Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-25
THE FLOWER GARDEN.


THE FLOWER GARDEN.
The Petunia. Browallia, Balsam
and AStcrs
For decoration of lawn and garden there Is
no kind of plants that exceeds tide petunia In
constant succession OF flowers, rapid growth
and gay colors while its culture Is OF the easiest
as 1t Will adapt itself to any soil, yet shows irs
appreciation OF good food Dy greater Quantity
OF brilliant flowers and larger branches. The
seeds can be sown In the open border at this
eight inches apart or thinned out to that dis
lance. When the plants are In bloom pull out
all that are Inferior In flower, and allow only
me nan e varieties to go to seed. BY
tnls method you can improve The qualities of
your petunias every year; and By letting the
bed remain undsturbed until the seedlings ara
wen advanced next May. you will have a fine
the neighborhood also.
The florists have improved the petun.a vastly
In the past few years, In the beauty OF its hueS,
Its size ana the texture OF It's petals have also
been greatly increased. A famous florist has
produced variety with fringed petals which
Is Ism much 1 sought; me fiIst double petunas are
have they become that the florists sell millions
OF plants every year. The single varieties seed
plentifully. and when hybrldkad with the
double varieties produce many new varieties.
But the quickest way 10 grow double petunias
Is by cuttings. which should be taken from the
fresh shoots when they break easily from the
plant, and single varieties Can be pTopagated in
the season. Take the slip OF just below q )lnt,
and remove the lower leaves, then set the snooi
firmly into wet sand; do not let more than feur
leaves remain upon the slip and nip of all
1ncipient buds so as to make two shoots grow
from the top. Keep it shaded from the sun for
three or four days. AS soon as the rootlets are
well developed take 1t from the sand and plant
either In the border, or In pot where it viii
bloom all winter.
Among the novelties In petunias, would
recommend petunia fnbrftato no pleno which
wifi
deeply frfnged. 1t IL very SNOWY plant and
can be had In pure white, shaded white, purple
and crimson and white. or Ia solid colors. Pc
variety with each petal bordered with green.
The 1Dimitable dwarf petuDia is the most recent
acquisition. Its flowers are bright cherry color,
spotted with white and 1t grows in shape OF q
the petunia. but Its takes kindly to richer food.
AND Its colors are brighter its flowers larger II
IL is occasionally treated to a little soluabIe
guano or very weak liquid manure (made from
the stable OF hen roosU greatly diluted with
water. half hOgShead filled with this decoc-
tl0D, could be sunk In an out Of the way part
In the garden and kept full Of water which
twice week.
The browallia, lovely little flower, grows
wild In South America, and was named by
Linbaus "BrowaIrs Beauty because a friend
by that name gave him the SEED. But after a
few years 1t was called brOwallia. 1t germi.
mates quickly from seeds and Is a constant
when the frost threatens and are kept In
vases OF water they will continue to bloom for
weeks, and will also throw out tiny roots, so
that they can be planted and kept during the
winter. The blue towering varieties are pref.
cradle to the white because blue flowers are
much rarer. Although the flowers are quite
small they are peculiar In shape and unsur-
PASSED for vases and boQuets it is essential
In every flower garden.
Originally the aster was an ordinary single
hover, but under the careful treatment OF the
= Ihynnd int l@,xy
as the dahl1a, and It's blossoms are produced in
great abundance late In the season after many
OF the handsomest ANNALS are past and gone
1t Is not handsome flower for the lawn or
pdrterTe. but 1t Is better suited for beds In Inc
general collection of flowers. 1t is q valuable
hover for table and house decoration, as It
does lot fade quickly, but Will continue In
beauty for several DAYS after It has been gatb.
eled and arranged In vases or baskets
The tall growing varieties, such as Trurant's
pT%,onyfioweIed giant emperor rosefiowered
small stakes, as they are so loaded with blos-
SONS that heavy storm is apt to break them
down. Asters bloom In every shade of color
Dat yellow ana bright blue. New Victoria yer.
red hitherto unknown. The dwarf chrysan-
themum asters or Boltze's New Bouquet are
very Desirable for edgtngs to beds, as they
grow from eight to ten inches in height, and show
mass OF double Mowers OF the richest hues.
AsteIs iced very rich soil and should be
mulched In July. ~
one OF the most ornamental In the garden II II
Is given proper care, and Is duly trained and
pinched OF It's surpe1uous growth. 10 have
them In perfection the plants should be set b
inches apart and trained to three stalks. which
viii be as thickly ladened with flowers as the
nyacinth; or the plants can be set five or six
inches apart and tram I'd to only one stalk by
nlpp1ng on every other branch but the Center
one. and keeping every struggling shoot down.
Thus trained all the strength Of the root ia
concentrated into small epace, and the
flowers VIII be very large and double The soil
should be very rich and loamy, and the plants
IN July or with grass from the lawn mower
Q7l5.i, old