THE FLORISTS MANUAL. 



127 



Double Delphiniums. 



plant. They flower a long time, should 

 the weather not be too dry, and last a 

 long while in water when cut. Propa 

 gated by seed, divisions or cuttings. 



Cuttings of herbaceous plants should 

 always be made from the young shoots 

 of early spring, when only a few inches 

 above ground. The heat in our propagat 

 ing houses then, which is early May, is 

 often about gone, as firing is only 

 moderate. 



Where a considerable number of these 

 cuttings are to be put in, such as del 

 phiniums, phlox or pyrethrum, there is 

 no place so well adapted as a hotbed. 

 Eighteen inches of manure well and 

 evenly trodden down, with a few inches 

 of soil and then two inches of sand, will 

 root any of these plants. Give air care 

 fully, shade from sun and keep watered. 

 When rooted give plenty of air till 

 potted off and then grow on in cold- 

 frame all summer. These will be good 

 plants in 3-inch or 4-inch pots, either 

 to sell or to plant out in September or 

 October. 



Dielytra (bleeding heart) is often 

 forced, but beautiful and graceful as 

 D. spectabilis is, it takes up too much 

 room. A very handsome, hardy plant. 

 Propagated by division. 



Digitalis, white and purple and yel 

 low ; the well known foxglove. Stately 

 spikes of flowers. Propagated by seeds. 

 Doronicum is of service to the florist 

 because its bright yellow flowers are 

 among the first to open after the snow 

 is gone. Propagated by division. 



Peonies; see in their alphabetical 

 order. 



Phlox; there are several species of 

 hardy phlox, but it is the hybrids and 

 varieties of P. decussata that are most 

 desirable for the border and for the 

 florist. We have found where they can 

 be freshly cut and used they are most 

 desirable, but will not travel well, drop 

 ping their florets badly. The many va 

 rieties are of beautiful shades and the 

 phlox thrives in any soil. Propagated 

 by cuttings or division, and for new va 

 rieties easily by seeds. 



Pyrethrum roseum; this is not truly 

 herbaceous, but is so hardy we will in 

 clude it in this chapter. The improved 

 varieties, both double and single flowers, 

 of this species are now truly a florist s 

 flower. They are seen in our store win 

 dows in May and June and are bought 

 in preference to carnations. They are 

 sometimes difficult to divide and make 

 thrive, and cuttings as described above 

 are best to increase your stock. Few 

 border plants are so well worthy of 

 cultivation. 



Eudbeckia; the single flowered species, 

 maxima and fulgida, are showy flowers, 

 yellow with dark disk, and are some 

 times useful to us as well as very fine 



Punkia, the day lily. There are sev 

 eral species of them, all handsome 

 leaved plants. Propagated by division. 



Gaillardia grandiflora has showy 

 bright flowers. Propagated by seeds. 



Helianthus; there are now a number 

 of these tall growing perennial sun 

 flowers, many of them very useful to 

 the florist. The variety known as 

 multiflorus flore plena became so com 

 mon that it is no longer acceptable even 

 in the cheapest bunches of flowers, but 

 the single species are very fine. Propa 

 gated by seeds, division or cuttings. 



Hemerocallis has several species, 

 mostly yellow and orange flowers. 

 Showy for the border, but not a florist s 

 flower. Propagated by seeds or division. 



Hibiscus Calif ornicus and others; fine 

 showy flowers. Propagated by seeds. 



Iris; these have such a fine spike and 

 curious but beautiful flower that they 

 are most desirable for the florist, and 

 are wanted by every amateur. They do 

 best in a rather moist soil and root so 

 freely that every third year they should 

 be lifted and divided. There are now 

 many varieties. The Japanese have im 

 mense flowers, and the I. Germanica, or 

 German iris, includes now many beauti 

 ful varieties. Propagated by division. 



Lobelia cardinalis; not a florist s 

 flower, but most showy for the border. 

 Propagated by division or seeds. 



Monnrda didyma; a native northern 

 plant, though not common. A fine her 

 baceous plant. Propagated by division. 



Digitalis Purpurea. 



