March 2, 1912 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



181 



Tagetes pumila is a good edging plants 

 of neat and oonipact growth, literally 

 smothered with bright yello-w blossoms 

 throughout the summer. It makes an ex- 

 cellent vsubjjeet for ribbon borders^ and re- 



FINE FOLIAGE PLANTS FROM 



SEEDS. 



There are many very beautiful fine 

 foliage plants that may be raised from 

 seed sown in early spring. If a littJe taste 



Na,Sturtiums. displayed in the arrangement of such 



1 ^1 . 1 , plantjs, so that the colour of the foliaiee 



lor clothing dry sunny po^sitimis, wliero f^^jj developed <hxring autumn is m 



quires a poor soil. 



perfect harmony with the floral surround- 

 nigSj a charming and effective display is 

 provided that will be much appreciated. 



the soil is poor, these plants (trop^eolums) 

 are indispensatblCj and wlien planted in 

 >ueh a place 'an abundance ot flowers is 

 obtained. When planted in rich soil, the 



ioliage grows strongly that the flowers -border-s'L^^m^^h^Vna^ 

 are hidden by it. practically ruined, hy the too liberal em- 



ployment of flowering plants, and the evil 



The general effect of many gardens and pl€^'^«"f<^ «f visitors. 



what an ideal plant Kochia trichophila 

 is for seaside planting; the salt spray 

 appears -to have a curiously stiniulaiting 

 effect upon its development, and the bright 

 bronze tint of autumn appeiars to be niucii 

 enhanced near the sea. I noticed some re- 

 markably fine specimens employed with 

 taste in the flower ibeds on the Corporation 

 Pa/rade Grounds, Bridlington, under the 

 care of Mr. Crofts, and during last season 

 these were the centre of the many floral 

 attractions provid^xl for the education and 



The Suttoni varieties of Xemesia stru- «^ overcTowding. 

 juosa are most popular, and very important 

 tor bedding purposes. They possess an 

 extensdve range of colours^ and hold a high 

 position amongst our summer flowers. 



The seeds should be sown in gentle heat 

 early in March. 



Phacelia.. ' 



Phacelia canipanularia is a good subject 



for edging, .and should 'be so-wn where it is 



to flower, as it dislikes any disturibance. 



The colour of the flowers is a lovely dark 



blue ; it deserves to be grown more exten- 

 sivelv than it is. 



For the Garden. 



best 



Amaranthus tricolor splendens is 

 treated as a half-hajdy annual, and will, 

 if judiciously employed, as dot pladits, or 

 specimens standing iboldly in a conspicuous 

 position associated with a caipet vA dwarf 

 flowering subjects, !ook well. This ama- 



ranthus has 



large 



handsome, b r o n z \' - 



green and yellow foliage. 



Phlox Drummondi. 



Tlie various colours of this favourite an- 

 nual are much appreciated, and for car- 

 jteting or edging beds these phloxes are 

 very valuable. The plants should be 

 pinched once or twice when in a young 

 state, and as growth advances when they 

 are planted out, the shoots should be 

 I'Cgged down. 



Salpiglossis and Schizan- 



thuses. 



SaJpiglossis sinuata provides a variety 

 ^>f choice and elegant colours, the blossoms 

 "oing beautifully veined and striped, Beds 

 planted with these create strikmg effects 

 during August and September. The seeds 

 ^i)ouki be sown in a little warmth, early 

 ifi 3larch. 



Schizanthiis Grahami, S. sinnatus, S. re- 

 I 'i>>ns, aiul S. Wisetonensis are particularly 

 ime subjects for outdoor cultivation during 

 the summer, their dainty blossoms being 

 K)rne in great profusion. The seeds should 

 Kown in February, and the young plants 

 M-n m pots for planting o-ut. 



