160 



HOKTICULTURi: 



August 18, 1906 



Phloxes 



It is gratifying to know that sometliing like the in- 

 terest this valuable genus is entitled to is being par- 

 tially displayed. I say partially, for they are worthy 

 of a great deal more encouragement because of their 

 responsiveness. Tliis group of 13 species gives us 

 flowers from early spring till late in the fall,_ whil-^t the 

 superb varieties of decussata m August eclipse even the 

 geraniums with their brilliancy. Their perfect hardi- 

 ness fits them for any garden, great or small. They 

 are of the easiest culture; where potatoes will grow, so 

 will phloxes. Many kinds are suitable for rock work 

 planting. They are the least costly of any meritorious 

 plant. The coldest of weather does them no injury. 

 The handsomest of all annual flowers is P. Drum- 

 mondii. And yet, -n-ith all this, it lias taken moro than 

 a hundred years for their beauty to become known. 



TWELVE RECOGNIZED SPECIES. 



1. Amcena ; a June-flowering species with rosy pur- 

 ple flowers, in rather flat heads, and lanceolate leaves. 

 Height from 6 in. to 18 in. ; for rock work or front of 

 borders. 



2. Divaricata; flowers pale lilac, some witli quite 

 blue shadings in rather loose sprays; height Vi to 1.5 

 inches; April to June. 



3. Drummondii; one of the handsomest of all an- 

 nuals; the superb varieties of today are not suSiciently 

 appreciated. 



4. Glaberrima ; flowers deep red, in lax spray^ some- 

 what rounded; leaves quite narrow and shining; height 



1 to 2 feet; July. 



5. G. suffruticosa; flowers of various shades of rose; 

 leaves numerous, narrow and shining; height from 1 to 



2 feet; April to July. This is the species from which 

 the early section of jDhloxes originated. 



6. Linearif olia ; flowers flesh, rose, and white ; leaves 

 very narrow and numerous; July; 9 to 13 inches. A 

 pretty species for the rockery. 



7. Maculata ; the flowers in the type are purple, but 

 there are many shades grading down to white. This 

 and P. paniculata are the forerunners of the late-flower- 

 ing section ; height from 2 to 3 feet ; July. 



8. Ovata ; flowers reddish-purple, in small roundish 

 heads; leaves quite ovate; height from 1 to 2 feet; 

 April and May. An interesting species. 



9. Paniculata ; flowers of various shades — pink, pur- 

 ple and white; height from 3 to 5 feet. I have seen 

 this over 6 feet high; July and August. 



10. Proeumbens; flowers lilac or rose, with dark 

 centers; habit dwarf and spreading. This is considered 

 to be a natural hybrid ; .June, July and August. A 

 good plant for front of borders and rockeries. 



11. Eeptans; flowers purple violet, in loose cymes; 

 leaves somewhat round in shape. One of the best, 

 rockery plants. 



12. Subulata (the moss pink) ; a little gem, with 

 mlany varieties. The flowers of the species are pale pink 

 with darker center ; in leaves very small ; April ; fine for 

 rockery. This has ten or twelve synonyms and macu- 



lata even more; nearly all of the others have two or 

 more synonyms also. 



PEOPAGATIOK AXD CULTURE. 



The propagation of phloxes is of the simplc'-t and 

 least expensive. Cuttings are readily rooted at any 

 season, when they are an inch or two high. They are 

 easily divided, either in the spring or in the fall, and 

 they are also most readily raised from seed. For suc- 

 cessive crops of flowers, plants may be pinched from 

 1st of May till 1st of July. Phloxes grown in pots and 

 stopped once form specimens resembling cinerarias. 



Phloxes must have rich, deep, well-drained soil to 

 produce the best and brightest flowers. In fact )3etter 

 not attempt to grow them at all unless they can have 

 proper care. Some plants fortunately die from bad 

 treatment, but the phlox is like the peony — it cannot bo 

 killed — and it is worse to see half-starved specimens of 

 any thing than to not have them at all. A good sandy 

 soil two or three feet in depth, deeply dug and heavily 

 dressed with good manure, three parts rotted, and 

 watered occasionally with liquid manure, will grow 

 them to perfection. They must liave sunshine, no roots 

 of trees to eat their food, and no dripping trees above 

 them. 



The distance to plant apart depends upon what the 

 object in view is. Strong plants early planted are good 

 the first year, at the best their second year, not nearly 

 as good the third year, and there should not be any 

 fourth year with phloxes. Eight inches or a foot apart 

 is about right in beds or groups; in rows seven inches 

 is far enough for the first year where massive coloring 

 is desired. When grown in rows so that a cultivator is 

 used, plant two to three or more feet wide — the plants 

 8 to 10 inches in the rows. The details of furthe; culti- 

 vation will naturally suggest themselves from time to 

 time. 



The second year, thin out early all shoots excepting 

 three or four of the strongest on each stool. The third 

 year it is better to cut clear out the majority of the pre- 

 vious year's stalks and leave not more than 8 or 10 of 

 the young sprouts to form the group. If nece.'^sary, 

 stake before any damiige is done ; it is best to pass a 

 string loosely around the groups having several stems 

 when the plants are nearing a foot high. Mulch with 

 manure or hay or grass cuttings on thin soils and 

 grades. 



The improvement in phloxes has been going on in 

 Europe since 1830-40 — ^in France more than other 

 parts. In 1857 in the late-flowering section, I remem- 

 ber Chas. Rouillard and Keteeleri as being advances in 

 their red shades, and 10 years later Md, Corbay, white, 

 violet center ; Liervalli, white, striped purple, and Virge 

 Maria, pure white; the latter one is still to be found. 

 Then from time to time there was steady improvements 

 in deeper coloring, larger panicles, and dwarfer stronger 

 habits, viz., in such varieties as Coccinea, Flambeau, 

 James Cocker, Lothair, Eichard Wallace, Josephine 

 Gi^rbeaux and many others which have been left far be- 

 hind by the magnificent varieties of today. 



The earlier flowering section has not been so greatly 

 improved. The best of these thirty years ago were Geo. 

 Eyles, purple. Lady Napier, pure "white, and deliciously 

 scented. President, deep red — the first good one in this 

 section. 



WHAT ABOUT A PHLOX SOCIETY? 



Xo family of plants is better entitled to a society to 

 care for and develop its interests or will respond as 



