78 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 
Planting. In March plant seeds in boxes and cover 
one inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not too wet. 
Place the boxes in a sunny window and keep at living- 
room temperature. As soon as the first true leaves have 
formed, transplant to flowerpots or other boxes. Set a 
single plant in a four-inch pot. Plants in boxes should 
be set four inches apart. When all danger from frost is 
over, transplant out of doors. Set the plants from one 
to two feet apart, according to the variety, or, when the 
ground is warm, plant the seeds in the open where they 
are to stand. Seeds planted as late as June will make 
good plants for August. 
Culture. Keep the soil well cultivated and moist. A 
dressing of decayed stable manure will encourage the 
plants to make a strong growth. 
CENTAUREA, OR BACHELOR’S-BUTTON 
Centaurea is also known as bluebottle, ragged sailor, 
and Kaiserblumen. It is one of the most attractive and 
graceful of the old-fashioned flowers. If placed in water, 
the blossoms increase in size. 
Sow seeds of the annual varieties when all danger 
from frost is over. Make the rows one foot apart and 
thin the plants to from four to six inches apart in the 
row. Sow seeds of the perennial varieties in boxes in 
March and transplant in May or June. 
