16 THE GARDEN 



Sow the seeds early in the spring, as soon as the frost will allow work- 

 ing up the ground. Transplant when four or more leaves have grown on 

 the main stem. In September, transplant a second time to the permanent 

 bed for the following season. Give the plants careful watching until they 

 are firmly rooted, covering before the first sharp frosts do any mischief. 

 When the time arrives to cover for the winter, lay on a good supply of 

 straw and stable manure, so that plenty of nitrogenous material will be 

 carried down with the moisture from the melting snows, not only during 

 mild spells in the winter, but also when spring thaws and rains arrive. 



When the beds are being prepared again for the season, work in a 

 good supply of mulching, so that the great, greedy plants will have a good 

 supply stowed away for future use. 



All the members of this family are better treated as biennials; that is>, 

 they complete their life cycle in the second year fr«m germination. Sown 

 one year, they bloom and ripen the second year. Therefore, in order to 

 have a continuous bloom, one should sow the seeds every year until the 

 succession is assured. The plants that bloom this year will seed down for 

 the year after next. Next spring the seedlings will shoot up, be ready for 

 transplanting in July or August, and be ready for the permanent bed or 

 border in September. 



The plant will bear repeated transplanting, and, in fact, improves ttns. 



CALCEOLARIA 



There are two distinct types of calceolaria, the. herbaceous and the 

 shrubby. The first dies back to the roots at the end of the growing season, 

 the latter holds both its stems and its leaves. Herbaceous calceolarias are 

 generally grown as annuals, fresh batches being raised from seed every 

 year. The principal seedsmen have produced some beautiful strains which 

 form large plants under careful culture, covered with large, richly-colored 

 pouches. 



The seed is rather expensive, and should be handled with care when 

 sowing in the early spring. 



When the seedlings are fairly started, they grow very quickly, and 

 may be repotted till they fill six-inch pots, in which they may be left ta 

 bloom. They will be safe in any cool spot, or in the ordinary small green- 

 house, and may be expected to bloom in early autumn. 



The ordinary shrub calceolaria is the dwarf yellow used in our out- 

 door gardens. These are very brilliant plants, well known to most people, 

 and much admired. 



Unfortunately, the plant is subject to a disease which carries off many 

 plants every season. Spraying early with Bordeau mixture will save many 

 plants. But this spraying should be done early, else absolutely no good 

 will be accomplished. 



Cuttings of the young shoots may be taken in October and put in 

 sandy soil in a cold frame, over which a mat may be thrown in cold 

 weather, when winter approaches. 



CANDYTUFT 



Iberis sempervirens, the evergreen candytuft, and iberis umbellata, th« 

 purple candytuft, are two really old-fashioned flowers, for it is recorded in 

 botanical magazines that the seeds of these varieties were first introduced 

 into England about the year 1587. In that year a gardener, one Gerard, 

 received from the Island of Crete the seeds of the "candy mustard," which 

 he planted at once in his own garden, producing the first year flat heads 

 of purple, white, blue, pinkish-white, and a deep cream. From the name 



