HORTICULTURE, 



August 17, 1907 



Gypsophilia paniculata and Its 

 Double Form 



Either for packing conveniences, economy in using, 

 or some other reason, the '-Babies' Breath''' is seldom 

 seen in its full beauty, the common fakirs, especially, 

 pulling the spikes to pieces to make them "go" as far 

 as possible. 



Those not knowing the hal)its can hardlv imagine 

 the beauty of these gypsophilas if left standing year 

 after year, (they can be left on one spot indefinitely) 

 one plant often sending up spikes that together will 

 measure 4 to 5 feet in diameter and 2 1-3 to 3 ft. high. 

 The individual flowers are white and very small, but the 

 great quantity of flower is what makes the plant so 

 attractive and useful. 



It is very hardy, and I know of no ])ereunial that has 

 a better habit, staying as it does in the exact spot 

 where it is planted and never running underground. 

 It is an ideal plant to mix in with otlier early-flowering 

 perennials, whose foliage becomes yellow and unattrac- 

 tive, such as oriental poppies, bleeding hearts, etc. 



Although the broken up spike can be used to advan- 

 tage in many ways, it is for large vase work, with the 

 natural spike cut to the ground, that the Gypsophila 

 paniculata and its beautiful double form are most 

 useful. 



When planting, plant deeply, as the following sea- 

 son's crowns are frequently made on the stem of the 

 year preceeding. The roots go down a gTeat depth, 

 which enables them to stand the driest of seasons, with- 

 out in any way impairing their beauty. The descrij)- 

 tion of the double form is in every way the same; the 

 flowers are well formed, of good substance, and are 

 about three times as large as the single, and with their 

 extra quantity of petals, show a purer whiteness. Tlie 

 double has only one real commercial difference from its 

 single parent, which is a very useful one. I refer to its 

 blooming about ten days later, so that with the help of 

 G. repens, G. glauca, and G. acutifolia we will have a 

 continuance of Babies' Breath from s[)nng till end of 

 August. 



For floral work of all kinds one should have both 



Gypso])hila paniculata and its double form. The ac- 

 companying cut is of a single spike. 



^"?Cc<fiA,oe^ 



/'H-- 



Seasonable Chrysanthemum Notes 



SYI'.INGlNli 



Now is the time of year to pay strict attention to 

 syringing. See that the hose is held in such a position 

 that the water gets at th(! under side of the leaves 

 where the red spider is sure to be found if there are 

 auy around. If the chrys?.nthcmuin grower once gets 

 his plants free from insects of this kind, he has no 

 difficulty in keeping tnem so bv >yringing regularly. 



SPRAYING 



This is another matter that should not be neglected 

 and which is very essential to the pi-oper growth of the 

 plants and if the hose is handled properly this can be 

 done, without wetting the beds. In spraying the water 

 should be played on the sides, roof and plants : this will 

 reduce the temperature several degrees and it will 

 remain so for some time. The plants are as much bene- 

 fited by this treatment as apv other, as it gives the 

 house a good growing atmonphere and keeps the plants 

 in such a condition that they move right along whereas, 

 if spraying is neglected the plants take on a hard 

 stunted growth and do not break away in the fashion 



they should. TAKING THE BUDS 



Strict attention should be given to this matter from 

 now on as there are plenty of buds just right to take and 

 if another growth is allowed to come it will bring them 

 in too late for the exhibition table. Of course there 

 are some of the earlier varieties on which the buds 

 were taken one or two weeks ago, such as Monrovia, 

 (iustave Grunewald. and a few others, and then again 

 there are some kinds for very late use that do better on 

 later buds, such as Chadwick, Nonin. etc., on which 

 varieties the buds are usually taken in September. 



INRFCTS 



Insects are as plentiful and as troublesome as ever 

 this year. Any biittc-flies seen flying about the house 

 should be caught and killed, as it is these that lay the 

 eggs from whicli the caterpillars originate. The 

 chrysanthemum grower should be on the lookout for 

 the nests of eggs and destroy them before the little 

 caterpillars are hatched out and have commenced their 

 travels. Another insect that has been very trouble- 

 some in this vicinity this year is the cut worm; this 

 pest does its work at night, crawling up the stem of the 

 plants to the young soft growth and eats out the heart 

 of the shoot, if not taken in time. If j'ou will scrape 

 the soil from around the base of the plants on which 

 they have Ijeen at work you will be sure to find them 

 in hiding waiting for tlie mn to set and to enjoy another 

 feast unless they are taken by surprise and crushed 

 under foot. 



The chrysanthemums will t.Mke a good supply of 

 water just now as the roil is filling up nicely with roots 

 and the hot sun takes up a lot of moisture during the 

 day, and again the water has a long distance to travel 

 before it reaches tlie top of the iibuits. 



