Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-05-25
FLOWER CULTIVATION.
Adern the Farm Garden or Lawn With
elossomine Plants.
BY c. c. soWsFIELp.

Flowers add 50 much 10 the beauty
OF lawn or garden. either in town or
country. that every family Is disposed
10 give some attention TO them. \
home gains refining influences through
The cultivation OF flowers.
II is possible TO have thrifty little
garden on the porch or in the window
until long after frost comes. In the
first place. strong box eight inches
deep is needed Many people err in
using boxes THAT are too shallow aud
which dry out quickly. Well rotted
manure may be mixed with the soil, or
a small amount OF bone meal can be
added. The third requirement Is water
in abundance. Soil in boxes dries out
much more quickly than that IN the
garden. and il neglected the plants viii
perish from thirst. Daily watering Is
needed IL the box Is in the sun, but
should be done evenings.
In order 10 have early pansies Il Is
necessary TO start the plants under
glass aud transplant them into the gar
den at the opening of the growing sea
son. The old practice OF winieriug
pansy plants outdoors is not to be rec
commended and has. in fact. become OBJ
soIete. The pansies started under glass
win bloom fully three weeks earlier
than those planted outdoors.
Amateurs who wish 10 start early
pansy plants under glass should re-
member that To germinate tie seed
does not require richness OF soil. hut
heat and moisture But after the plants
put out their second leaf they cannot
live In hotbed or In Il kitchen or SIT
ting room. a. Ia such places the air j.
too warm and dry for them. Where
a glass house Is not available they may
be stnrted In hotbed or ia box In
the kitchen window. Sow the seed In
q box about two inches deep filled with
good garden soil. sitting IL through
coarse sieve. ON the top Of this soil
scatter the seed and press It down
with the hand. scattering a little more
soil over after frming Where plants
are grown Ia hotbed or In the kiteh-
EN- window they may be hardened IN
a cold frame
Pansies require a cool. damp atmos-
phere. and tie soil should never he al
lowed To become dry. but should be
lightly sprinkled two or three times II
dag. We leave the plants In the hard
enlng room until they have secured a
good root hold. after which we trans
plant them into deeper box with
richer soil. setting them about three
inches apart each way. We now sci
the plants In Il lighted cellar. where
they remain until the conditions out.
side are favorable In the cellar We
give them plenty OF air and allow no
frost TO enter.
We set the plants in the open about
the middle of April. aud quite IRE
quently they are fun OF buds and bios.
SONS at this time. II there i danger
OF April frost We cover the beds at
night. The plants soon begin 10 now
err ana the flowers have 10 be pinched
OF as soon n they begin ia fade else
the later flowers Will grow small aud
the plants will soon die.
The double towering geraninms are
far superior Ia ssiusles for outdoor
bedding. as the loss Of n few petals IN
storm does not spoil their beauty as
with the singles. but for indoor speei-
| men plants choose the singles.
Having chosen the Kind you wish.
root ms many slips early In spring "a
sou care 10 grow. See that these slips
are short and Of new growth. prefer
ably with a side branch coming ouf
near The base. When nicely rooted put
in small pots until time TO transplant
10 the garden. Pinch back branches
that are growing rapidly. Continue
this pinehing process until the desired
shape Is secured. Pinch or the buds
until early fall. when a rich bloom viii
be secured