The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16
HOW TO GROW CoCKsCoMB.
NJ WALTER E. BOYD.

beine an dmateur ~entnuslast, 1 nave
learned considerable about flowers by
practical experience. An old fash
Toned flower IL Celosia cristata cocks
comb: It Is pretty and adds color to
the garden. The bright red and GRIM
son variety are very snowy. The rea-
son why more Of these flowers are not
grown is because the amateur does
no know how to grow them.
One Of the most important points
is to get good seeds. Red varieties that
have a dark green foliage and grow
about twelve inches high are preferred.
Start the seeds in the open ground
as soon as the ground is warm and
all danger Of frost is past. Sow three
times as many seeds as are really
needed, thinning out and using only
strong and healthy plants. 1t Is
plants Of this kind that produce well
developed flowers.
To obtain the best results select a
good sunny location in the garden. A
southern exposure Is preferred. Small
seeds. such as these. should be well
taken care of. II they are covered
too deep or given too much water
they will either rot or smother in the
ground. II Is when seeds fail TO
terminate that the scotsman gets
the credit Of selling poor stock. while
the fault usually lies with the planter.
Rake the ground thoroughly to
make 1t as fine as possible, then water
well with sthe fine rose watering
pot; sow the seeds in rows on top of
the prepared ground and cover lightly
with fine sand, then press down with
a fiat board.
To protect the seeds from the hot
u and heavy rains while sprouting,
place a board owe them eight or nine
inches wide, raised w inches from
the ground. Do not keep the soil too
wet and d. not remove the board ex-
cept early in the morning or late in
the afternoon. Avoid the hot u
until the plants are well out OF the
ground. last year I planted q solid
bed OF ~celosias. The bed was made
ready two weeks previous 10 trans
planting and plenty Of manure was
e'S'' - ptotto WIZ OCT 10 AlCIlCS
apart. and after spacing them all the
dirt vas removed from the hole. which
was one foot deep by one foot in
diameter. The sol! taken from the
sole was thrown into q w~heelbarrow
and mixed with the same quantity Of
stable manure. two spadefuls OF fine
sifted coal ashes and pint OF bone
meal. These were mixed thoroughly
and then put back, working the mix
ture well down in the hole With the
end OF the spade.
The fine coal ashes which were
added to the soil made 1t porous
and the bonemeal made an excellent
tonic. When the plants were In bloom
the same quantity OF bonemeal was
again supplied, spread on the ground
and raked In.
When the combs began to form on
the plants they were tr~ansplanted TO
the prepared bed.
Transplanting at this time makes
the flower heads much larger. In re-
moving small plants from one spot TO
another be careful not TO shake away
the dirt, keeping as much dirt around
the roots as possible. Water when
necessary. Bear In mind that II the
plants are kept cultivated and have
been well fortified they will stand
a lot Of dry weather without water.
Cultivate often, not too close to the
plants. II tho flbrous roots are in
terfered with II retards their growth.
My garden was made bright with
these beautiful and snowy flower
heads from midsummer until frost.
None OF them measured less than six
inches, some measured ten inches
Six OF the largest heads were
exhibited at the Monmouth County.
y. j., Horticultural Fair and won a
blue ribbon.