the more attractive it will prove. The features to be emphasized in a garden are the grass, shrubbery, trees, and flowers and anything wholly artificial should be as inconspicuous as possible. The planting of trees or shrubs or the placing of fountains along a walk is a common sight but there is no reason for it. All small areas containing walks and drives should be planned as simply as possible. A small yard, however, may contain a vase or two if they be not too large. No one variety of flower should be planted in the same spot year after year. The particular plant food which that plant needs will be all taken up after the second year, yet some other flower may thrive well there. Growing Flowers 155 Where there is a great deal of white and a liberal amount of green foliage, the color scheme will be safe, whatever the mixture. Feathery foliage should predominate as heavy stiff leaves will pre- sent a more or less dense and somber effect. Where a mass of brilliant red is desired in the garden, nothing will be more effective than salvia, or scarlet sage. Plant plenty of white flowers in the garden. ‘They are not only beautiful in themselves but they tend to emphasize the color of the other flowers near. No other one color aids so in emphasizing the color scheme in the garden. In selecting plants, choose them for their hardiness rather than size. Large plants often have a forced growth, but if tender, they will not survive a re- planting. Note carefully the main stem of a plant rather than the leaves. Flower beds will not be neat in appearance if the sod is not kept nicely edged. Stray blades of grass pushing themselves over the bed presents a very ragged and unkept condition. The rearranging of flower beds, and the general re- planning of the garden should be done in January, 156 Growing Flowers that the work may be begun just as soon as danger of frost is over. In planning borders, see that there is a back- ground of shrubs, vine-covered walls, or tall plants, with an abundance of bright colored flowers and plenty of foliage. Soul Pulverizing the soil before planting seed and young planis will make the task of cultivating much lighter, as well as benefiting the plants materially from the start. Soil containing more or less sand will grow warm earlier in the spring than soil without sand. Sandy soil is also easily drained, though too much sand means little fertility. If the soil sticks together when rolled into a ball by the hand, it is too wet to be cultivated. Soil should never be plowed or harrowed unless it is almost dry, otherwise there will be rough lumps afterward. In localities where the soil is moist, plants that require good drainage should have a specially raised Growing Flowers 157 bed prepared. Heavy clay soils should always have particular attention paid with reference to drainage and all excess water should be well drained off before plants are set out. Sawdust and old shavings should never be permitted to lay in piles around the garden. ‘They become sour and will have a bad effect on plant life, as well as attract some kinds of worms. Unless specially prepared soil is supplied a new garden will have a struggle to gain a foothold. A piece of land that has been under careful cultivation for two or three years will yield the most satisfactory result when it comes to raising flowers. When the garden has a clay soil for a foundation, there should be applied a mixture of ashes and leaf-mold or sand and leaf-mold to offset the clay. Ashes should be used when possible as sand tends to decrease the fertility of the soil. Fertilization To plant flowers and not properly fertilize them 1s a waste not only of good seeds and plants but of valu- able time. A little fertilizer will go a long way if 158 Growing Flowers applied in time. The fertilizer should be well worked into the soil before planting, whenever feasible, but adding it afterwards will give very good results. Even on soil originally rich, a little fertilizer should be added once a year. Well-rotted stable manure only should be applied to planis. To put it on while fresh will only burn the plants and they may never really survive it. Barnyard fertilizer 1s among the most valuable of fertilizers. It should be six months old and should be well worked into the soil. A little limewater poured on soil a few weeks before planting will be very beneficial. Limewater not only fertilizes but it has a disastrous effect on cutworms and other insects which harm plants. Clay and humus soils particularly need lime. Ashes from hardwood for roses is advice as old as it is good. It should be placed where the roots can reach it. Nitrate of soda ts a good fertilizer and acts quickly on the soil, but it should be used with great caution as too much of it will burn a plant up. A teaspoon- ful is a dose for a good-sized plant. Growing Flowers 159 House plants should occasionally be watered with water to which has been added a tablespoonful of ammonia to a two-quart measure of water. This fertilizes the soil and kills bugs. Water which has been used for washing dishes or fabrics will answer as well as fresh water. There is nothing better