Celosia — (Cockscomb.) — Half Hardy Annual. The 

 seed should be started in a hot-bed, or in pots in a 

 warm room, and transplanted in a warm, rich soil. 



Centrosema, Grandiflora — Hardy Perennial. Sow seed 

 as early in the spring as practicable in open ground, 

 soaking the seed in warm water over night before 

 planting. 



Centaurea — (Dusty Miller.) — Hardy Perennial. Seed 

 should be sown in slight heat, and when the seedlings 

 are large enough to handle, they should be putted off 

 singly into small thumb pots, in which they may be 

 kept through the winter in a cold or cool house, a shift 

 being given in the spring. 



Chrysanthemum — Annual Varieties. Sow in good, 

 light soil during last of April and May; thin out to 

 one foot apart. 



Chrysanthemum — Hardy Perennial. Sow in boxes or 

 cold frame in the spring, and make several transplant- 

 ings, as the plants advance in growth. 



Cinceraria — (See "Calceolaria" for cultural direc- 

 tions). 



Cleome Pungens — (Giant Spider Plant). Annual. 

 Thrives best in light, rich soil, in a dry. warm situa- 

 tion, where they have plenty of room to spread. 



Cohoea — Tender Perennial. Sow early, indoors, put- 

 ting the seed edge down, and keep slightly moist until 

 the young plants appear. Plant out after the ground 

 has become settled and warm — about the first of June. 

 The plants can be carefully potted before frost in the 

 autumn, and will bloom in the house during winter. 



Coccinea — Half Hardy Perennial. A handsome 

 climber of the Gourd species, flowering the first sea- 

 son, if started early in heat. 



Coleus — Tender Perennial. Plant in a warm situa- 

 tion indoors, in a temperature of 70 degrees, and bed 

 out as soon as danger of frost is over. Slips should 

 be taken from the finest and potted for winter. 



Cosmos Hybridus— Sow seed in gentle heat in April 

 or May, and when large enough transplant to open 

 ground similar to other annuals. 



Cosmos — Is one of the few flowers that does not 

 easily succumb to frost, and in favored localities it 

 was still in blossom on Nov. 28, being fully as hardy 

 as the chrysanthemum. The only objection to its 

 more general cultivation is that it does not come into 

 flower until there is danger of its being killed by 

 winter cold. This can be avoided by sowing the seed 

 in March and growing the plants on in pots, not using 

 larger than four-inch size. The plants should be kept 

 in these until they set their buds, and the pots com- 

 pletely filled with roots; then transfer to the garden 

 and they will bloom by August. 



Cyclamen — Greenhouse Perennial. If sown early in 

 spring under glass, and well grown, will make flower- 

 ing bulbs in one year. 



Cypress Vine — Tender Annual. Sow in the ground 

 only after it is thoroughly warm, and soak the seed 

 in lukewarm water two hours before sowing. 



Dahlia — Half Hardy Perennial. Sow the seed in 

 shallow pan or box in March, and transplant the seed- 

 lings, when large enough, to small pots. As soon as 

 strong enough, plant out one foot apart. 



Datura — Half Hardy Annual. Start early and trans- 

 plant to 20 inches apart. The roots may be packed in 

 sand during the winter. 



Delphinium — See Larkspur. 



Dianthus — (Chinese Pinks.) — Hardy Annual. Sow 

 seed in May when the ground becomes warm; thin or 

 transplant when two inches high to four inches apart. 

 It is truly astonishing how this useful class of plants 

 is neglected, or not grown at all, which is better 

 than to half grow a thing, when it possesses so 

 many real points of usefulness. Dianthus heddewigi, 

 with its numerous beautiful varieties, is one of our 

 most valuable summer flowers, although it is unjust 

 to call it a summer flower, when, with but little at- 

 tention, it can be made to ornament the garden from 

 June until November, or until such time as the frosts 

 destroy the chrysanthemum. 



Digitalis— (Foxglove.) — Hardy Perennial. Sow out of 

 doors after danger from frost is over, in bods of finely 

 pulverized soil, covering the seeds to a depth of not 

 over lour times their size with light soil. Press down 

 firmly, thin out as it becomes necessary, transplant 

 into permanent positions as soon as the seedlings are 

 large enough, so that they can inc., me well-rooted he- 

 ld weather, or sow in early fall, carry the 

 plants over in cold frames and transplant in the 



sprint.'. 



Dolichos— aiyacinth Bean.)— Half Hardy Annual 

 iniuiber. They are of easy culture. Plant out doors 



where they are to grow, in good soil, about one inch 

 deep, as early in spring as ground is in good condi- 

 tion. 



