The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-12-21
ORNAMENTALS FOR FLORIDA

lcr boxes and beds, and the edges of
walks and the clambering types TO-.
ooleliug stumps and wire-nettins
give results as quickly as does the
Castor bean.
In the North we do not enrich ill.,.
sround for this plant as it tends to
force rank leaf growth at the cx-
pense OF flowers, but down here ia
saIdy soil | give them the same
amount OF barn-yard and CONNER
cial fertilizer as any other annual.
Another desirable plant that is al
Eiost constantly in bloom is the bush
\inca or Periwinkle, as it is caleb
down here. There are three varic-
ties a pure white, white with rosy
eye, and one of dull! rose. the latter
being in my eyes the least desirable
CT all the c0l0rs Nature has given US
In flowers, and ii you have ever paid
attention to these things its a color
:" hich she has bcca most prodigal
With. ! have seen the Periwinkle
growing in such masses on the Easl
cast, where it appears to have es-
capped from cultivation, that the
ground appeared to be covered with
a carpet of white and rose. Other
annuals that are satisfactory plants
for flowers are the Gaillardia, CALI
O?sis, and annual Phlox. These
make fine borders of color or beds.
The Gaillardia is never more thar
{. foot high and combines the COL
ors of red and yellow. The Calliop.
sis grows about Is inches high and
combines the colors of yellow and
ricf. dark, maroon. This tower
grows wild in our woods and natur-
ally the cultivated variety does ex-
ceedingly we'll with us. In my North
ern garden planted Phlox In a bed
L: themselves and used them for cut
ting purposes, but down here l see
them most often scattered over lawns
where they make bright bits of COL
or that no doubt please the taste of
sorae persons, but to the lover Of q
fine green lawn. 1t would appear like
nothing short of dissertation to per-
NIT anything but a blade Of grass to
stick its head up on sweep Of green
Geraniums are desirable plants for
brightly colored flowers ard these
are usually obtained by sending to
nurseries In the North for tho plants.
The most Of these Northern grown
things como to us planted in a heavy
clay soil. This must all be gently
washed from the roots and then they
should be spread out in a natural
manner and some fine good soil sift-
ed in around them and packed as
closely as possible and last Of all
watered. never set out a plant
without shading 1t in some way for
three or four weeks to protect It
from the sun and wind. Sometimes I
Use Stats of thin wood and again |
may use palmetto leaves or the ends
OF thick-grOwing cane that | have
CT my place.
Geraniums do not make the show
with us that they do in California
fer the reason that the soil is hcav-
Ter out there and retains moisture
that is most necessary for the roots
at this plant. DO not think il likes
u be planted in wet place, but
rather that 1t does not like dry roots.
This means that you must water it
often
'annas make gorgeous display
u color in three or four months from
the painting. The foliage of some
sarieties of this plant are magnifi-
cent. Their leaves are often nearly
as large as those of the Banana and
'heir shape almost identical with
them.
The varieties "Wyoming" and
Hack Beauty" have very largo
leaves of dark beautiful maroon. The
towers of Wyoming are a clear.
pure shade of orange. "Mephisto
ard Charles Henderson" have large
End most attractive blooms of deco
scarlet
'annas have a thick root-stals
That is cut in pieces and planted
;hcut two inches below the surface
These roOt-stalks have well-devel.
oped eyes on them. and it is from
these that the main stalk grows
Just word about the character
81 soil to make for flowers in F,or;d,
II You raise live stock and chickerc
Keep Incorporating their manure IN.
To the soil, and if Won CON %.