94 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 



SCABIOSA, OR MOURNING BRIDE 



This plant is also known as sweet scabious, pin- 

 cushion flower, and Egyptian rose. It is very effective 

 for either borders or beds and is unexcelled for children's 

 home gardens. The flowers may be used for cutting 

 from July until late in the fall, as they are not injured 

 by light frosts. The colors vary red, blue, yellow, 

 and pink in various shades are intricately netted with 

 other colors. 



Sow the seeds at any time in the spring, after danger 

 from frost is over. 



STOCK 



Stock is useful for bedding and edging, for pot 

 culture, and for cutting. The average height is from 

 one to one and a half feet. The large-flowering, ten- 

 weeks varieties are the earliest to bloom. The perpetual 

 varieties, known as " cut-and-come-again," send out side 

 branches that produce new flowers after the first blooms 

 have been cut. A great variety of colors may be ob- 

 tained white, rose, crimson, violet, and yellow in 

 many shades. 



For early flowers sow seeds in boxes in March. Trans- 

 plant to other boxes when the seedlings are an inch high. 

 Stronger plants may be obtained by successive trans- 

 plantings. Move them to the garden when danger from 

 frost is over, and set them six inches apart. For late 

 flowers, sow seeds in the open ground in May. For winter 



