The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-30
Starting Plants for Early Blooming.


professional florist either in the quality
of plants produced orthe facility.of pro-
dueing them sFors Instance, one who
knows hut little of the methods Of in-
creasing plants had better not, try to
raise camellias without first trying some
of the more easily propagated Varieties,
such as verbenas, hefiotfopes, geraniums,
etc. g Such plants ,aSthe last named may
be prepagsted~very readily with but lit
tie tronblesrlNN e -
No garden is complete without q
good-sized bed of yerbenas, and no
plant gives more show and profusion of
flowers for the effort required to pro-
duce it. A small plant of perhaps three
or four inches in height will, if planted
in good mellow soil, cover yard square
before autumn, and afford continuous
succession of gorgeous bloom during the
season. When plants are propagated
from cuttings, of course the varieties are
the same as those of the parent plants /;
but as the verbena is subject to almost
infinite variation by seed reproduction,
some amateurs will find it more interest
ing to raise their plants from seed.
Whichever method is pursued, there is
no need of having the plants large or
old. Small, vigorous ones are much
better. If grown in pots, never allow
them to become pot-bound or the roots
hard, if you wish to have them make a
vigorous growth from the start. Also,
never allow the plants to grow tall or
spindling, but if necessary nip in the
long shoots. In purchasing varieties, if
only o few very desirable ones are
wanted, by all means get pure white,
deep crimson, scarlet with white eye,
maroon, light pink, and deep purple.
Lantanas are chiefly valuable on ac-
count of their free-blooming qualities
and rich tints, the perfume of both
flowers and leaves being rather offensive
than otherwise. Still, few of the high
colored sorts, at least, are worthy of q
place in every garden They are easily
propagated from slips or cuttings, but
are impatient of being transplanted I'M
less pot-grown. Heliotropcs are as
easily and quickly grown, bloom as free
", and are so useful for summer bou-
quets that they should be- literally
planted in every ! garden, they do well,
and make a good appearance, planted
either in masses or interspersed with
other bedding plants. Heliotropes de-
light in heat and moisture, hence never
allow these conditions to be wanting
either in propagating or growing the
plants. They also need plenty of pot
room, and when growing freely need
frequent shifting. Tn removing hello
tropes to the open ground, they should
be well-protected from the wind for
some time. or it will be almost sure to
blacken and wither the foliage. -
Of the ornainental-leayed plants, such
as are used for ribbon or carpet beds,
geraniums, coleus and achyranthes are
among those most easily raised at home.
Those varieties of geraniums having the
most clearly defined zonale marking on
the leaves are the most snowy for this
style of planting; but free-blooming va
rieties should always be chosen. The
General Grant is always desirable on
account of its rich color and free bloom
ing qualities. Notwithstanding the
many new varieties of coleus that have
been introduced of late years, the old
Verschaffeltis, dark, velvety, crimson
sort, is still regarded as one of the best
for bedding purposes. Zip cuttings
of lcoleus and all other bedding plants
are always preferable. .sgvAY5g -
Geraniums propagated now will make
small plants for setting in the open
ground on the approach OF summer,
after which they may be stored in the
cellar or kept in the house during win
ter. If wanted to bloom in winter, the
buds should be removed during summer.
Keeping geraniums in pots during the
summer is good plan when they are
wanted for early fail and winter bloom
ing. BY careful selection, cuttings of
geraniu1fsl can often be taken from
plants without injuring their symmetri-
cal form, and sometimes with positive
benefit to the appearance of the plant
When new and vigorous shoots start out
from the base Of the plant, the older
part Of the plant may be cut away en-
tirely. These new shoots will form a
fine shapely head, Geraniums that are
kept, in the cellar during winter may be
brought up to the light and allowed to
grow few weeks before setting out IN
the open ground Window plants often
suffer from lack OF light, which causes
them to grow 6ne-sided and tender. To
Counterfeit this in measure they should
be turned occasionally, that the light
may strike all sides of the plant. Plants
of German ivy are very useful for filing
standsand baskets, and for other similar
purposes Large plants Of this and
other. trailingfan creeping plants may
be easily raised, in small pots. Two and
one half inch pots are large enough if
kept plunged IN sawdust, and the plants
plentifully supplied With water.
These who raise ANIMAL lowering
plants from seed Will do wen to sow
some OF. the seed early, in order to have
early boom. Plants Of these. kinds
should be grown ia pots ike other plants,
for Convenience IN transplanting The
extra care and expense required to pro-
duce early ANIMALS of the fagofite vatie-
ties Isl well remunerated by The early
bloom, is during the early part of
summer, that flowers are most needed !;
hence the earlier ANIMALS can be made
to bloom the better, especially when
there, is lack of early bulbs, roses,
shrubbery, etc. A good-sized bed Of what
are usually termed greenhouse or bed
ding plants is always valuable addition
to a garden, for they make show of
flowers and foliage earlier than plants
raised from seed In the fall, also, af-
for oarlx1 frncfa thora 10 q eoorc;txy -