Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-02
DESIRABLE SUMNER PLANTS.
Choosing Them With Regard to Use
in Small Enclosures and in Pots.

lNeW 1otk evening POstJ
To select a variety of towering and
foliage plants which will give the desired
amount of bloom combined with artistic
and harmonious markings OF foliage Is
comparatively easy when one has large
grounds with an abundance Of good soil
fertilizers. and some one to properly care
for the plants. Such selection would re-
quire mainly the exercise of a little judg-
ment TO avoid the classes requiring ex-
cessive moisture or heat. and. as such
classes are limited, the careful reader is
not apt TO make mistakes in that direc-
ton. With grounds OF limited area in
town and country, or when the space for
summer-plant decoration is confined to
the limited square feet of a city lotA or
even to boxes vases. pots, and tubs, then
the selection OF proper plants becomes a
study which must be carefully gone over
TO avoid mistakes which, in the compare
tive shortness OF the summer, cannot be
rectihed.
Success in Horticulture depends first OF
all on good soil; a plant may do fairly
well without much sunlight. but IL the
soil is poor the sun and rain will not sup
ply the requisite food TO enable the plant
TO grow sturdy, much less to bear the
additional strain of blooming. A good
soil means one containing a fair amount
of plant food; pure sand, gravel. or clay
will not do, but IL we mix a moderate
amount Of sand and clay with several
times the quantity OF loamy garden soil
we will have a soil which will do well for
the majority of garden plants. Residents
OF cities where 1t is difficult 70 obtain
manures may readily add to the richness
., -oii han hxg "A ~
Of the commercial plant foods which are
very moderate in price, cleanly to handle,
and effective in results.
In the selection of plants, IL the reader
will be guided by the descriptions here
given as TO their suitability for certain
purposes, no difficulty will be experienced,
as all of them have been thoroughly test
ed and found eminently satisfactory. II
hardly seems necessary to more than re-
fer to the value of such well-known how-
ering plants as gladioluses, geraniums,
and the like for beds and borders, but
they are unequalled. and will thrive and
bloom In any good soil where they may
have fair amount of sunlight. The car
nation is so popular as a winter flower
that lovers of that flower are tempted 70
have ii on their grounds In the summer
but usually fail with IL, not because the
plant is difficult to handle, but mainly
for the reason that most Of the young
plants raised are designed for winter
blooming, and are grown accordingly
For summer blooming plants that are
small and stocky will bloom to some ex-
tent during the early summer; but put
out their best blooms in late summer and
early fall. Unless plants can be purchased
which show bud-stalks in abundance, the
use Of the Marguerite carnation, which
is now largely grown by florists and
plantsmen for summer blooming will be
found most satisfactory. II desired the
seed may be sown in May. and the plants
will begin TO bloom profusely in August.
Carnations Of ali kinds require COOL
moist soil, with some shade during the
hottest part OF the day.
One Of the best plants for use in beds
or along the border. and also for edging
boxes, tubs, and vases. is the lobelia.
The plant is OF dwarf habit. delicate
foliage, and furnishes small blossoms,
OF a beautiful shade Of blue. in great
abundance. a most attractive bed, either
large or small, may be made in good soil
with geraniums of a salmon-Dink shade,
such as the Mrs. +. c.. Hin. for the
major portion. with a border two plants
deep of lobelia. Or the bed may be
made of Browalia. a valuable bedding
plant with flowers of deep blue two inches
across. and border of some low growing
geranium white in shade, such as La
Favorite, or a dark pink like Naomi
Tigridias are among the most service
able of summer flowers grown from bulbs,
and are not only striking In appearance
but will grow in any good garden soil
where they can have a fair amount of
n6 btONfrn
out the summer. The bulbs are moderate
In price and may be planted any time
during May. either in beds. in the border,
DR. in pots by themselves. The foliage
IS broad and gracefully dropping, OF an
attractive shade Of green: the plants
grow TO height Of 2 feet. and the flowers
are large and beautifully spotted. There
are dozen or fifteen varieties. all good.
but the following are especially desirable:
Aurea. deep golden yellow: Pavonia.
yrandltora, large. bright crimson. with
yellow notified centre and grandifora
alba, white. with yellow cup. spotted with
crimson. AS single plants in pots or
tubs three or four bulbs may be put
n tub which Is from foot 10 IS inches
across). few plants will be found more
than Tigridias.
Another desirable plant from bulbs. but
,ne requiring considerable sun, is Mont
oretia crocosmiiora. II Is enc Of the most
)rofuse blooming plants we have. display
ng graceful spikes of star-shaped
lowers OF orange suffused with red. IL
l number OF bulbs can be planted six
inches apart In sunny location, and al
owed to remain undisturbed, In few
years they will throw up many strong
pixies and form clump, sending out hum