The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-07-17


One of the most popular plants for
baskets is the Asparagus Sprengeri.
This is one of the most easily grown
and pretty plants for this purpose. The
fronds are Of rich shade Of green,
and often four feet in length, and will
retain their dainty green in a dry at
mosphere, but will not make much
growth without moisture.
The Vinca Minor variegata, a trail
ing plant, is admirably adapted for a
hanging basket; the Tradescantia null
ticolor or Wandering Jew, and the Ice
Plant, make beautiful trailing plants
for this purpose, but are fowerless.
There are some trailers that bloom
and make exceedingly snowy basket
plants. The Weeping Lantana is very
graceful, grows rapidly, and blooms
continually, producing large clusters
of flowers Of the most delicate lilac,
or rosy pink and the foliage is very at
tractive. The Kenlworth Ivy is a most
delicate trailer, has dainty blooms, and
is easily grown The Trailing Queen
Fuchsia, Russelia elegantissima and the
Ivy Geraniums, all make excellent
basket plants, and can be kept from
year to year, increasing in beauty each
year.
In connection with the above read
the following description of desirable
basket plant, written for the same
magazine by another correspondent:
Notwithstanding the stigma of ''Iom-
mon place" which growers of cOstlier
flowers have striven to fix upon the
loved flower of the people, and soon
may hope for some such a restoration
to public favor as Nasturtiums, Pop
pies and PaeOnies have enjoyed.
The most graceful and classical-look-
ing Of all the Geranium family are the
Ivy-leaved sorts. They are especially
beautiful when grown in baskets, which
display their picturesque grace of
habit, and thick, glossy, beautifully
formed leaves. The finest variety [
ever grew was Jeanne d Arc, with
large, double flowers of pure white
Its thick, dark green leaves have a
small dark half-circle near the centre,
and it grows and blooms luxuriant1y.
Madame Thibaut blooms more pro-
fusely, perhaps, but it's flowers are not
SO large, and the rose-pink freshness
is dulled with light wash of magenta
The Ivy Geranum is best appreciated
and most useful when grown as Il
basket plant. 1t has a rolicksome
luxurlance, and picturesqueness akin
to the Nasturtiums, enjoying, too,
somewhat similar conditions and treat
ment. Given a rich, well-drained soil,
with plenty of heat and moisture, it
will soon hide a basket of ordinary
size completely, and trail downward
at brave pace. There is a great
difference in an Ivy Geranium we'll
grown, and the weak, struggling plant
Of the ordinary window. Too often
such plants are either starved in thin,
poor soil, or rendered dyspeptic with
over doses Of too fresh manures, and
various other strong fertilizers.
A little SCOT sprinkled lightly over
the surface Of the soil in which &C.
raniums are grown darkens their leaves
wonderfully, but too much either of
SCOT or ashes in the soil will quickly
kill them. A sour soil and too much
water when the plants are dormant
or the temperature low soon causes
an Ivy Geranium to break apart at
the points and turn yellow.
The leaves of this Geranium are as
beautiful as their flowers, and useful
in many sorts of cut flower work.