Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-10-25
Som Special Purpose Plants.

amateur flower gardener would like
10 grow some plant for a special pur-
pose. but is not familiar enough with
plants to make a satisfactory selection
of sorts with which TO carry out his
plans Do you want something to
serve as a sort of hedge to mark the
boundary between flower and vege,
table garden, or to hide something UNI
slightly? asks correspondent OF the
New York Tribune Farmer. The
zinnia is a good plant for this pur-
pose. It is of the easiest possible cul-
ture. Any one can grow it, and ii will
grow anywhere. 1t reaches a height OF
four feet in ordinary soil, anu
branches SO freely that there are no
gs ps close to the ground 1t blooms
with great profusion throughout the
greater part of the season Its colors
are wide in range and very brilliant
Sweetpeas make a good hedge il
properly supported. The best effect is
secured by giving them crush to
Chamber over This allows them to
reach out in all directions, and does
away with the rather prim and formal
effect of wire trellis or a support
of strings. Let the brush used be
spreading in character and about
three feet high after setting. BY
sharpening the bush at its base it
will be an cas-! matter to insert it
firmly into the ground. Set it at
least eight inches deep, to prevent its
topping over under the great weight
of fully-ieveloped vines Such
hedge is very pleasing, and requires
very little attention after setting the
brush. Keep seed from forming if
you want flowers throughout the sea.
son.
The best vines for covering I'M
slightly buildings are morning glories
and the wild cucumber. The latter is
of wonderfully rapid growth, often
growing 20 to 80 feet in a season, ano
is therefore excellent for clambering
up trees and to the second stories or
buildings. 1t takes kindly to coarse
meshed wire netting. In late sum
AiCl ~ 10 q l1cloo vi uGlIEdLG Willie
flowers, making the vine look as II
covered with newly-fallen snow. The
morning glory often attains a height OF
Is feet or more, but it is most effec
tive when confined to the lower stories
of the house. 1t is charming for
covering verandas, porches and sur
mer houses. or to train over exposed
windows and doorways as a screen
against the sunshine When used
for the latter purpose it is a good plan
to make a wooden frame and fasten
to the top of door or window, support
ing it on each side by braces from the
frame and train the vines over it.
This gives us a floral awning that is
delightful to look at, very practical as
shade, and that prevents the vines
from getting in the way from over
head.
Do you like beds of fine foliaged
plants, suggesting tropical effects
The best plant you can select for such
use is the ricinas, or castor plant.
This often reaches a height OF s or 10
feet. 1t has. immense foliage of a rich,
bronze green, overlaid with
coppery luster. Three or four plants.
grouped, make a fine display. Smaller
beds, filled with amaranthrs, having
dark Indian red foliage, and long
tassel-like strings OF dull red flowers,
are very pretty. Both these plants can
be grown from seed. If you want an
exceedingly brilliant show of color, at
midsummer, the gladiolus is the plant
to use Never plant it singly, if you
desire solid effect Group it, by all
means setting the roots five or six
inches apart Then set stout stakes
at each end of the row, and run wires
over them, at height of Is or 20
inches from the ground, to furnish sup
port for the tall flower stalks, which
are heavy, and easily broken down by
wind and storms. | know of no plant
more brilliant and varied in color.
Groups of it will give solid effect
that will delight you.
If you want a compact, low growing
Towering plant as an edging for beds,
y
Ageratum, lavender blue, is EXTREMITY
pretty when used with flowers whose
color is in harmony with it's own, like
pale yellow phlox drummondi, or the
pure white varieties. For low beds
the verbena is unrivaled. 1t is rich
in color red, rose, purple, violet,
scarlet, crimson and pure white, forms
a thick mass of branches and blooms
with great freedom until frost comes.
For hot, sunny Iocat ons, near the
path, or where it can be looked down
upon, there is nothing superior to the
ortulacca. 1t floUTishes in heat that
would prove sure death to ordinary
plants. Do you want some flowers to
cut from? Try nasturtiums. sweet
peas scabiosa, 10-week stock and
asters.
For late Towering the aster is our
best plant Especially Semples
branching, in white. pale lavender ana
soft rose These are as fine as
chrysanthemums. They last for two
weeks. AS they have very long stalks,
they can be arranged in many ways
with fine effect Next to the aster, 4
would place 10-week stock, whirh cor
tinues to bloom until winter is upon
us The Marguerite strain of carna,
ton is a very late blooms r, and so is
tho aueu0ue whose white and req