BELLIS. 



47 



flowers. It is a native of Britain and Europe, has 

 been cultivated for more than a century, and is now 

 grown extensively in England. Cultivation has 

 greatly increased the number of its petals and the 

 brightness of its hues. It is much used for edgings 

 to borders in our flower gardens, and the Belgian 

 Daisy is admirably adapted to house culture, having 

 tufts of green leaves and a profusion of beautiful 

 flowers. 



SOIL, WATERING AND TEMPERATURE. 



A rich loam with a little mixture of sand is suit- 

 able for the Bellis. 



It requires very little water through the summer, 

 but the supply should be increased when it is grow- 

 ing and blooming during the fall and winter. 



Keep it in a cool shady location in summer, and 

 in a warm sunny place in winter. By resting the 

 plant through the summer, giving it enough water 

 merely to prevent its withering, and keeping it in 

 the shade, its strength is reserved for growth and 

 • bloom in winter, when it should be placed in a sunny 

 window and given liquid manure once a week. It 

 will need re-potting every spring, when the roots 

 may be divided — an easy way to propagate it. It 

 can also be grown from seed which may be sown in 

 pots in spring and the young plants reserved for 

 winter flowering. The Bellis can be transplanted 

 without checking its growth even when in bloom 

 if the soil is kept about the roots. 



