Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-06-14
TO BEAUTIFY TOWNS
FLOWERS FOR PUBLIC GARDENS AND
HOW TO PLANT THEM.

HOW TO PLANT THEM.
Some of the Best Varieties That Are
Easy to Grow-POinters on Plant
ing Sweet Pcas-When to Begin
Outdoor Sowing.
One of the best ways to beautlfy n
town and attract desirable residents Is
to plant flowers In public places. There
is usually plenty Of space around the
town hall or other public buildings In
which to make flower beds, and they
add 100 per cent to the beauty of the
town. Much money rs wasted. however,
owing to the inexperience of those who
do the work and select the plants.
The nasturtium is the most accOmmO-
dating Of plants, making the best OF
any situation in which 1t finds itself,
says the Philadelphia Ledger. In box
OH n fcncepost or window ledge 1t will
droop and show It's rich colors In gar
lands; backed by n range of chicken
wire it will weave itself in and out as n
screen; given brush heap, pile or
rubbish or the level ground, and 1t Will
make Of 1t n mass Of green and gor-
geous coloring. Its one purpose In liv-
ing Is to perfect its beautifully sculp-
tured seeds, and with this ambition
kept in check by cutting the blooms as
they open. the plants will continue to
grow and to blossom from early sum
nrer until frost. No plant is easier to
and so responsive to good care.
When sweet peas are to be sown
out of doors in the spring, the soil
must be prepared as early as it can be
worked. Dig trench about foot
wide and foot deep and burn In 1t
enough brush to give an inch deep Of
ashes. II this cannot be done, add
about an inch Of hardwood ashes. On
this put three or four inches of well
rotted manure and cover with two or
three inches Of soil. Pack this close,
either by stamping or pounding. Cover
with an eighth Of an inch Of bone dust,
then add two inches Of soil, and on this
SOW the seeds thickly. Dust the seeds
we'll with ground mustard to protect
them from wireworms and mice and
cover with an inch Of soil. Water
we'll and then add another inch Of soil,
packing the whole together by cover
ing with n board and stepping OH it.
BY having the plants about two
inches apart and the food supply be-
low they will root deeply. and by keep
ing the surface soil loose to serve as
mulch the ordinary rainfall will give
moisture enough to carry the plants
through even period of drought I'M
they come to perfection. Surface root
ing caused by watering, surface feed
ing or letting flowers go to seed will
all serve to shorten the blooming season.
The outdoor sowing should not be
until the weather is settled. II seed
is sown In boxes indoors now, there
will be plants Of good size to get out
when the weather is warm enough for
working among them. The seeds ger
inmate quickly, and the first leaves, be-
ing of true form and good size. are Mt
once n delight. Nasturtium seeds may
be put in an inch apart. with two
inches between the rows, and not
transplanted until moved to the garden
or may be sown very thickly in rows
and transferred to more roomy boxes
MS soon as the seed leaves are I'M
folded.
For the ordinary garden an ounce
of "choice mixture" will give variety
nf l. IA
added II package Of some of the new
varieties. A package contains about
n sixth of an ounce, or about thirty
seeds. Bought of n reliable scotsman,
each package will probably average
twenty plants.
1t Is sometimes desirable to have n
large plant to fill corner or row Of
them to hide line fence or to break
view that Is not pleasing or on 4
lawn to have tropical effect without
risking a valuable palm. For each Of
these purposes the ricinus, or castor
oil plant. serves admirably. 1t grows
rapidly and. If the blossoms are re-
moved as they develop, will attain a
very considerable height and remain
slightly until the very severe frosts.
And the family has even more than all
this - recommend It. Flies, mOsQui-
toes, gnats and many other insects. it
is said. do not like the plant and will
not remain near it, "Windows with
ricinus growing before them do not
need ny screens" says one housewife.
MoIes and mice will not burrow near
its roots. and even rabbits avoid It's
vicinity.
The plant is semitropical, and seeds
should not be put in the ground out
side until the weather is to be depend
ed upon. The seeds terminate readily
and may be started indoors and tho
transpanting be without risk. Last
year seeds were started indoors in
April, and others were sown outside I'm
May. when the plants of the first lot
were being put out. In August both
lots were In flower and with no ap-
parent difference In size or develop
ment.
Cobra scaudens is one of the most
satisfactory of the annual climbers. 1t
starts easily, has foliage that makes a
good showing for both form and color.
has tendrils that will cling and hold
fast to whateveF offers and in late
summer and autumn will generally
give a profusion of large, bell shaped
flowers. The growth from a single
seed last year, set at the corner of a
story and n half cottage, climbed to