78 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 



Planting. In March plant seeds in boxes and cover 

 one inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not too wet. 

 Place the boxes in a sunny window and keep at living- 

 room temperature. As soon as the first true leaves have 

 formed, transplant to flowerpots or other boxes. Set a 

 single plant in a four-inch pot. Plants in boxes should 

 be set four inches apart. When all danger from frost is 

 over, transplant out of doors. Set the plants from one 

 to two feet apart, according to the variety, or, when the 

 ground is warm, plant the seeds in the open where they 

 are to stand. Seeds planted as late as June will make 

 good plants for August. 



Culture. Keep the soil well cultivated and moist. A 

 dressing of decayed stable manure will encourage the 

 plants to make a strong growth. 



CENTAUREA, OR BACHELOR'S-BUTTON 



Centaurea is also known as bluebottle, ragged sailor, 

 and Kaiserblumen. It is one of the most attractive and 

 graceful of the old-fashioned flowers. If placed in water, 

 the blossoms increase in size. 



Sow seeds of the annual varieties when all danger 

 from frost is over. Make the rows one foot apart and 

 thin the plants to from four to six inches apart in the 

 row. Sow seeds of the perennial varieties in boxes in 

 March and transplant in May or June. 