Eschscholtzia — (California Poppy.) — Half Hardy Per- 

 ennial. Sow where the plants are wanted to bloom, 

 as they do not bear transplanting. Thin them to six 

 inches apart. 



Feverfew— (Mactricaria.)— Half Hardy Perennial. 

 Succeeds best in a light, rich soil. 



Forget-Me-Not— (Myosotis.)— Hardy Perennial. Sow 

 in finely prepared soil the first of June. Transplant 

 to a shady situation. Keep well watered during dry 

 weather. 



Fuchsia — Greenhouse Perennial. As easily grown 

 from seed as from cuttings. Sow in shallow box; 

 transplant into pots as soon as large enough. They 

 require a rich soil to grow luxuriantly; a fuchsia is a 

 nuisance if not thrifty. Well rooted" turf, some leaf 

 mold and a little sand is quite to their taste. Stick 

 in some old, rusty nails; the oxide of iron deepens the 

 color of foliage and flower. They are gross feeders 

 and should have weak liquid manure once a week, when 

 budding or in bloom. They do not need a high tem- 

 perature, but plenty of light and air. Red spiders 

 trouble them if the air of the room is too hot and 

 dry; these can be routed by washing both sides of 

 the leaves with soap-suds, afterward showering with 

 soft, tepid water. 



Gaillardia— (Blanket Flower.)— Hardy Annual. Sow 

 early in boxes or frame and transplant to the garden 

 in common soil the middle of May. 



Geranium — Half Hardy Perenni'al. Start in the 

 house in a box filled with fine, rich soil, cover with a 

 pane of glass and place in the dark and keep moist 

 until the seeds germinate, then admit light and air. 

 Transplant when large enough. 



Gloxinia — Tender Perennial. They grow best in a 

 porous, well enriched soil, in a warm, moist atmos- 

 phere. 



Godetia — Hardy Annual. But a very few of the an- 

 nual class of flowering plants which may be regarded 

 as of quiet beauty, are more desirable than Godetias, 

 and their attractiveness does not greatly decrease be- 

 fore late autumn. A main point in their culture is to 

 keep them steadily growing, and to keep all the seed 

 vessels picked off, together with having good soil, and 

 in times of drought free watering at night during 

 summer. The plants should stand not closer than 

 five inches each way. Seed can be sown early out of 

 doors, where they are to bloom, in finely prepared soil, 

 the last of May or the first of June. 



Gourd — (Ornamental Climber.) — Tender Annual. 

 Seed can be sown outside about the first of June, 

 after the ground has become warm. The plants are 

 tender and should be planted where they are to grow. 



Helianthus — i Sunflower.) — Hardy Annual. Plant 



seed in the spring when desired, and thin to four feet 

 apart. 



Helichrysum — Hardy Annual. Sow early in boxes in 

 the house, or in the garden in May and June; trans- 

 plant to eight inches apart in light, mellow soil. 



Heliotrope — Half Hardy Perennial. Sow in hot-bed 

 in March; keep soil moist and give air bright days, 

 but protect at night. Transplant in May, before a 

 warm rain, if possible, in light, rich soil. The Helio- 

 trope, which is prized for its delightful fragrance as 

 well as lovely flowers, seems to be but a disappoint- 

 ment to many, but if in good condition is a very free 

 bloomer and satisfactory plant. It is not troubled 

 with insects, which is one strong point, but this plant 

 must be kept moist at the roots and out of the burn- 

 ing sun; for one day's or perhaps one hour's drought 

 at the roots will produce the dry rot which at lacks 

 the leaves, causing them to turn black and fall off. 

 Always give the Heliotrope a good-sized pot — it needs 

 plenty of root room — and in transplanting to and from 

 the garden the plant is strengthened and its beauty 

 increased by very severe pruning; for the inclination 

 of this plant is to grow, not bushy and strong, but 

 with long, slender branches, almost vines — indeed, I 

 have seen lovely specimens blooming beautifully as 

 house plants after doing service outdoors. 



Hibiscus — Sow in boxes, in the bouse, covering the 

 seeds barely sufflclenl to hide it from Bight, and 

 keep the surface moist by shading till the seed 

 germinates, transplant about the first of June, to a 

 rather moist soil 



Hollyhock— Hardy Perennial. Start the seeds In 

 boxes in house early. When plants have made three 

 or four leaves, transplant to garden to one font apart 

 early in June and they will bloom the first season. 



u 



