NOTES ON ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 249 



Graudillora Alba. — This has beautiful snowy white flowers in August. 

 It is not a sure bloomer. It delights in a cool, shady place north of the 

 house, and then it prefers to be let alone to take its own time for 

 blooming. 



Japonica. — This grows about two feet tall and has lavender colored 

 flowers. 



Undulata Media Picta. — This is one of the most beautiful plants we 

 have. Foliage green, striped with white. On two or three occasions we 

 have secured some of these and planted them in the open, out the Ne- 

 braska sun fairly persecutes anything that puts on style. We have tried 

 variegated catalpa, variegated box-elder and other things of that class, 

 but our weather seems to have a grudge against everything of this order 

 and to protect themselves from bitter persecutions they went to the green 

 and staid there. The only way to have these delicate things retain their 

 beauty is to put them under a screen. 



PROPAGATIOiV. 



The Coerulea, and I presume some of the other sorts, can be grown 

 from seed which may be sown in the spring. The whole family is usually 

 grown from division of the roots which may be separated like the Iris. 



The spring is the best time to plant them. Plant so the buds will be 



about an inch below the surface and press the earth firmly around the 



roots. 



The Gaillardia, or Blanket Flower. 



There are several kinds of this species, among them three annuals 

 which in sore disappointment have been planted for perennials. 



Amblyondon is rich blood red. 



Picta is crimson and orange. 



Lorenciana is very fine. A profuse double fiowering bloom of charm- 

 ingly mixed colors. I saw this growing in Manitoba where the climate 

 seemed to fit it to perfection. Remember the above are all annuals. 



We have for years had the two perennials, the Grandiflora and the 

 Rocky Mountain. 



Probably no flower does such a wholesale business as the Grandiflora. 

 It begins in June and keeps at it until frost. There is a fine blend of 

 color. The red, brown, maroon and gold with beautiful rings of various 

 colors. As a cut flower it is flne. It has good strong stems and the 

 flowers are flne keepers. It is easily grown and is a fine flower, giving 

 you the best returns for the least trouble of any of our favorites. A flrm 

 in England has picked out, choice specimens and by selection has secured 

 at least flfty varieties. We have paid a good price for some of them and 

 they were not satisfactory. If you want to improve them and raise new 

 sorts, do it yourself. You will flnd no two exactly alike. Some will be 

 large and full and the others somewhat meager. Save seed from the 

 choicest flowers of the best plants and put them by themselves and you 

 will soon flnd what you are doing. Sow early in the spring or get the 

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