Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-05-12
Eaaies' Column.
FLOWER CULTURE.

the management Of the above-named
hardy and beautiful varieties of flowers,
l have endeavored to make the subject
understood in as few words as possible.
Furthermore, it is pre-supposed that
each one knows something about the
variety of flowers under consideration.
The four varieties named, for general
cultivation and for producing of flowers
in abundance and long continuance of
bloom, cannot be equalled by any class
of equal number of varieties; in fact, no
collection should be chosen for summer
Towering without including these.
PETUNIAs.
Seed should be started in a hot-bed
early in May, or if you have room in
which fire is continually kept, with a
south or eastern window, then you may
SOW the seed about the middle of April,
in basin or a small box filled with
good, rich and finely pulverized soil
keep the growing plants where the suns
rays will strike them as much as posi-
bic, placing out of doors in warm, pleas
ant weather, which practice tends to
make them strong, and able to withstand
the shock of transplanting with less
danger of loss. AS the seeds are small,
many persons are liable to SOW too
thickly; hence, practice thinning, as it
will be found more desirable to have a
few healthy, stocky plants than many
slender and feeble ones. The single
varieties are quite liable to part, espec-
tally the striped and blotched varieties.
Choice double varieties are quite diff
cult to obtain from seed. The surest and
economical way of obtaining them is
from slips, and they are quite as easily
obtained as Fuchsias and Geraniums,
and are managed in about the same
manner. Should you find among your
towering plants one that particularly
pleases you. and desire to keep it during
the winter, about the middle of Septem-
Der carefully remove it from the border
place in an eight-inch pot, cutting back
the stems or foliage to about ten inches
give proper attention for few weeks
and during the winter you will be re
warded with many choice flowers Of your
favorite.
The easiest and most common practice
is to plant them in masses in moderated
rich soil, placing them fifteen inches
apart. They also make a fine display
when trained to stake or small trellis
and usually produce profusion of flow
ers until late in October.
PHLox. DRUMMoNDI.
Seeds of this beautiful annual may b
sowed at the same time and manner a
suggested for Petunias, and like then
contain sufficient oil to produce an abund
ance of self.sown plants in the bed
; where sown last year; but if you depen'
upon plants obtained in this manner
you will in few years have a sickly
? degenerated collection.
> Phlox delight in rich, rather ligh
, soil, and for solid mass of bloom Sc
, plants about six inches apart each way
The scarlet varieties are so bright as t
dazzle the eyes when viewed at MONDAY
From collection of mixed seed 20
| obtain nearly score of different kinds
f Set in the open border about the first Q
r June, when the soil has become warm.
+ vERBENA.
( This is everybody's favorite, and
e so we'll known and universally cultivate
y as to scarcely need notice here. 1t
e liable to spread. and only seeds frol
|. decidedly strongly marked plants wi
e reproduce themselves the following Sc;
t son. 1t is fortunate, however, tn;
e plants or slips are easily rooted. A
o most varieties are of a usually trailin
# nature, and will Qike strawberry rul
}, ners) root at every joint, it is only ne
i essary to peg them down at the joint
IS or simply cover with handful of fiji
e soil, to have cuttings in abundance Fl
winter blooming. Sever from the maj
plant a few weeks before potting
9 October. To those who have never SEE
;" Verbena seed, | would say they a
Il about one-ffth inch in length, about tt
Il size of common pin, looking more lii
= little sticks than anything that cou
81 bring forth beautiful flowers.
i The Verbena delights in sunny 81
> uation, and warm, rich soil. Aft
70 severe frosts have killed more tend
~ ANNALS, such as balsams, celosia, ett
i you may gather fine bouquets of Verb
10 mas. In fact. it is among the last hinge
I" ing flowers yielding to the dictates
Il Jack Frost.
ASTERS.
o. Asters, like the Verbena, are exte
- sively cultivated, and are of almost eve
O. conceivable tint, and grow from Fl
u" inches to neary three feet in heigl
The seed is best started in hot-bed,
of in the house. Some years striped b.
he eats into and destroys the fower-t
as easiest manner of destroying them is
f. brush or shake them off in a vessel
Il | hot watar Tho foil suor;atioo ebor1d