The Culture Of Vegetables And Flowers From Seeds And Roots Part 21

THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS

Whether the modern demand for flowers has created the supply, or the supply has found an appreciative public, we need not stay to discuss.

The fact remains that the last four or five decades have witnessed a phenomenal extension in the use of flowers by all cla.s.ses of the community, for the decoration of the house no less than for beautifying the garden. Primarily, this advance of refinement in the popular taste is traceable to the skill and enthusiastic devotion of the florists who have supported in all their integrity the true canons of floral perfection, and whose labours will continue to be imperative for maintaining the standards of quality. By their severe rules of criticism the florists further the ends of floriculture subjectively, and by the actual results of their labours they render objective aid, their finest flowers serving not only as types, but as the actual stud for perpetuating each race. Hence the decline of floriculture would imply the deterioration of flowers, and the prosperity of floriculture involves progress not only in those subjects which lie within the florists' domain, but of many others to which they have not devoted special attention. Yet the acknowledgment must be made that, brilliant as their triumphs have been, the methods they practised have in some instances entailed very severe penalties. Continuous propagation for many generations, under artificial conditions, so debilitated the const.i.tution of Hollyhocks, Verbenas, and some other subjects, that the plants became victims of diseases which at one time threatened their existence. To save them from annihilation it was necessary to desert the worn path of propagation, and raise plants possessing the initial vigour of seedlings. In stamina these seedlings proved eminently satisfactory, although in other respects they were at first sadly disappointing. It then became clear that before show flowers could be obtained from seedlings judgment and skill must be devoted to the art of saving seed.

This was necessarily a work of time, demanding great patience and rare scientific knowledge. The task was undertaken with enthusiasm in many directions, and the results have more than justified this labour of love. Formerly, the universal mode of perpetuating named Hollyhocks was by the troublesome process of cuttings, or by grafting buds on roots of seedlings in houses heated to tropical temperature. In many places it was the custom to lift the old plants, pot them, and keep them through the winter in pits. All this was found requisite to insure fine flowers.

While the burden of the work was thus rendered heavy, the const.i.tution of the plant became enfeebled, and at one time the fear was entertained that its extinction was at hand. But the new system has preserved the Hollyhock, and at the same time afforded a striking example of the principle that seed saved scientifically is found to reproduce the varieties it was taken from. Seedling Hollyhocks now give double flowers of the finest quality; and the seedling plants are less liable to disease. So with the Verbena. From suitable seed plants can be raised that will produce the most resplendent flowers, and instead of propagating a stock to keep over winter, to be stricken with mildew and cost no end of care, only to become diseased at last, a pinch of seed is sown in January or February, and soon there is a stock of healthy plants possessing the vigour peculiar to seedlings. These, being bedded out at a proper time, flower far more freely than plants from cuttings, and produce trusses twice the size.

To ill.u.s.trate the change of method still further we may instance the Cineraria. Formerly this was a troublesome plant to grow, because it was considered necessary to propagate named varieties by divisions and suckers. The restricted system was reflected in limited cultivation. Few were willing to venture on a task known to be hedged about with difficulties. By degrees it was discovered that the finest Cinerarias might be secured by simply sowing seed, and giving the plants the usual cultivation of tender annuals. This has brought the Cineraria within the reach of thousands who would not attempt to grow it under the old system, and the consequent gain to society is immense.

What has been done with the Cineraria has its parallel in quite a number of the most elegant decorative flowers. Brilliant results have been achieved with Begonias, Calceolarias, Cyclamens, Gloxinias, Primulas, and Schizanthus. It has also ceased to be needful to keep such large stocks of bedding and other plants through the winter, for Ageratums, Lobelias, and Pansies have proved amenable to the new treatment, and very much of the accustomed labour in striking and potting cuttings, as well as the expense of gla.s.s, fuel, and the frequent purchase of high-priced plants, have been rendered unnecessary. Even among the flowers which are properly designated annuals, new and delightful variations have been obtained from original types. Of these we have examples in Aster, G.o.detia, Larkspur, Mignonette, Phlox Drummondii, Poppy, Stock, Sweet Pea, and many others. In some instances the increase in the size of the flowers is remarkable, and in others the development of new tints will surprise those who are not familiar with the labours of modern hybridisers.

Thus a revolution has been accomplished in the economy and complexion of the English Flower Garden, a revolution which has reduced and simplified the gardener's labours, augmented the number and enhanced the beauty of many flowers, effected a marked saving in the cost of garden pleasures, and brought the culture of a large number of the most attractive subjects within the means of those who had neither the facilities nor the knowledge requisite for pursuing the florist's methods. There appear to be no limits to further progress. All that we can do is to experiment and gather knowledge, and those who love gardening may a.s.sist in extending the area of this new and cheap system of producing some of the most elegant garden flowers in one season from seed alone.

The time and the method of sowing flower seeds must in each case be regulated by considerations as to their nature. Seeds of tender plants are usually sown in pots or pans and placed on a moderate hot-bed or in a propagating house early in spring, and in this case the plants have greenhouse cultivation until the time arrives for hardening them off preparatory to final planting. But seeds of many hardy flowers may be treated in the same way, when a long season of growth is necessary for their development. Thus Phloxes, Verbenas, and Hollyhocks, plants that differ immensely in habit and const.i.tution, may all be sown in February, and put side by side in the same warm pit or vinery, or even in the warmest corner of any greenhouse, and the very same treatment will suit them equally well. The soil should be princ.i.p.ally loam and sand, with a little old thoroughly well-rotted manure from a hot-bed or compost heap; and light, air, and moisture must be regulated with a view to insure a free and vigorous growth from the first, with the least possible amount of artificial heat. In some cases, however, the sowing should be deferred to March or April, and the result will be far more satisfactory than the growth made under the stimulus of artificial heat earlier in the season. But in every case the plants must have sufficient time; for although the rapid system has been developed, the const.i.tution of the plants remains unchanged, and those which have heretofore been cla.s.sed as biennials and perennials need a long season when treated as annuals.