The summer-flowerin 



g vaiu^ta^s are of 



In height it 



ra,rely exceeds two feet. A. saiicifolius is 

 one of the most effective fine foliage plants 

 used as dot plants for carpet beds, >and 

 will ibe found to produce an unique dis- 

 play, adding elegance to this rather too 

 formal style of gardening. It will attain 

 •1 height of three feet under good cultivr..- 

 tion. 



Seeds of amaranthius must be sown thinly 

 in the usual way. Avoid overcrowding and 

 excessive applications of water. A warm 

 greenhouse will prove suitable during the 

 early t^tages of growth ; pot off^ singly when 

 !a,rge enough to handle, place the stH'dlings 

 in a light position^ and harden off as soon 

 as the jilants are established, and keep 

 them as near the glai&s as convenient to 

 inspire short-jointed sturdy growth. 



Centaurea ragusina, w.th silvery-white 



foliage, is a plant one may raise and 

 successfully grow with very limited at- 

 tention. Seed should be sown earlv in the 



« 



j'ear, and just sufficient water be 

 to keep the soil in a moist conilition Tor a 

 few weeks. It is a good plan to keep the 

 seed pans covered with a sheet of bi-o wn 

 pa2>er and a layer of moss after sowing 

 the seeds, until germination is effected. 

 Transplant singly into shallow pans, boxes, 

 or pots, kvi']^ the seedlings free fix)m frost, 



and aftord all the a\'aihibU^ light possible 

 after the plants are well established. 



Cerastium toinentosum, about >ix inches 



high, is a^hardy perennial that m::y be f^,;";eedr\vhi< h '^Imuld^ ininiei-^d 'in 



given 



For the Conservatory. 



For the adornment of the conservatory 

 many beautiful and exceedingly handsome 

 foliage plants may bo easily raistxl front 

 seeds sown during the early part of the 

 present seas»on, and they we'l nu^rit mori- 

 attention than is usually given tlu'in. Their 

 comparatively easy < idture, (■()U|)]tMl with 

 inexpensive pr;:du('ti<)n, commend th<*m to 

 our noti<*e. During the hot s-umnier 

 ueather it is ot t<'n uiund very trouble- 



sonu> to niainlaui a Miceessional display of 



flowering j)lai]ts. On the oiImm- hand, 

 foliage plants always produce a i'harniing 

 display, which^ by rontr::tst with th<* feast 

 of floAverinii; p'anis usually provid<xl out- 

 doors ai tliat da.t(\ < annot fail to command 

 appreciatiiui. 



Aralia Si<0):)idi i.s a useful <onservatory 

 or greenhou-e plant, which is v;;ilnahli' feV 

 house det'orat ion : it lastvsin good condition 

 for such purpose for a long time, and if 

 orcacsiona 1 ly changed, a nd replaced from 

 the grcenlunist' >tork. it wil! be found to 

 retain its he<althy ^lo^sy appearance. New 

 see<ls art^ not obtain. ihle. as a rule, until 

 Api'il or May. wlien tlu^y slionid Ix^ ^trrpiMl 

 in water lOr a day or two previously to 

 sowing. Very little attention beyond 

 the ordinary routine of watering and re- 

 pott inir will hc^ required. 



Decorative asparagus are am on a the 

 foUage plrjnts that su<'^<mm1 cxtn'incly well 

 when raised from seeds. A. (h^flexus. which 



r 



produces long^ di-ooping branthes of a 

 pleasing green colour, is a<liniral)ly adapted 

 for hant^in^ basket^ for 2:rrenh(ni^e or con- 

 servatory. and it is also of inueh value for 

 cutting. This species adds grace and ele- 

 gance to table dix-orations if used taste- 

 fully amon^ cut blooms. 