for plants than rich, greasy dish water. Be careful to pour it on the soil only for it will not improve the appearance of the foliage. Bone ground to meal is excellent for the flowers. It contains lime and phosphate and an ounce will be enough for four or five square feet of earth. The phosphate will promote both flowering and fruitfulness of the plants, hence plenty of bone should be used when seed is to be saved. Dried blood from cattle is a nitrogenous food and will cause wonderful growth of foliage both with re- gard to size and coloring. In preparing compost, 1. e., in rotting stable manure, sprinkle a little finely ground raw phos- phatic rock over it each time it is turned over, which should be twice a week for several weeks, and the fertilizer will be strengthened. 160 Growing Flowers A good proportion of the constituents of fertilizer as as follows: Phosphoric acid 8% Potash 8% Nitrogen 3% This should be thoroughly worked into the soil for a depth of three or four inches and should be applied just previous to planting. Decaying cabbage, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts make a good fertilizer for flowers. Fertilizers containing nitrogen are beneficial for the growth of flowers. Lack of nitrogen will produce faded leaves, small in size, and spindly plants. The dried blood of cattle and sulphate of ammonia are nitrogenous fertilizers. Fertilizers containing a large percentage of phos- phate should be used on plants when superiority in the flowers is desired. Basic slag and crushed bone are phosphates and either may be used to advan- tage. Two ounces of bone to a plot containing eight or ten square feet is a good proportion; while twice the amount of basic slag should be used for the same amount of space. Potash in various forms applied to the roots of plants invigorates and strengthens them. Sulphate Growing Flowers 161 of potash and muriate of potash may be obtained at any florist’s and at seed houses and most of the department stores. Ashes from hardwood contain a large percentage of potash and may be applied at any season of the year, though it is better not to put them on when there is danger of the roots actually getting chilled from having the earth disturbed near them. Fertilizers should never be placed tmmediately on the roots of a plant, but just beyond the tip ends of the roots where in their own time the roots can take up the nourishment. To place it directly on the roots is likely to burn them. | Liquid fertilizer 1s excellent for applying to grow- ing plants. This may be home-made with most fertilizers and is made by simply mixing the fer- tilizer with a generous supply of water. In apply- ing, dig holes near the plant and pour the liquid into them. It will penetrate the earth in good season. It should be applied frequently and should be somewhat weaker than if applied only once. Sheep manure is an excellent general fertilizer. Manure is very strong and should seldom be used It 162 Growing Flowers before it has been turned to compost. Barnyard fertilizer 1s excellent for most plants, and there is no danger of burning plants by its use as there is from using stable manure. All debris, or waste matter, should be removed from manure before it is applied to the soil. Sticks, stones, and other trash will choke the young plants and the growth will be materially retarded. Every garden should be well fertilized once a year, preferably in the fall. The winter snows and rains will drench it and take the substance down into the earth, where it will lie all winter and be in good condition for the spring. When soil 1s poor and no analysis has been made to determine just what 1s needed, it is safe to use a composition of 8% phosphoric acid, 3% nitrogen, and 8% potash. A highly recommended propor- tion is eight pounds to the square rod. Ground rock phosphate is a very valuable phos- phate fertilizer. Sprinkled over compost when be- ing made, it will help to keep the ammonia in the soil. Compost is simply well-rotted stable manure. ‘To rot the manure, it should be piled to a height of Growing Flowers 163 four or five feet in stacks four or five feet square and left to stand for several days—ten days will not be too long—after having dampened it thoroughly with water. It should be turned over and damp- ened several times at intervals of a week or more when it will be ready for use. Compost should be well worked into the soil to a depth of several inches and should not be put on full strength when applying to young and tender plants, but should be mixed with sand or even clay. A phosphate fertilizer, such as phosphatic rock or crushed bone, may be mixed with it to excellent advantage. Barnyard manure 1s excellent when a fertilizer 1s badly needed to promote rapid growth, as it may be applied directly to the roots or may be placed in the hole when setting out plants. In using nitrate of soda, never apply directly to the roots. It is wonderfully invigorating but will kill tender plants if too muchis used. A teaspoon- ful is a dose for a plant which attains only a foot or two in growth. Soil that is continuously damp is likely to become moldy or sour.