210 



The Garden Magazine, January, 1920 



Since the introduction, now ten years ago, of the African 

 Golden-orange Daisy (Dimorphotheca aurantiaca) seed 

 growers have found it very tractable and a number of new 

 hybrids, mostly in yellow, cream and terra-cotta shades, are 

 available. Many have a showy contrasting disc or eye in 

 the centre. These hybrids seemed to revel in the long, dry 

 spells that made the existence of some flowers quite difficult. 

 Their glaucous-blue foliage is in pleasing contrast as a back- 

 ground to the flowers which are borne on eight- to ten-inch 

 stems, thus furnishing quite acceptable material for bou- 

 quets as well. 



The various forms of Calendula served a triple purpose. 

 They provided a good yellow for cutting — a shade totally 

 lacking among the Asters, for instance; their dense, bushy 

 growth gave a fine background to the flowers and acted as a 

 splendid ground cover; and last but not least, they helped 

 save the Asters from the black blister beetles — at least that is 

 what 1 believe! For three weeks the beetles 

 enjoyed themselves on the Calendulas and 

 left the Asters alone — a fact! At any rate, 

 1 got Asters by armfuls — something 1 have not 

 been able to have in years, because of these 

 insects. 



Queen of Roses, Feltham Beauty, and Rosy 

 Morn Petunias lived up to their reputation of 

 being healthy weeds. They started 

 to bloom while still babies, the 

 middle of July, and they were still 

 blooming furiously at the end of 

 October, when several light frosts 

 had put an end to the more tender 

 Annuals. Sown broadcast or in rows, 

 as isolated specimens, in beds, bor- 

 ders, or even porch boxes, the 



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whole family of Petunias deserves attention of those in 

 search of profuse bloom and bright color values. 



The Verbenas surprised me by being distinctly fragrant. 

 One especially — May Flower — a soft apple-blossom pink 

 with white margined florets, can lay claim to pronounced 

 though most delicate scent. Lucifer is a new, fire-cracker 

 red form with large umbels; and the Auricula-flowered type 

 again proved its free-flowering qualities under the miserable 

 soil conditions. Of five new sorts tried, every one came 

 true from seed — so why buy plants or start with cuttings? 



Vinca alba or Madagascar Periwinkle, with its white, 

 cross-like flowers, closely "set" above the deep green lus- 

 trous foliage, is surely a gem for bordering beds or along 

 walks. It bloomed uninterruptedly for three months. 



The three most robust growing Annuals were the Castor 



bean, Zinnia robusta grandiflora, and early and late Cosmos. 



Ricinus zanzibariensis, cambodgiensis and borboniensis 



provide a rich tropical foliage effect; and 



even the poor soil sent them seven feet high, 



with stems as thick as a broom handle. 



Zinnias surely were surprisingly robust, be- 

 coming nearly four feet tall ! Elegans Achieve- 

 ment is a new type with quilled petals, al- 

 most like those of a Hybrid Cactus Dahlia 

 while Golden Pheasant brings us a flower of 

 rich old-rose petals with a centre of wonderfully 

 contrasting golden-yellow — charming indeed. 

 The early Cosmos started to 

 bloom toward the end of July 

 while Lady Lenox showed but 

 isolated buds late in September. 

 All Cosmos came into bloom, 

 however, including the new 

 double forms. 



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