Kellagg's Famous Flowers and Hou te Grow Them 
CROWN 
JUST BELOW 
SURFACE 
Spurge also should be planted very shallowly, but this 
is a different type of plant than the others. The stolons 
should be layered horizontally under the surface. 
CROWN 
JUST ABOVE 
: oe SURFACE 
Again there are some plants that should be set with the 
crown just above the soil’s surface, as shown above. Plants 
that should be so set are Gaillardias, Blue Bonnets, Prim- 
ulas, Violets, if bare-rooted, Violas, Foxgloves, Canterbury 
Bells, Day Lilies and others. 
Shallow planting for the flowers named above keeps 
the crowns from drying out. Should the crown be exposed, 
it would wither, and the plant would most likely die. 
Plant These with Crown 
Above 
There are, however, some plants that should be plant- 
ed with the crown a little above the soil. This is because the 
sand, getting into the crown, would cause stem-rot, and 
other diseases of deterioration. Plant Gaillardias, Blue Bon- 
nets, Primula, Violets (if bare-rooted), Violas, Foxgloves, Can- 
terbury Bells and Day Lilies with the crowns slightly above 
the soil. 
Time to Plant 
Azaleamums and many other flowers can be planted 
either spring or fall, and it is largely a matter of preference 
as to which season suits you. But, you will order yours for 
spring planting, because this is a spring book that you are 
reading, and so it is not necessary to go into further detail. 
There is one warning about Azaleamums and other 
potted plants—do not plant them too early. Being out of 
pots, from the greenhouse, they are somewhat tender, and 
their tops cannot withstand the frost and night freezes that 
may occur with early planting. In the North, such states as 
Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, usually early May is 
good planting time; earlier in the South. 
If plants should arrive too early, due to unforeseen 
fluctuations in the weather, it is easy to keep them until the 
weather becomes right. Keep soil around the roots moist. 
Dip the ball of earth momentarily in water, and note that 
word “momentarily”. Iwo or three seconds under water is 
enough. A longer time may dissolve the ball of earth, and 
then you will have a bare-rooted plant to set. Actually, it 
would be wise to dip the ball of earth briefly in water this 
way, just before planting, in any event. 
[15] 
Protecting from Unseason- 
able Frost 
Sometimes, even when potted plants are planted at the 
proper time, an unseasonably late frost will occur, and then 
you should protect the plants. With the smailer plants, a 
fruit jar or tin can will do, but some prefer a newspaper 
weighted down at the corners, or boxes, either cardboard or 
wood. And, of course, there are the patented special caps 
for protecting plants. See Raydomes on page 21. 
But, if such a frost occurs unexpectedly, so that you do 
not protect the plants, it is not at all likely that anything 
but the tops would be killed, and new growth will come 
from the roots. It is true that this would set the plants back 
enough even though it would not kill them. 
° ° ° 
Shipping Time 
We try to ship at your proper planting time, and 
usually we succeed very well. It is only when unseasonable 
weather occurs that you will have to protect your plants as 
above indicated. Correct shipping time normally covers a 
period of four or five weeks. 
If Azaleamums and other potted plants arrive with 
broken tops, do not worry. They will grow anyway; the roots 
are the important part of the plant. 
If bare-rooted plants should arrive before planting time, 
simply open the package and expose the tops, but leave the 
moss on the roots. If the moss on the roots is dry, you may 
water it a little, but do not wet the foliage and crowns. Too 
much moisture on the foliage and crowns may cause rotting, 
if you have to keep the plants any length of time. In any 
event, store in a cool, dark place. 
But, the best thing to do, if you must keep the plants 
for some time, is to heel them in. Select a good spot well 
protected from sun and wind; then dig a V-shaped trench 
and lay the plants along the side with the crowns just even 
with the surface. Now, fill in with earth, and tramp it down 
solidly, then scatter a little loose dirt on top, or cover the 
soil with burlap, or some other material such as straw. The 
plants will keep for days and even weeks this way, and often 
will even be in better condition for transplanting than if 
planted directly from the package. ae 
Heeling in is particularly beneficial should plants ar- 
rive dry or otherwise in poor condition. It can be used as a 
reviving process for such plants. 
Planting Arrangements 
Actually, this is a matter of taste with most gardeners, 
though some prefer to plant according to a pre-arranged 
plan. If you really want to have fun out of gardening, do 
the planning yourself, as well as the planting. You may 
have a little clash of colors here and there, but that can be 
(Continued on page 17) 
