West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-04-22
FLOWERS THAT WILL MAKE
GOOD" IN YOUR GARDEN
Helpful Suggestions for Those In
terested IN Growing Plants-Old
Time Favorites arc Easily Grown
Soil Should be Carefully Pre-
pared
pared


plants they shall put in their gardens.
The average housewife. who has not
much time TO spare on the matter. the
child who is just becoming interested
In growing plants. and the teacher
VINO is laying ont a school garden for
the benefit of her pupils will undoubt-
edly welcome some simple suggestions
along this line. The departments
specialist particularly recommends as
satisfactory and easily grown flowers
the ageratum, the nasturtium. the pc
tunia, the California poppy, and the
zinnta. Here are few pointers on
each of them:
Ageratum-The ageratum is one of
the few blue flowers we have. In it's
form II somewhat resembles the hello
trope' but has no odor Ageratums
grow well upon almost all soils and
through wide rangs of climates For
that reason many combinations with
them are possible. The plants are
neat, bushy, and erect, and produce n
profusion of the brushlike flowers
throughout the season. The dwarf
blue sorts make the borders and are
much used where contrasting color
effects are desired For early bloom
the seed should be sown i'm cold
frames or in boxes i'm the house early
In the season (March). but for sum-
mer and fall blooms the seeds may be
sown i'm April or early in May in
well prepared beds i'm the open. Seeds
sown in August will produce good
plants for winter Towering.
Nasturtium-Th large seeds OF the
nasturtium require to be planted
much deeper than the fine seeds of the
petunia. Sow them i'm rows where
the plants are TO grow, placing the
seeds about inches apart i'm the row.
and cover them about an inch deem.
When all plants are up, thin so they
stand about a foot apart If the soil
Is rich; If rather thin. it will be as well
to allow them to stand at the planting
distance. The plants should be given
clean cultivation to induce rapid
growth. If planted I'm the open at the
same time that beans are planted very
satisfactory results will follow. For
earlier bloom, plant in advance of this
date in hotbeds. cold frames, or win
dow boxes.
Petunia-W While the petunia grows
readily and rapidly from seeds sown
In the open about n-planting time.
earlier bloom can be secured by SOW
ing the seed in window boxes or hot
beds and transplanting 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 I'm
window boxes about April ], 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 i'm the ordinary way. They
should be sown on the surface and
brought in contact with the earth by
ilrming il with board.
California poppy (eschscholtzia)
The eschscholtzia is an annual of
striking character both as regards the
form and color of its flowers, which
are bright and rich i'm their unts of
yellow and orange. The plants aver
age about foot in height have at
tractive slvery foliage, and produce
their large poppylike flowers quite
lavishly from early spring until frost.
The seeds of eschscholtzia may be
sown in window boxes or i'm a hotbed
in March, or in the open where the
plants are TO bloom as soon as the
soil is in nc condition. in April or Nav
in the latitude of New York. In lau-
tudes south Of New York the seeds
may be sown in the autumn for early
bloom. The plants enjoy rich loan
and should be allowed about 3 or
inches Of space in the row. When
used in beds they may be sown broad
cast.
Zinnia-The zlnnia is easily grown
- 'ih ocNH hOWu III the open round.
When sown in April the plants will
bloom abundantly and continuously
through the entire 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 for full
development. as well as an abundant
supply Of food. Strong. rich soils
suit the zinnia. n the seeds are sown
IN a dwelling house or i'm hotbed
in March and the young plants are
pricked out once or twice before be /
ing placed in their permanent situa-
tion. more satisfactory results will be
secured than from outdoor grown
seeds unless equal care I'm thinning
or transplanting is given. In addition
TO their use i'm the school garden. zin-
Mas can be used for groups. beds. bor- !
ders, garden lines and summer hedge I
Their average height is one and half
feet. The zinnia is rather large.
formal flower whose coIors range
through the shades OF red and yellow.
Their season OF bloom is through the
late summer and autumn and the in
dividual bloom lasts for a long time.
both on the plant and as cut flowers.