376 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



fine effect by bordering your bench of Easter stock with them. 

 While the foliage of the variegated Funkias is beautiful even out- 

 doors when used as a border, it is more so on the plants you force 

 in pots under glass where they are in an even temperature and not 

 exposed to wind and weather. If you plant out a batch of plants 

 you will be able in a couple of years to divide the plants the same 

 as you would Iris or Peonies and have all the stock you want. 



GAILLARDIA GRANDIFLORA 



The perennial Gaillardias are among the best dozen for cut 

 flowers. They grow about 2 ft. in height, have, when at their best, 

 15-in. stems tipped with large, golden-yellow flowers with brown 

 centers, and, when cut, are excellent keepers. While they do their 

 best in a rich soil, they will, when well taken care of, give you 

 good results even in poor soil and during a hot, dry Summer when 

 almost everything else is showing its bad effects. Grow on the 

 same as Coreopsis, but in the greenhouse seed may be sown in 

 early February and plants can be had in flower from July on up 

 to November. For a beautiful basket arrangement, combine 

 Delphinium, Shasta Daisies and Gaillardias. 



Few perennials are more 

 hardy or need less protection, 

 but you will find it pays to sow 

 a little seed each year; don't 

 depend on the old plants after 

 the second season. 



There is also a good strain 

 of annual Gaillardias, fine for 

 cutting. Treat the same as 

 Calliopsis, by sowing outdoors 

 in rows, making several sow- 

 ings for early and late flowers. 



GARDENIA 

 JASMINOIDES 



This beautiful, sweet-scent- 

 ed, waxy flower belongs to the 

 Southland, whence we receive 

 many sometimes, in fact, too 

 many at once. However, the 

 specialist in the colder sec- 

 tions of the country who grows 

 them in benches and is able to 

 bring his flowers in during the 



Fig. 163. GAILLARDIA GRANDIFLORA, a 

 perennial that will thrive in almost any 

 soil, stand the hottest, driest Summer and 

 keep right on blooming. It provides splendid 

 cut flowers and is a good plant for the 

 hardy border 



