The Florida agriculturist., 1906-01-10
Notes From the Rural Grounds.

the above heading. 1t gives accounts
of experiments with fruits, vegetables
and flowers From late number we
clip some items that may be of inter
est why is it that the annual and
Biennial Pinks, known as Chinese and
Japanese Pinks, are not more COM
monty grown in this state? They are
hardy at the North and would prob
ably bloom all winter here.
Flower Novelties Some very good
flower seed novelties have lately been
introduced. We have had occasion to
mention some of the more conspicuous
ones in previous notes.
NicOtiana Sanderae holds out well,
making a fine show of color as late as
November 2. The blooms dropped and
shriveled during hot summer days,
only standing up morning and even
ings, but throughout October our plant
ing has made on the whole a most
cheerful effect. Some of the purple
shades are dull and lifeless, but others
range well into bright carmine. Nico-
tianas endure light frOsts very well,
but Succumb to freeze severe enough
to kill tomato plants. Much seed of
Sanderae has been saved, and it is
likely to be cheap enough next year
to be within the reach of all. Grown
in the border with MarigOlds, Zinnias
and Cosmos it will make pleasing
addition when fierce midsummer heat
is over
Impatiens HOlsti grew exceedingly
well in the garden, and was constantly
covered with large, bright red blooms
until the middle of October. When
grown in quantity it should be most
desirable for bedding, especially in
warm light soil. The habit is all that
could be desired, as outdoor specimens
grow low and fiat, with many branches
of almost even height. Pot plants
grow taller and make good conserva-
tory specimens.
PlatycOdOn Mariesi Macranthum.-l
This is gem among hardy perennials. |
1ihe Rural Grounds received seeds |
about seven years ago from a diStin- |
guished German grower, who claimed |
it to be the result of very many years |
selection from PlatycOdOn Maries, |
now regarded as a garden form of |
the only true species, Z. grandffOrum, |
and which has practically disappeared |
from cultivation. Z. grandifiOrum has |
long been favOrite border plant, usu-
ally known as the Chinese belIfOwer |
1t grows two or three feet high and |
forms very handsome plant with a |
prOfusiOn of large blue or white sau-
cer-Shaped flowers, opening from con- |
SpiciOuS ballOOn-like buds. 1t grows |
too lanky for windy situations, and is |
usually blown over by storms when |
in the height of its summer beauty |
Z. MarieSi was much dwarfer and |
more compact, and bore larger blue |
flowers, but the improved habit was
never well fixed in the seed that |
found its way into commerce. Plants |
of all heights, from one to three feet, |
would grow from a single packet of |
seeds, with a corresponding variation |
in form and arrangement Of branches, |
though the blooms were fairly uniform |
in size and color. The raiser of the |
present large-fOwered novelty. p Ma |
riesi macranthum, worked quite 20 |
years in selecting from the dwarfest |
and most compact plants, at the same
time increasing the size and number of |
blooms, while retaining the rich blue |
shade, so acceptable in the best Origi- |
nal forms of 2. MarieSi 2. macran-