492 FRITZ BAKU'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



white butterfly, usually with us all Summer, seek the Mignon- 

 ette to deposit its eggs on in preference to almost anything else. 

 I have seen nice batches of seedlings, without a sign of warning, 

 stripped of every leaf in one night. Even when they are planted 

 out, a daily examination is necessary to discover the caterpillars 

 which are hard to detect, being of the same color as the leaves. Your 

 troubles in this respect won't be over until heavy freezing sets in 

 but it is in August, September and October that you are especially 

 bothered by the caterpillars. 



In good soil the plants will make a rapid growth and when 

 about four inches in height they should be pinched back. You 

 can allow from three to eight of the new shoots to remain. When 

 they are again three to four inches in height is the proper time to 

 put up wires, the same as you would for Carnations. After you 

 have given the surface soil one more thorough cultivation and as 

 the plants grow, remove all side shoots from the stems. The plants 

 will start to flower in early December and should yield a good crop 

 for Christmas. 



Later sowings can be made, or a few plants grown on, as catch 

 crops. You can also grow fine plants in pots, by either having just 

 one plant to the pot and keeping it pinched back, or by allowing 

 three plants per pot, which will give you quicker but not better 

 results. For a Spring crop you can sow across a bench in January 

 and thin out later. 



RHODANTHE (EVERLASTING) 



Among the pretty and desirable smaller-flowering varieties of 

 Everlastings belongs Rhodanthe with its simple pink and white 

 flowers on lO-in.-long wiry stems. It grows from seed sown outdoors, 

 starts to bloom in July and the flowers can be gathered and hung up 

 in an airy shed for drying. You will always have occasions during 

 the Winter months to use them in one way or another. 



RHODODENDRONS 



Too many of us are located where these beautiful plants are 

 anything but hardy enough to stand our Winters. We plant such 

 varieties as R. Mrs. C. S. Sargent, R. punctatum or R. purpureum 

 elegans because they are supposed to stand a little more than others, 

 but even they are not very satisfactory. Here and there in sheltered 

 positions, partly shaded, they live for a little while, but they don't 

 thrive. Where they can be handled, however, they are among the 

 most showy of evergreens and gorgeous when in bloom. At present 

 they are being more extensively grown from year to year in Cali- 

 fornia, and some fine specimens are coming from there which, like 

 Pink Pearl and others, can be had in flower for Easter. 