Other kinds I have been most successful 

 in raising from seeds are A. Sprengeri and 

 A. pltmiosus, as well a-s the <lwarf A. plu- 

 miosus nanus ; all thef^e are vjjJuable foliage 

 plants, which retain their beauty through- 

 out the winter. Thev may be easilv raise<] 



"iinense value for pro-VKling a displav dur- 

 'g tlH. smiuiier montlis. For a STHv>e..6ion 

 'Jloom the internirdiai." fonn.s hIiduI,! no 

 ^•mvn, which, if sown in March, will roin- 

 'nn<e to flower in the autumn T'rJiicess 

 \\' T,''"' Admiration, Sahnoii Beaut v. 

 lam-e Beauty, and Mont lilanc are exee!- 

 • t exaniples of the sunnner-fiowerinrr 

 tlo «f ^'^'i<'^ of the winteit 



vff^7"'^i ^^^^'o*^' answers we^i for summer 

 irectK when sown in Marc>h 



Sweet Sultans. 



'^^Lfr l^'-g^Tflo^-ert^d forms are well 

 apted for the mixed borders. The flowers 

 " e larg fragrant, and borne on 



V-oeltr '^fu^ ^'^^'^ oWer varieties. If 

 'leTfin ^nn"«ls may be sown in 



Zinnias. 



•''ther'"?r/'''""'' ^^'^ forms 

 !h 1 n?.. I are very offix'tive 



J"^ massed in beds, the flowers lasting 



• >'n^h. o,,,nse flowers of Z. flan- 



Gna+'A n""^;' ^''e borders, 

 ^naton Gardens. e. C. Poolet. 



U8ed effeiti\"ely as a carpet for .sbowy 

 flowerin*^" subjei ts, or t^nployrW is an edg- 

 ing plant for flower beds -(ir hor^h'is: it is 

 also in\ alual)le in the rock sjraideji. in wh'eh 



position its ci'eeping habit and elose-grow- 

 ing foliage are displaye<l to advantage. 

 Seedlings should always be afforded- cold 

 frame protection, as they then develop 

 freely and assume a gO(Kl colour. It must 

 be nnderstood that coddling/' or the em- 

 ployment of fire heat-, will han-e a detri- 

 mental, and, consequently, a disappoint- 

 ing effect. 



Cineraria maritima is a splendid subject 

 for beds or borders, where it i> ilesira-ble 

 to introduce light coV)urs in foliage. It 

 may -be treated similarly to Centawrea rogu- 



sina. 



Kochia trichophila, a n exceptional ly 

 liandsome folia.;e ]>lant, should he treated 

 as a half-h:i:r<lv annual, as under sucli 

 treatment it develops to a usi^tul isize for 

 innnediate effecrt after planting on.t in the 

 flow er garden. Under ordinary condition^, 

 in the cool greenhouse, or a partially 

 heated pit, it sneceeds wt»ll, and grow- most 

 rafpidly. It may not be generally known 



wa.t(M" >nme time pro\ huis to sowing. After 

 tile ^etHllin^rs are trrowint; treelv iiiv** liberal 

 supplies of water and dilute<l liqui<l farm- 

 yard 



If one obtaiins a good strain of see<}s of 

 coleus good results are assure<l. Setslling 

 coleuses .are exceptionally free growing, and 

 as a consequence fine sj^ninetrical plants 

 may be grown from seeds sown at this date. 

 The undesirable colours wlii<-h nuiv be 

 amouir seedlings mav be <lis<'a r'de<l at an 

 early sta^e. Treat an sinii'ar linos for or- 

 d i n a i*y setnl 1 i ngs , but after 1 1 shape, or 

 foundation^ has boon formtMl, fi^Kling 

 should not be praeti>ed. as the colours of 

 the toliago ;:*i-e mu<'h nioio jiloa^ins: when 

 restriction of the r<;ots is ()raeriMM!. 



C'v perns a I tern if oli us is an ornamental 

 foliage plant, witli d(M^p green ami gVvssy 

 leafaiie and is \'aluable for extensive house 

 or <'onservatnrv dtuoration. The size of th^ 

 plants is determined by the liberality of 

 treatment provi<led. 'Seedlings may he 

 raise<l any time, and after these are estab- 

 lished must always be provide^l with 

 ample moisture at the ix>ots. vSee^lMngs re- 

 stricted to small 60-sized pots are excep- 



