46 



ASTERS 



THIS is the flower for 

 the million and for the 

 millionaire. This plant, like 

 the Pansy, is sensitive to 

 heat and should not he 

 started too early. It is best 

 to sow the seed about May 

 20th, so they will start 

 blooming in September and 

 last until frost. The seed- 

 lings should be twice trans- 

 planted to produce strong, 

 stock}' plants with good 

 roots. When about three 

 inches high set them three 



The Aster is a Good Cut-flower 



or four inches apart, and 

 when the}' begin to crowd 



set them where they are to grow, about a foot apart. 



PANSIES 



PANSIES are grown so easily and sold so cheaply that it is not 

 worth one's while to propagate them. They come in a very 

 great variety of color, and they should be planted about six inches 

 apart in a rich loamy soil that is cool and moist. For early sum- 

 mer or fall bloom plant in the open; for midsummer bloom plant 

 in half shade. These flowers have verv short stems. 



NASTURTIUMS 



THIS is the most easily grown of all flowers. It is practically 

 insect and disease proof and accommodates itself to a great 

 range of soil, though it is well to guard against a soil that is too 

 rich. When grown on a clay loam it is liable to run much to 

 lea\'es and not bear many flowers ; and when that is the case it is 

 well to give it " wholesome neglect " so as to partially starve it. 

 It is at home on a medium light soil, where it will bear an abund- 

 ance of bloom. Its one weak point is its very short stems. 



As the ])lants do not take kindly to transplanting, the seed 

 should be sown where they are to grow, thinning them to about 

 a foot apart so they will have plenty of air and light, which is 

 necessar}' for their dex'elopment. They need a warm, well-drained 

 soil. There are dwarf \-arieties for I^edding and edging, and 

 climbing varieties that need the support of a trellis. 



As in tlie case of vSweet Peas I recommend mixtures which, 

 as a rule, will gix'c a good assortment of colors. 



OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



OTHER GOOD ANNUALS 



Ttie Candytuft is very valuable for cutting. It is a low plant suitable 

 for edging. 



Cosmos are verj^ beautiful autumn-blooming plants; splendid for cut- 

 ting; height five to seven feet and need some support when the plants 

 becorne large. 



Mignonette is a fragrant flower and a general favorite; requires a cool 

 location: sow in April and again in June for continuous bloom until fall. 



Poppies produce a dazzling display of the brightest colors; sow where 

 they are to grow, as they do not bear transplanting. The seed is very 

 fine — about the size of tobacco seed — and must not be covered deeply; 

 simply pressing in the soil is enough. The poppy is a great favorite among 

 the Norwegians and Swedes of North Dakota and Northern Minnesota, 

 where most beautiful strains have been produced. 



Marigold is another favorite; free bloomer; one foot high. 



Nicotiana Affinis, a tobacco-like plant suitable for a shady corner; 

 finely scented; flowers white, trumpet-shaped. 



Portulaca, a good bedding plant suitable for sandy, hot, dry locations. 



Ricinis Zanzibarensis, a superb tropical-looking plant known as the 

 Castor Bean; grows ten feet high and has leaves two feet across. 



Sunflower, a tall, stately plant growing to a height of ten to twelve feet 

 and bearing large, showy flowers a foot across. The seeds are edible and 

 used as a substitute for peanuts in Russia. The Russian colony in North 

 Dakota call it Russian peanuts, and grow acres of it for domestic use. 



HALF HARDY PERENNIALS 



A number of perennial flowers are not hardy enough to live over winter 

 in northern latitudes and for all practical garden purposes they must be 

 regarded as annuals, for we must start new plants from seed every spring. 

 Among the best of these are the following: 



Snapdragon, bearing beautiful spikes of gaily-colored flowers and cov- 

 ering a long period of bloom. 



Carnation, have beautiful fringed flowers, mostly double and in many 

 colors: resemble hardy pinks. 



Petunias, require good garden soil and are fine for bedding, as thej' 

 bloom from early June until killed by frost. Give sunny location. 



Salvia Splendens, a favorite for bedding and is most eft'ective in large 

 beds, as they stand about thirty inches high and have an erect pose. The 

 flowers are in long, glowing scarlet spikes. Known in different localities 

 as Scarlet Sage, Scarlet Dragoon and Burning Bush. 



Verbena. The seed must be started early so the plants can be put out 

 in the open ground about April 25th and set 18 inches apart. They are 

 low and spreading. A rich soil and sunny location are required, ft is a 

 self-seeding plant and good to succeed bulbs. 



Zinnia, a constant bloomer of easy culture and the colors are ^•ery 

 brilliant. Attains a height of 30 inches. 



Marvel of Peru, commonlj^ known as Four-o'clock. The plants are 

 large and each needs about two feet of space each way to properly develop. 

 The flowers are funnel-shaped, white, red, yellow or striped with these 

 colors. They open about four o'clock in the afternoon, remain open all 

 night and generally perish liefore noon the next day. The abundance of 

 new flowers produced affords a constant succession of fine bloom. The 

 French call it Belle de Nuit, an appropriate name ^\-hich means Beauty of 

 the Night. Sow seed in open ground. 



Geranium. The constant succession of bloom till frost comes, the 

 lirilliant colors of the flowers and the exquisite leaf-markings of some 

 varieties render the geranium very desirable for bedding. It is mostly 

 propagated from cuttings, but propagation by seed is the only waj' to 

 produce new varieties. 



