44 
The Garden Magazine, March, 1924 
Mallowwort (Malope grandiflora). 
Showy violet, pink, or white flowers 
begin to appear sometime in June and 
last until August. Sow seeds in the 
open where they readily germinate. 
Petunia. A plant which always re¬ 
appears each year by self-scattering of 
its seeds. Flowers white, or in shades 
of reddish purple. The newer ruffled 
forms are large-flowered, very attrac¬ 
tive and graceful though the simpler 
forms are possibly hardier. Sow in 
seedboxes, and after hardening seed¬ 
lings by gradually exposing to outdoor 
air, transplant i ft. apart, for the Pe¬ 
tunia spreads to a certain extent. 
Vervain (Verbena). A very color¬ 
ful flower which can be used for almost 
any purpose in the garden, bearing 
clusters of showy and frequently fra¬ 
grant flowers from June till frost, 
varying in color from white through 
lilac and rose to purple and dark pur¬ 
plish blue, with shades of pink and 
pale yellow. Sow seeds as early as 
February in seedbox or hotbed. When 
grown in seedboxes, they should be 
covered with a glass plate. Transplant 
seedlings, placing each individual in its 
own pot. Transplanting a number of 
times is advisable so that the young 
plants will become strong and vigorous 
before setting out in May. Space about 
2 ft. apart and cut off shoots which 
trail on the ground. 
Mexican Flossflower (Ageratum 
mexicanum). A dainty annual and 
one of the best for carpeting. Medium 
and tall forms well adapted for border 
planting. All types open their blos¬ 
soms throughout the entire summer; 
flowers white, blue, rarely pink; the 
blue varieties being the most beautiful 
so far developed. For use as a border 
plant, sow in the hotbed, transplanting 
seedlings during May, spacing about 5 
in. apart, in a rich soil and sunny loca¬ 
tion. During the hotter months of the 
year plenty of water must be provided. 
Cockscomb (Celosia). There are 
two main types of Celosia, the crested 
and the feathere.d or plumy, ranging in 
color through red, purple, violet, crim¬ 
son, amaranth, and yellow. The taller 
type is most generally cultivated, al¬ 
though no comb-like structure is then 
developed. They can be successfully 
used as fillers and the dark red varieties 
with large spherical heads or balls are 
the most effective and striking. They 
attain a height of slightly more than two 
feet. The seeds of these taller forms are 
not always fertile and should therefore 
be sown quite thick. The seedlings are 
sensitive to changes of temperature and 
must be raised in seedbox or hotbed 
where they should receive plenty of 
fresh air, be kept at moderate temper¬ 
ature (not too warm) and a sparing 
MOURNING-BRIDE 
(Scabiosa—described on page 43) 
supply of moisture. 11 is best to trans¬ 
plant a number of times. Seedlings 
can be transplanted to the open the 
middle of May, placing about 1 ft. 
apart. 
Marigold (Tagetes). Familiar to 
most gardeners and beloved of many 
for their cheerful yellow, orange, or 
velvety maroon flowers carried until 
late in the autumn and for their 
strange, rather invigorating pungency. 
Their lasting quality makes them ex¬ 
cellent cut flowers. The taller varie¬ 
ties blossom somewhat less freely than 
the dwarfer kinds but grow into tall 
stalwart plants requiring a 2 ft. space 
between each. The medium-sized 
forms are to be placed closer together 
while the low varieties need only 8 in. 
between. The latter are fine border 
plants, always charming, thriving in 
almost any type of soil, and flowering 
until the first night frosts. The seeds 
germinate readily, and if sown in seed- 
box or hotbed, produce bloom earlier 
in the season. Harden seedlings grad¬ 
ually before transplanting. 
Butterfly-Flower (Schizanthus). 
A rich soil and sufficient moisture are 
main requisites for the luxuriant 
growth of this annual of fairy-like 
habit and fascinating color—lilac, 
rose, pure white, and white suffused 
with yellow, purple-crimson with 
golden spots, combined pink and 
carmine-brown flushed yellow, and a 
number of other combinations bizarre 
and arresting. Since the seedlings 
grow quite slowly, seeds are to be 
sown in a hotbed. When transplant¬ 
ing, space 1 ft. apart. The flowers 
make their appearance at the end of 
June or if cultivated in the open, later 
in the season. 
Babys-breath (Gypsophila). White, 
sometimes rosy, tiny, mist-like flowers 
borne in airy profusion and very effec¬ 
tive in mixed borders or as bouquets. 
Sow directly in the open during May, 
scattering the seeds among other flow¬ 
ering annuals. The flowering period is 
usually over by mid-June but a succes¬ 
sion of bloom can easily be achieved 
by repeated sowings at intervals. 
Rosemoss (Portulaca). A flower of 
many gav colors—rose, scarlet, yellow, 
etc.,—as well as softer tones of bronze, 
peach, and cream. Flourishes in dry 
spots in a poor type of soil, on terraces, 
and elsewhere not ordinarily agreeable 
to plants. The flowers have an amusing 
habit of opening under the direct rays 
of the sun and closing again at dusk, 
and persistently appear throughout the 
entire summer until checked by the first 
frosts. Sow seeds directly in the spot 
where they are to remain. Thin out so 
that plants stand about 8 in. apart, 
thus insuring a thick carpet of growth. 
SALPIGLOSS 1 S 
Beautiful velvety-petaled flowers ranging from yellow 
through wine to deep reddish-black (see page 43) 
