COREOPSIS. 



£ y\ (x ^HE coreopsis of our gardens 

 embraces several species and 

 varieties of hardy native an- 

 nual plants, being found in im- 

 mense quantities in various sections of 

 Texas, Nebraska and Oregon. In their 

 native homes the flowers bear but little 

 resemblance in size and form to those 

 in cultivation at the present day. The 

 plants grow from one to three feet in 

 height, and although they are of some- 

 what slender habit yet the growth is 

 vigorous and compact. The flowers, 

 which are of the size and shape of our 

 common field daisy, embrace every 

 shade of yellow, orange and rich red- 

 dish brown, varying to red or crimson, 

 some varieties being nicely marked. 

 The flowers, which are produced in the 

 greatest abundance, are borne on 

 slender foot stalks, and are very desira- 

 ble for cut-flower purposes during the 

 summer, as they remain a long time in 

 perfection after being cut. The calliop- 

 sis forms a very attractive object when 

 grown in groups in the mixed border. 

 The period of bloom depends entirely 

 on the season and manner in which the 

 plants are grown. 



As the coreopsis is so hardy it is an 

 easy plant to grow, and often Httle or no 

 care is bestowed upon it, and the result 

 is that the flowers are small and quite 

 inferior in size and color. Now this 



should not be the case. Give the 

 plants an opportunity to properly 

 develop themselves, and see how well 

 they will repay all the care and atten- 

 tion bestowed upon them. The coreop- 

 sis does best when grown in a sunny 

 situation and in a deep, moderately en- 

 riched soil. The plants should not be 

 crowded together, but be given ample 

 space. 



As the coreopsis proves to be so 

 hardy, in most places surviving the 

 winter with slight protection, I consider 

 it desirable, when an early bloom is de- 

 sired, to sow seeds early in September on 

 a nicely prepared border, in a sheltered 

 situation ; sow thinly, cover slightly, 

 and as soon as the plants are well up, 

 thin out, so that they stand four or five 

 inches apart, and as soon as the ground 

 becomes frozen, cover slightly with 

 straw or evergreen branches. 



As soon as the weather becomes set- 

 tled in the spring the covering should be 

 removed and the plants transferred to 

 the place where they are to bloom. 

 Thus treated they will bloom very early 

 in the season, and where a succession 

 of the finest flowers are desired an addi- 

 tional spring sowing will be absolutely 

 necessary. For this purpose the seed 

 should be sown in a cold frame early in 

 April, or on a nicely prepared border 

 early in May, and the plants afterwards 



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