12 



Commercial Gardening 



Seeds should be sown during the autumn or winter following their ripen- 

 ing. The plants may also be increased by division, an operation best 

 performed after flowering in spring. In undertaking this work it is 

 necessary that the stems be buried to the lower leaves. Good holding 

 loam is what the plants prefer, and with the addition of grit, or old plaster, 

 and some well-decayed manure, the plants ask for little more. Seeds of a 

 good strain always command a high price, and the fact should be borne 

 in mind. Allowing for pathways, about 60,000 plants can be obtained to 

 the acre. [ E - H - J -l 



Bartonia aurea (or Mentzelia Lindleyi). A Californian hardy or half- 

 hardy annual 1-1 \ ft. high, with narrow coarsely toothed leaves and golden- 

 yellow Hypericum-like flowers with numerous long stamens. Another 

 species, B. decapetala (or Mentzelia ornata), is about 2 ft. high, and has 

 large white flowers. 



Bellis perennis. The typical species is the Common Daisy of British 

 and European pastures, but it has given rise to many fine garden varieties 

 all with double flowers. They are all easily grown in moist rich soil, 

 and a great trade is done in the plants from March to June every year, 

 and even then the flower heads, especially if long-stalked, will sell 

 fairly well as "cut". From 70,000 to 80,000 plants can be grown on an 

 acre of ground, and at only \d. each that represents a turnover of about 

 80 per acre. The only cultivation after planting in summer or early 

 autumn is to keep the soil free from weeds, and this is best done by using 

 a small hoe between the plants. Some of the best varieties are Diana, 

 red; Goliath, rose and white; La Fiancee, pure white; Pink Beauty, pink; 

 and Rob Roy, bright crimson. The " Hen and Chickens " Daisy has a 

 cluster of small flower heads round a larger central one. A variety known 

 as Ma Paquerette on the Continent has flower heads 3-4 in. across, and 

 comes fairly true from seeds like many of the other varieties. 



Bluebells (Scilla festalis). The Common Bluebell grows freely in any 

 good garden soil, and its spikes of blooms sell during the early summer 

 months. Besides the ordinary bluish-purple form, there are others having 

 pure- white and rose-coloured flowers. For market purposes a fairly large 

 number of bulbs might be planted between rows of fruit trees in the same 

 way as Daffodils, and once planted may be left to look after themselves. 

 Bulbs of the ordinary variety may be obtained for 10s. or so per 1000. 



The Spanish Bluebell is Scilla hispanica or campanulata. It flowers 

 in May, and has fine spikes 12-18 in. high of large bell-shaped flowers. 

 There are blue, white, and rose-coloured forms, but the white one is best 

 for market. 



Bocconia (PLUME POPPY). Two species B. cordata (fig. 185) and B. 

 microcarpa, both natives of China and Japan, have become popular plants 

 of late years, and are in every hardy-plantsman's catalogue. They are ex- 

 ceedingly vigorous growers, but the trade in them is strictly confined to the 

 roots, although the stems, leaves, and plumes of whitish blossom are also 

 useful for cutting. The plants grow in any except the worst and sourest 



