SATISFACTOllY PLANTS. 385 



may be applied to all flowers, to keep them from going to seed, for 

 as soon as the seed begins to form, the plant will cease to blossom. 



If fond of rich shades of yellow and maroon, be sure and have a 

 bed of nasturtiums. I know of no other flower that combines these 

 colors in such richness. This flower is peculiarly adapted to the 

 needs of the amateur gardener. It stands drought and heat as no 

 other annual can, it needs little or no care, and it blooms in profu- 

 sion when other plants give but two or three blossoms at a time. 

 It needs only light, sandy soil. 



No garden is complete without mignonette. It is not showy but 

 is sweet and beautiful. Raising mignonette is very simple when 

 rightly done. It requires a good soil, deep and cool and not too 

 rich, and a clear, dry atmosphere. Sow the seed thinly, keep the 

 temperature cool and water when necessary. 



To give beauty to a garden, have a pansy bed. In transplanting 

 do not set them too near together, and they will spread into large, 

 thrifty plants and bear more flowers. The pansy plants must be 

 kept wet about the roots if you would have fine flowers all summer. 



For late flowering, nothing can be found superior to the aster. It 

 is the rival of the chrysanthemum among the annuals. It has not 

 yet given us the rich and glowing yellows which characterizes that 

 popular flower, but it furnishes us with crimsons and blues, and 

 pale, delicate rosy tints that the chrysanthemum cannot lay claim 

 to. I prefer to sow the seed in a hotbed and to transplant when 

 healthy and strong enough. If not convenient to do this, sow in 

 the open ground very thinly. Asters should be hoed and liquid 

 fertilizers given to increase the beauty and abundance of the fall 

 blooming. 



No flower gives finer results with next to no care than the gladiolus. 

 Plant the bulbs in a rich, light soil in May. They will then take 

 care of themselves, if you will pull the weeds from among them. 



Among other plants which deserve mention and are easily grown 

 are the petunia, marigold, verbena, sweet alyssum, tulip, candytuft, 

 caliopsis and mourning bride. 



The best of all flowers for the winter flowering pot is the gera- 

 nium. It is called common, but no other flower will endure dry 

 warmth and dust so well, and can always be so depended on for 

 flowers. Have a variety but not too many. 



Then there are the begonias. Metallica has plush pink buds in 

 large sprays, and large, crapey, red-veined leaves of bronzy green. 

 These are still the best of all begonias for winter flowers. 



Sunlight and air are necessities for plants; for this reason very 

 few varieties will do well at a north window, and unless you have a 

 small conservatory it is better to confine yourself to a few plants. 



Among the decorative plants the Jerusalem cherry is worthy of 

 mention. It should be given liquid manure freely early in the fall 

 to prevent the berries from dropping. The umbrella plant will 

 grow quickly if kept well watered and given plenty of sunshine. 

 The cacti must have their share of room. One commonly called 

 the inch, or lobster, grows with very little care because heat and 

 drouth are necessary for their growth. 



