OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 41 



to 5in. long, which renders it serviceable as cut bloom. Sweep is 

 not quite so large, though a good-sized Daisy, it also opens 

 more flat; its colour, however, is first rate, it is the darkest 

 crimson Daisy I ever saw, is of a quilled form and very full. 



FIG. 19. BELLIS PERENNIS FISTTJLOSA. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



Its chief point is its constant colour ; if the florets are 

 examined, they are the same deep crimson underneath as on 

 the face of the flower; this, together with its long stalks, 

 renders it useful, too, in a cut state. 



To grow this useful flower well and render it doubly valuable 

 by having it in bloom in mid-winter, requires three things : First, 

 timely transplanting ; secondly, rich soil ; thirdly, partial shade ; 

 these conditions will be more briefly and, perhaps, clearly 

 explained, if I state my method. At the end of May or fore 

 part of June, plenty of good rotten stable manure is wheeled 

 into the bush-fruit quarters ; it is worked in with a fork, so as 

 to do as little damage as possible to the bush roots. A line is 

 drawn, and the old Daisy roots which have just been taken up 

 are trimmed by shortening both tops and roots. They are 

 severely divided, and the pieces planted Gin. apart in rows Sin. 

 asunder. In such a cool, moist situation they soon form good 

 tufts, and I need scarcely say that the dressing of manure has 

 also a marked effect on the fruit crop. A planting so made is 

 not only a cheerful carpet of greenery during winter, but is well 

 dotted over with bloom. The plants being well established in 

 rich soil, and having the shelter of the bushes during summer 

 and winter, are the conditions which have conduced to such 

 early flowers. This is the method I have adopted for 

 years, and both Daisies and fruit have been invariably good 



