Evening star., 1925-06-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

from the seeds of the common fox
glove"
The medicine digitalis, as usually
administered in cases of heart disease,
has a stimulating effect upon the
great body pump, if given in proper
dosage, although it is very apt to
derange the stomach and bowels and
cause lack of appetite.
Most of us who grow foxgloves in
our gardens, however, will never try
to extract digitalis from them. We
are content with their stately beauty
there in the border.
Prof l.. H. Bailey says, discussing
the digitalis family, which he classes
with the figworts:
THE best known species IS fox
glove Digitalis PurpureO in the
highly developed garden kinds usually
known as gloxinae flora (gloxinia-
fiowered). 1t is stately plant. with
spikes that rise 8 to 5 feet above the
ground; the pendulous flowers are
purplish and more. or less spotted in
side, varying to roSe-ltlac, red and
white; early and middle Summer.
1.-The foxglove is usually perennial,
but best results are obtained, as a
rule, from year-old plants, seeds hav-
ing been sown the previous year and
the seedlings transplanted, the plants
having been put in their regular
places in Autumn, ! to feet apart.
Sometimes the plants yield two
seasons of good bloom, and basal
shoots will arise in late Summer for
continuation of the life of the plant
even one or two years longer; these
shoots arise from the base of the old
stock rather than from the root, and
the stock or crown becomes hollow
and the resulting crop is weak
Dealers sometimes class the plant
with biennials. AS soon as the
flower spike becomes ragged, cut it
off and save the energy of the plant
for the secondary bloom. For best
results, see that the plant at no time
suffers for lack of water
Bailey calls these plants erect, hardy
herbs of Europe and Asia, biennial
and short-lived perennial, describing
also Digitalis lanata, which he says
| is frequently seen in gardens, making
an excellent rear row. 1t is strict
and unbranched, rising 2 TO feet,
and bears a hairy, closely fowered
terminal raceme or spike; flowers odd
rather than SNOWY, about l inch long,
| the tubular part with brown reticula-
tions, upper lip practically wanting,
lower lip veined white"
Digitalis Purpurea, the garden fox
glove, is easily grown, if one holds in
mind the necessity for plenty of pa
tience, waiting while the plants grow
up"
A Is or 20 cent package Of seed will
Yield 80 or more plants-enough for
an entire neighborhood. The foxglove
| is one of those accommodating flowers
that grow well in shaded, damp soil,
where it is difficult TO raise anything
| else.
1t does fine on the north side of
houses, where the ground is usually
moist and where il is least likely 10
suffer from the lack of water, against
which the authority above quoted
warns us.
Seeds can be put in the ground at
| this time, but one should remember,
| if he plants them now, not TO expect
anything until next Spring. This
plant grows on as the seed cata-
| logues put it, very slowly.
When transplanting time comes, be
fore frost this Fall, you will have so
many plants that you will find 1t nee
essary to give some Of them away TO
friends.
Most of said friends will accept them
out Of politeness, secretly wondering g
what they will do with the ugly old
things" So remind them, gently but
forcibly, that they will ultimately be
among the most beautiful plants in
the garden