140 



Gardening for Amateurs 



unequalled, and few plants provide greater 

 quantities of flowers for cutting. The 

 roots are readily increased by dividing them 

 between October and March. Seeds sown 

 in a heated greenhouse during February 

 will produce plants that will bloom in 

 autumn of the same year, or seeds may be 

 sown outside from April to July, to supply 

 plants for flowering a year later. The Shasta 

 Daisy will thrive in ordinary soil that is 

 well dug and enriched with manure. The 

 plants should be lifted and divided in alternate 



The Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum). 



years or the flowers deteriorate in size. A 

 sunny position is the best, though the 

 plants will grow in half -shaded borders. 

 No flower border can be considered complete 

 without a few groups of Shasta Daisy, and 

 as they blossom throughout a long season, 

 a bed of one of the named varieties is worth 

 planting on the laAvn. Groups or masses 

 varying in size according to the position 

 are most effective along the front of the 

 shrubbery border. 



Up-to-date Varieties. During recent years 

 the florist has paid attention to raising 

 new and improved varieties. Six of the 

 best of these, all having large white Mar- 

 guerite-like flowers with yellow centres, are : 



Etoile d'Anvers, a long petalled sort ; King 

 Edward VII., flowers 6 to 7 inches across ; 

 Mrs. C. Lothian Bell, broad petals, one of 

 the best to raise from seeds ; Princess Henry, 

 an early flowering variety ; Rev. H. Sanders 

 splendidly formed flowers ; and Robinsoni, 

 finely cut fringed petals. The average 

 height of the plants is from 2| to 3 feet. 



Ox-eye Daisy. C. Leucanthemum, the 

 Ox-eye Daisy, thrives under similar con- 

 ditions, and requires the same treatment as 

 the Shasta Daisy. The best variety is C. 

 Daviesii ; this has pure white flowers, in 

 June and July ; the plants grow about 

 21 feet high. 



Moon Daisy. C. uliginosum (also known 

 as Pyre thrum uliginosum), grows 5 to 6 feet 

 high, and flowers towards the end of Sep- 

 tember and in October. The long sprays of 

 white Marguerite-like flowers, with greenish 

 centres, are in great demand for cutting, 

 coming as they do so late in the season. 

 The plant thrives in ordinary soils, and well 

 repays liberal manuring and mulching. It 

 is increased by division of the roots from 

 November to March, the last named time 

 for preference. The Moon Daisy is a valu- 

 able tall-growing perennial for the back of 

 the flower border. 



Border Chrysanthemums. The early- 

 flowering or border Chrysanthemums provide 

 a brilliant display of colour in the garden 

 from August until frosts and excessive 

 moisture spoil the flowers in November or 

 even later. They are propagated by cuttings 

 inserted in pots of light sandy soil, and 

 placed in a close frame or under a hand- 

 light during February and March. Division 

 of the old plants in spring is a second method ; 

 quantities of flowers are produced by this 

 means, but the plants propagated annually 

 from cuttings as a rule produce the largest 

 blooms. When well rooted the young plants 

 may be planted where they are to flower or 

 put out on a spare piece of ground for a 

 time until vacancies occur in the borders or 

 beds during the summer. The border Chry- 

 santhemums transplant readily even when 

 in bud, particularly during showery weather. 

 Should a dry period follow immediately 

 after their removal, watering overhead for 

 a. few evenings, and two or three times a 

 week at the root, will help the plants to 



