312 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



Fig. 126. — Two Useful Centaubeas. — C. americana, on left, is only suitable for 

 outdoors, C imperialis is a strain of hybrids from C moschata and C. Margariise. 

 Best known as Royal Sweet Sultans, they range through white, lavender, mauve, 

 pink and yellow shades. Glorious for cutting indoors or outdoors. Must have 

 abundance of lime in the soil 



Every florist can make good use of these Gentaureas during 

 the Spring months, and even a small space devoted to them will 

 pay well for the little trouble they are to raise. 



Another good Gentaurea for growing under glass in gentle heat 

 for early flowering is C. imperialis or Royal Sweet Sultan. It is 

 best to either sow the seed or transplant the seedlings on a soHd bed. 

 You can obtain pure white, light lavender, and hght pink— aU good 

 for cut flowers. These will also be fine for outdoor flowering, but 

 you must sow early. Centaurea suaveolens is the yeUow Sweet 

 Sultan, which can also be grown under glass. However, we find 

 that this variety does best when given a rather poor soil; in one that 

 is heavily manured it is liable to damp off while in a small state. 



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Still another beautiful sort, but adapted only for outdoor 

 flowering, is Centaurea americana, far too little seen and used by 

 the florist. It is also called Basket Flower. The large, Thistle- 

 like flowers often are 4 in. and more across and of a beautiful rosy 

 lavender color. Sow the seed in rows outdoors in May and the 



