334 Poppies and Marigolds. 



POPPIES AND MARIGOLDS. 



By Edward S. Rand, Jun., Boston, Mass. 



In the now-popular mode of planting, where a great mass of color to 

 produce a grand effect is the chief end sought to be attained, great oppor- 

 tunity is offered for the advantageous use of many old fashioned, common, 

 and too-often-neglected llowers. These have not been cast aside for want 

 of beauty, but have simply had their day, become too common and cheap 

 to be of any value as an article of trade, and thus have been consigned to 

 cottage-gardens, and the flower-borders which edge the vegetable patches 

 of the farmer. What can be more effective all summer than a mass of 

 portulaca .'* what more showy than the gay-colored poppies ? And have Sep- 

 tember and October any flower which for brilliancy and richness of color 

 can compare with the many varieties of French and African marigolds ? 



It is a good sign, and one which betokens a more healthy state of the 

 public taste in gardening, that good old-fashioned flowers are once again 

 becoming popular. For the last two years, we have used many of these 

 old favorites for massing; and would now in a few words present to the 

 gardening public the claims of marigolds and poppies. 



Poppies first, however ; for the marigold is eminently a September flower, 

 while the poppy is in full glory in July and August. It would be difficult 

 to find a flower which has been longer known than the poppy. Originally 

 a native of Asia and Europe, it has been an inmate of gardens from the 

 earliest time. The species are generally annuals ; but there are some fine 

 hardy perennials, and one is a biennial. 



Of the perennials, the two most generally seen in gardens are Papaver 

 orientalc and P. bracteatum, — both rather coarse-growing, deep-rooting 

 plants, which produce a profusion of brilliant red flowers in June, and then 

 are uneffective, or become shabby for the rest of the season. There are 

 also perennial species with white and with yellow flowers ; but they are 

 seldom found in cultivation. 



It is to the annuals that we must be indebted for our summer display : 

 and of these, two only, P. R/ioeas and somniferum, are of special value ; 

 the others being either not specially showy, or not common enough to be 

 readily obtained. 



