1871] 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



315 



plants growing freely and luxuriantly is a sight 

 to gladden the eye of all careful gardeners. 

 W. H. White. 

 South Windsor, Conn., IS 71. 



For (he N'eic England Farmer. 

 FLOWER GARDENING. 



BEDDING OUT PLANTS. 



Every day at this season finds us at work in 

 the garden, planting out bedding out plants, 

 sowing annuals and perennials, watering those 

 that are drying up in the heat of these rainless 

 days. But not until the sun has fallen below 

 the hills, do we care to exercise our strength 

 in carrying water for his lordship, the Sun, to 

 drink up, but will do it willingly for the bright, 

 beauteous flowers which are so dear to our 

 hearts ; and if tepid, warm water is given to 

 them at night fall, they gratefully drink it up, 

 and grow much more rapidly for it. 



English books on gardening tell us that too 

 much watering injures the plants ; that the 

 roots will not strike down deep in search of 

 moisture if it is daily given on the surface. 

 This advice applies to their country, but not 

 to ours, where the summers are so dry and 

 hot, and rains fall so rarely when compared to 

 their misty, moisty island, bedewed with fogs ; 

 but of this anon. 



Bedding out plants yearly increase in popu- 

 larity, on account of the trouble involved 

 in the culture of annuals. They can be pur- 

 chased cheaply at many greenhouses, and now 

 that "Uncle Sam" allows us such facilities in 

 receiving them through his post bags, the flo- 

 rists are at our own doors, and two to five 

 dollars will give a fine supply of plants. The 

 last named sum will stock a small garden with 

 verbenas, geraniums, heliotropes, feverfews, 

 &c. Read the catalogues for yourselves, fair 

 friends, and see the bounteous and beautiful 

 supply that they offer for your approval. 



Bedding out plants are dwellers in the forc- 

 ing houses during the winter, and are trans- 

 planted into the garden in summer, where 

 they supply us with a profusion of lovely, fra- 

 grant and brilliant flowers until the frost 

 regains its sway ; but some of them are green- 

 house perennials, like the verbena. Their 

 treatment is verj' simple, and compared with 

 the pleasure they give to flower-lovers, they 

 ask but little attention at our hands. It is 

 not well to plant them out until frosts and 

 east wind« have given us their last call, for 

 both of them are very injurious to their tender 

 growth. In most parts of New England the 

 fore part of June is early enough. If bedded 

 out sooner they will not make any growth, and 

 it injures them when in a healthy condition, to 

 be thus retarded by cold nights and chilling 

 ■winds. 



When the bright summer-like days of 

 May appear, we greatly desire to clear the 

 windows of their floral treasure and empty the 



hot-bed of its contents, but we must cast aside 

 all such ideas, knowing that it is not well for 

 the plants. But when "settled weather," as 

 the farmers style it, has really come, then we 

 hasten to deposit our darlings in the fresh beds 

 which have been duly enriched and spaded 

 and raked over for their reception. We select 

 a day that is showery, or an evening after a 

 shower, and dressed for the work, in dark cal- 

 ico, thick boots and a long apron to shield us 

 from dirt, we commence operations. 



The ball of earth in the pot, is thoroughly 

 wet and a knife is nm around its edges, then 

 the pot is turned bottom upwards, over the 

 left hand, and a few raps upon the pot will 

 leave it in the hand. Trim ofTa little of the 

 fibrous roots on the outside and set the ball 

 containing the roots into the earth, planting 

 it as tightly as possible. There lies the secret 

 of successful transplanting. Water the plant 

 well, and unless the following day is very warm 

 they will not require to be shaded ; but if the 

 roots were much broken up, it is well to cover 

 with newspapers, or the large leaves of the 

 rhubarb plant. Water freely when the season 

 is dry, and if liquid manure or guano water 

 can be given once a week, their growth and 

 bloom will be much finer. 



The Zonale Geraniums are very desirable 

 for bedding out, on account of their plentiful 

 clusters of beautifully colored flowers — from 

 the brightest, most fiery scarlet to the rosiest 

 pink, the lightest blush and the purest white. 

 A large bed or mound, composed entirely of 

 Zonale Geraniums, will present a gorgeous 

 display of flowers until the frost cuts them 

 down. 



From the older varieties many new and 

 beautiful varieties have been produced by 

 seeds and the named sorts are very numerous. 

 Among them we should select Gen. Grant, 

 a very free bloomer, and of a most vivid scar- 

 let. This variety originated in Ohio, and its 

 flower trusses are enormous, almost covering 

 the plant with their gorgeous bloom. Louis 

 Venillot, intense scarlet, extra fine, cheerful, 

 bright cherry, splendid flower. Cybaister, 

 scarlet nosegay. Gen. Sheridan, rich scarlet 

 flowers of perfect form. Gloirede Corhenay, 

 bright color, lightly tinged with white. Her- 

 ald of Spring, — flowers a deep cherry color, 

 tinted with orange, very large, and the leaves 

 have a broad zone, perfectly defined. Blue 

 Bells is a monthly, with large clusters of ma- 

 genta pmk flowers. Marie L''Abhe, flower 

 white, with pink centre. Madame Werle, 

 white clusters of flowers, spotted with pink. 

 Incomparable, salmon-colored flowers, striped 

 with white, leaves beautifully zoned with choc- 

 olate brown. Bicolor, deep salmon-color, 

 edged with white. Madam Gueffier, vermil- 

 ion, edged with flesh color. Christine, rich 

 rosy pink. Countess de Morella, very beau- 

 tiful scarlet flowers. Magawisca, delicate 

 rose color, white margin and eye. Mrs. Aus- 

 tin, salmon, edged with blush, large flowers 



