Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-04-01
Flowers as Q Side Line In Farming
(By z. T. Muller.)

II
Too few farmers realize the possibi
ties OF an added source of income froI
raising cut flowers during the summe
Tor sale to the florists of the pesrb
towns and cities. These florist store
are usually undersupplied and q read
market would undoubtedly be avaitip
choice cut flowers from the farm.
The cost Of growing these would no
be great nor would great deal of atten
ZION and care be necessary. In man
cases the woman of the house could q,
tend them after they are once planted.
The flowers especially good for thi
purpose are, in the order of their impoI
tance, sweet pea, aster and gladioli.
Sweet Pea-An open sunny location
should be chosen for sweet pea culture
as light and air In abundace are reede,
for q strong, healthy growth. Plant
grown in too shady location are veal
and spindling and produce few flowers
Any garden soil Is suitable IL it is vel
drained and dries out early in the spring
The sweet pea Is naturally deep-rootet
plant and to guard against the effeots o
drought, the preparation OF the sol
should be deep and thorough.
Whenever practicable, It is well t
trench the soil In the autumn. II this Il
not done trench at least Is inches wild,
and Is inches deep should be dug at th,
time OF planting. The soil should b,
composted thoroughly with coarse, vel
rOtted stable manure, which is quickly
available as plant food.
Some white and yellow varieties hav,
white or light colored seeds. The whit,
seeds often decay in the soil, especially
when 1t Is cold, and consequently It. Il
advisable to SOW these varieties thicker
than black-seeded.
As soon as frost Is out Of the ground
the soil should be prepared as the swee
pea is cool crop. If the soil has beer
prepared In the fall, II is best to smooth
the surface and plant the seed. The
seed may be sown in single or double
rows, the latter being about six to eigh,
inches apart. Sow the seed two inche,
deep and one inch apart. After the
plants are up few inches thin them on,
so they are one foot apart.
As soon as the seed is sown, supports
should be placed. For small areas there
is nothing better than white or gray
birch boughs five or six feet in length
Chicken wire six feet high, we'll sup.
ported on posts, is also good.
Cultivate frequently throughout the
season to keep down weeds and make q
surface mulch of soil to prevent drought
During July surface mulch of strawy
material or grass clippings will prevent
undue drying out of the soil.
After sweet peas are In full bloom,
fertilizers may be applied A weak ap.
plicstion Of liquid manure every week
maintains the size of individual flowers
and the length of stems for consider
able time. Bone meal also encourages
flower production.
The flowers should be kept picked,
for they mature quickly and il allowed
to 90 to seed, there Is dwarfing of the
plant and consequently q shortening OF
the flower stems. Cut the flowers with
scissors or . sharp knife late In the after.
noon and put them In water over night,
then take to market early In the morn.
ing.
Desirable summer blooming varieties
are: America, Apple Blossom, Blanch
Ferry, Countess Spencer, Czsrina, Doro-
thy Ecford, Illuminator, King White,
Fiery Cross, Orchid, Othello, Vermilion
Brilliant and Salapian.
Aster-The China Asters are not diff.
fcult to grow. They are not particular
as TO type of soil but require liberal
amount of thoroughly decomposed,
organic matter. The soil in which they
are to be placed should be top-dressed in
the fall and plowed. In the spring Ii
should again be plowed as early as pos.
sible and thoroughly narrowed. The
seeds should be started early either in q
horbed or sunny window in the home in
. seed box. They should be sown about
March Is.
As soon as they show the first two
leaves transplant them into another part
Of the hotbed or In other seed boxes
about two inches apart each way.
About week or ten days before warm
weather they should be placed in cold
frame to harden of. About May Is
they can be planted out doors in rows 1S
inches apart with the plants 10 to II
inches apart in the row.
the season. A feed OF liquid
manure every week Is also desirable.
Pick the flowers late in the afternoon
or early In the morning and take them
TO market early, mornings. These flow
srs sell for from Is TO 25 cents dozen
W holesale and 80 to so cents q dozen re-
tail.
Gladioli-The best soil for glsdioli is
4 medium loan. Avoid manure in con-
tact with bulbs. Manure is good, how
aver, IL applied the autumn previous to
planting. A good potato fertilizer is
desirable. Bone meal 10 extensively
used and liquid manure when the buds
are forming seems beneficial.
The glsdioli are not hardy and plant
ing should be deferred until all danger
Of frost is over, namely June l. In light
soils plant the bulbs seven to eight inches
deep. In heavy clay, four inches Is suf-
ficient. The bulbs are planted In rows
Is inches apart, about four to six inches
apart In the row.
The plants should be cultivated con-
tinuously.
At the approach of frost In the fall,
dig up the plants leaving the tops on.
After q few weeks trim OF the leaves
and store the bulbs in q temperature OF
400 45oF. Dry atmosphere is best. A
new bulb will be found above the old
one and several small ones attached.
These small bulblets may be planted for
4 season by themselves in rows and will
be large enough for sale or growing the
so,,ov;no aeaaon Thus. the cut flowers
and the bulbs are salable. The bulbs
will sell for cents piece wholesale and
10 cents each retail. The flower spikes
sell for s cents each wholesale and 10
each retail.
Desirable varieties are: America, pink
Augusta, white; Baron Hulot, violet;
Empress Of India, dark maroon; Glory,
ruffied, cream yellow; HALEY, salmon
pink; Independence, red; Mrs. Frank
Pendlstou, pink, blotohed purple; Peace,
white; Rochester White, white; Canary
Bird, yellow.