Evening star., 1942-10-31
Sow Poppy Seed
On Top Of Snow
In SunnyS Spot
Plants Should Not
Be Moved Except
By an Expert
BY Agnes TrimbIe

BY Agnes TrimbIe
If you like experimenting and do
ing things in a different way, have
some poppy seed ready to scatter on
top OF the snow this winter.
Poppy seed planted in the snow
will bring flowers several weeks
ahead of the seed that is planted in
the spring, and the plants and bios
SONS will be finer, stronger and
healthier. AS the snow melts and
soaks down into the ground it car
ries the seed down, too, thus the
seed Is protected, planted deeper and
gets an earlier start in terminating.
The gardener will get thrill in get
ting outdoors to plant seed when
Old Mother Earth has everything
snugly wrapped in f1aky white.
Poppies have an astonishing range
of color, and that is one of the reas-
ons why they rank as one of the
most popular flowers. The poppy
family has only four species that
are commonly cultivated. OF the
four, the Oriental, a native of South
western Asia, is probably the most
SCENT does, however, have the
shortest Towering season, but it
makes up for it in color and be-
havior. The Orientals have an in
teresting habit of bursting into bios
som just when they are not ex-
pected. Their hairy, green buds
will have very solid appearance,
and then, like a flash, the snug
covering breaks open and out comes
the satiny blossom. This operation
takes place 80 quickly that some
times 1t seems only a matter Of
seconds.
Snowfame, new variety, which is
scheduled to be a lovely creation,
will be intriguing to watch as it
unfolds its large petals-the lower
part pure white while the upper
part is dashing flame orange.
The opium poppy. P. somniferum,
Is one of the more famous varieties.
1t is tall and stately looking, and its
flowers are the largest of the annual
species-but, unfortunately, they are
not so satisfactory for cutting, be-
cause they drop their petals toe
quickly. The opium poppy has beer
grown in Europe for centuries for
commercial purposes other than that
OF the florists.
The corn or scarlet field poppy
OF Europe, P. rhaeas, is one of the
smaller types with finely cut foliage
and dainty blossoms. The Shirley
considered the loveliest Of all pop
pies. is variety of this species. It's
flowers are Of the most delicate
texture, burst forth in every imag-
Unable shade, and In combinations
too. The gardener likes the Shirley
especially because it lasts longer
IN the garden than the more COM
mon varieties, and also because the
plants are neater in appearance
when the Towering has finished.
The glory of poppies, according
to many growers, is, however, the
Iceland poppy, p. nudicaule, which
Is dainty and flowers in most at
tractive colors, ranging from deep
orange to yellow, red and white.
This gorgeous poppy is excellent
for cutting and has long, graceful
stem. It is better to cut the plants
before they open wide. If the faded
blossoms are kept clipped of there
will be flowers in abundance the
entire summer and fall.
If you care to try the snow method
Of planting select the location now
where you want your poppies to
bloom next summer-be sure that it
is sunny spot. Prepare the soil
as though planting were to be done
now and have the ground good and
rich and spaded deep. Mark the
place In some way so that it can
be easily located when the ground
is covered with heavy snow. And
after nice deep snow has fallen
wrap up good and warm, go out
and scatter the seed of your IA
vorite poppy thickly on the snow
In the carefully prepared spot. Pop
pies should be planted where they
are to stand and bloom, for they
are not very agreeable about being
moved-it takes an expert to trans
plant them successfully. This flower
is quite susceptible to cross-fertili-
zation, so new strains are constantly
being developed.