58 A LITTLE BOOK OF PERENNIALS 



Culture. Baptisias should be planted in full sunlight, otherwise 

 they prove to be shy in blooming. They will stand dry, sandy soils. 



Propagation. They are usually propagated from seeds and 

 division of the plants which are very woody at the crown. The seeds 

 should be sown as soon as they are gathered and wintered over in 

 the coldframe, where they will germinate the following Spring. 



Bellis — English Daisy, Herb Margaret 



The Daisy of Europe is the one of which we speak here. Who has 

 not read the words of Burns and Wordsworth, and having read, who 

 has not admired these charming button -like flowers the more? Let 

 us read again several stanzas of Burns: 



TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY 



On turning one down with the plow. 



Wee, modest, crimson-tippe'd flower, 

 Thou's met me in an evil hour; 

 For I maun crush amang the stoure* 



Thy slender stem; 

 To spare thee now is past my power, 



Thou bonnie gem. 



Gauld blew the bitter biting north 

 Upon thy early, humble birth. 

 Yet cheerfully thou glinted f forth 



Amid the storm, 

 Scarce reared above the parent earth 

 Thy tender form. 

 ~ *Stoure — means dust. 



tGlinted — means peeped. 



With the Tulips in the early days of Spring the English Daisy 

 {Bellis perennis) starts to produce its single or double white, pink, rose 

 and red flowers upon its low plants, for they seldom grow over 3 inches 

 tall. Although they bloom quickly in the Spring, the finest flowers are 

 produced in the Fall when it is cooler. 



Uses. They are combined with Pansies and Forget-me-nots and 

 are also used as a ground cover for Hyacinths, Tulips, and other bulbs, 

 either in the rock garden, as an edging for borders, or in the early 

 window boxes. 



Culture. The hot weather is very severe on the English Daisies. 

 They should be planted 6 inches apart each way in cool soil. They 

 should be protected in the Winter and if they are kept in coldframes, 

 will bloom during the Winter as do Pansies and Violets. 



