142 THE GOLD MINE 



Seed sown in the open germinates readily, and the 

 plants become very vigorous and commence to bloom 

 as soon as large enough. These flowers you can de- 

 pend on. Others, like Eoses, Paeonies and Lilies, have 

 their season and pass on. But the Gaillardias take all 

 the season, and when others fail, you can count on 

 them. Though new to most people, I find they take 

 well when ordinary floral displays are needed. 



The Grandiflora is a fine, large flower. In color it 

 is a madder, maroon and gold, often with other tints. 

 Some will have very open faces and others will have 

 petals compressed at the base and expanded in the 

 outer rim. It is easy to see how, with such a variety 

 of form and color, selections can be made, and they can 

 be increased in size. The English have pushed things 

 so far that the most highly developed ones are not 

 hardy. I think perhaps if these gorgeous ones were 

 crossed with our own natives, we might have some of 

 hardier strains. Should you ever get imported ones, 

 I would advise you to take up the roots in the fall 

 and store in boxes of earth till spring. I had quite 

 a quantity, and even heavy mulching did not save 

 them. 



I had for some time supposed that all Gaillardias 

 were perennials, but I find they are not. 



Lorenziana is a double with a full cushion richly 

 variegated. 



Amblydon is blood red. Sow these early in the 

 spring and they blossom in June and keep at it all 

 summer. 



