The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-16
FLOWERS THAT Will MAKE
Good INADORNINCCARDENS
A Few Suggestions On the Asefatum'
Nasturtium. Petunia, California
Poppy and Zinnia to the Housewife
Who Is Interested

Washington, March 16.-Many peo'
pie at this season of the year are con-
sidering what Towering plants they
shall put in their gardens. The aver
ace housewife, who has not much time
to spare on the matter, the child VINO
is lust becoming interested in growing
plants. and the teacher who is laying
out q school garden for the beneft OF
her pupils will undoubtedly welcome
some simple suggestions along this line.
The United States Department or
Agriculture specialist particularly
recommends as satisfactory and easily
grown flowers, the ageratum, the mas
turtium, the petunia, the California
poppy, and the zinnia. Here are a Few
pointers on each of them:
One of the Few Blue Flowers
The ageratum/is one of the few blue
flowers we have In its form it some
what resembles the hehotrope but has
NO odor. Ageratums grow well upon al
most all soils and through wide range
of climate. For that reason many COM
binations with them are possible. The
plants are neat, bushy, and erect, and
produce a profusion of brush-like How
ers throughout the season. The dwarf
blue sorts make fine borders and are
much used where contrasting color eff
feets are desired. For early bloom the
seed should be sown in cold frames or
in boxes in the house early in the sea-
son (March), but for summer and fall
bloom the seeds may be sown in April
or early in May in wen-prepared beds
in the open. Seeds sown IN August will
produce good plants for winter flower
ing.
Planting of Nasturtium
The large seeds of the nasturtium
require to be planted much deeper
than the fine seeds of the petunia. Sow
them in rows where the plants are to
grow. placing the seeds about six
inches apart in the row and cover
them about an inch deep. When all
plants are up. thin so that they stand
a foot apart if tho soil is rich; if
rather thin, it will be as we'll to allow
them to stand at the planting distance.
The plants should be given clean eulti-
walton to induce rapid growth. If
planted in the open at the same time
that beans are planted, very satisfae-
tory results viii follow. For earlier
bloom plant in advance of this date
in hotbeds, cold frames or window
boxes.
Growing of the Petunia
While the petunia grows~readily and
rapidly from seeds sown in the open
about corn planting time, earlier bloom
can be secured by sowing the seed in
window boxes or hotbeds and trans
planting the plants once before placing
them in the open. For localities north
of New York the most satisfactory
method of handling these plants will
be to start the seeds in window boxes
about April l, and to transfer the
young plants to the open when the
weather permits-about the middle of
May. The seeds are very small and
should not be covered with earth in
the ordinary way. They should be sown
on the surface and brought in contact
with the earth by tirming it with a
board.
California Poppy
The eschscholtzia is an annual of
&striking character both as regards the
#form and color of its flowers which
are bright and rich, In their tints of
| yellow and orange. The plants average
about a foot in height, have attractive
| silvery foliage, and produce their large
| poppy-like flowers quite lavishly from
early spring until frost. The seeds of
| esehscholtzia NAV be sown in window
boxes or in a hotbed in March, or in
the open where the plants are TO bloom
as soon as the soil is in fit condition,
in April or May in the latitude of New
York. In latitudes south of New York
the seeds may be sown in the autumn
for early bloom. The plants enjoy a
rich loan and should be allowed about
five or six inches of space in the row.
When used in beds they may be sown
broadcast.
Zinnia Easily Grown
The zinnia is easily grown from seed
sown in the open ground. When sown
in April the plants will bloom abund-
antly and continuously through the en-
Hire season. During the month of
August zinnias are at their best. To
secure large flowers and profusion of
bloom the plants must be given ample
room and a full development, as well
as an abundant supply of food Strong,
rich soils suit the zinnia. If the seeds
hre sown in dwelling house or in
hotbed in March and the young plants
Rre pricked out once or twice before
being placed in their permanent situa-
lions, more satisfactory results will be
occurred than from outdoor-sown seeds
pnless equal care in thinning or trans
planting is given. In addition to their
pse in the school garden, zinnias can
pc used for groups, beds, borders, gar
len lines, and summer hedges. Their
verage height is l IL feet. The zin-
hia is rather large, formal flower
whose colors range through the shades
bf red and yellow. Their season of
bloom is through the late summer and
utumn and the individual bloom lasts
or long time both on the plant and
5 Gust flowers.