A considerable proportion of the finest flowers may be raised from seed by the aid of a frame and a little careful management. We will take as an example a very restricted garden. Here is a small frame and some packets of seed, and the month of February or March has arrived. The pans and pots are made ready with sweet sandy compost, and the seeds are sown and labelled, and the pans and pots are packed together in the frame on a bed of clean coal ashes, or some slates, or tiles, or bricks laid on the soil, to promote warmth and cleanliness and to prevent the intrusion of worms among the seeds. By simple management almost as quick a growth of seeds can be insured in this frame as with the aid of a hot-bed, and the secret consists in careful storage of the heat of the sun. Lay over the seed-pans sheets of gla.s.s to prevent evaporation, and let the sun s.h.i.+ne full upon them. Be careful as to moisture: they must never be wet, never dry, and the water must not be slopped about carelessly. It is a good rule to immerse the pots or pans in a vessel containing soft water, slightly tepid. When the seedlings begin to appear, give a little air and lay sheets of paper tenderly over them during the hour or two at midday when the sun may be s.h.i.+ning brightly.

But keep them from the first as 'hard' as possible with plenty of light and air, always taking care that they are neither roasted, nor blown away by the cruel east wind, nor nipped at night by a killing frost. A few old mats or light loppings of trees laid over the frame from sundown to sunrise will be sufficient protection at those trying times; and when spring frosts are making havoc with the tender sprouting leaf and bloom in every part of the garden those little things will be safe under their gla.s.s cover, and slight experience will show that a common frame may become a miniature hot-house in the hands of one who has learned to make failure the stepping-stone to success. We must not omit to mention that the owner of such a garden, or, indeed, of any garden, will be prudent to take advantage of the first fine weather to sow in the open ground whatever flower or vegetable seeds should be sown at that season. The frame garden can be reserved, if needful, for wet weather, because it is of the utmost importance to sow a good breadth of seeds in the open ground as early as possible in the month of March.

Turning from this small example to the great garden, it will be obvious that to those who always have heavy work on hand the advantages of this transference, of labour from the old system to the new are immense. Both to employers and gardeners the advantages are of importance; the propagation of bedders by cuttings, and of florists' flowers by suckers and divisions and layers and pipings, will not, of course, be completely abolished; but for all ordinary purposes the ends in view may be accomplished more simply, more expeditiously, and more cheaply than heretofore. The pits. .h.i.therto appropriated to bedders, and the like, may to a great extent be liberated, and there will be no difficulty in finding for them more profitable occupants. While Mushrooms and early Potatoes and winter salads are in request, it will be a gain to many a garden to have reduced the summer display of flowers to a simple system of seed-sowing, at an expense that may be described as merely nominal.

Before dealing specifically with certain flowers, it may be advisable to say a few words generally concerning the culture of Annuals--Hardy, Half-hardy, and Tender--and also on hardy Biennials and Perennials.

==Annuals==.--Although the most popular kinds of annuals are largely employed in the embellishment of flower gardens, they are adapted for many uses to which they may with advantage be more frequently applied. A few misconceptions prevail as to the relative merits of this cla.s.s of plants. By some they are regarded as 'weedy' and 'short-lived.' Their very cheapness, and the relatively small amount of skill required in their cultivation, tend in some degree to detract from their value in public estimation. We will not be so rash as to say that a more extended use of annuals would render unnecessary the cultivation of what are especially known as 'bedding plants'; but there is something to be said on behalf of annuals that may be worth the consideration of all who are interested in the development of freshness, variety, and richness of colour in the flower garden. In the first place, these plants come into flower within a comparatively short period of time from the sowing of the seed, and it is a matter of considerable importance that a large proportion of the best continue beautiful until the very close of the season. Sometimes in the autumn Geraniums become literally washed out, while Tom Thumb Nasturtiums may be ablaze with colour, and continue so when the Geraniums are housed for the winter. A large number of showy and long-lasting annuals are adapted for employment in bedding, and by a little management those that do not last the season out may be replaced by others for succession; thus affording the advantage of increased variety, and making no demand for gla.s.s and fuel to keep them through the winter as do the ordinary bedders. We have had great and glorious sheets of Candytufts, snow-white, rich crimson, and bright carmine; and when they began to wane they were removed, and the ground planted with Asters, and very soon there was another display, so fresh and bright and various that no greenhouse bedders could surpa.s.s them. Great hungry banks, that would have swallowed many pounds' worth of greenhouse plants to cover them, have been made delightfully gay at a very trifling cost by sowing upon them Tropaeolums, Tom Thumb Nasturtiums, =Bartonia aurea=, the dwarf varieties of =Lupinus=, Virginian Stock, =Collinsia bicolor=, Convolvuluses, Candytufts, Eschscholtzias, Poppies, and Clarkias; and damp, half-shady borders have been delicately tessellated by means of Forget-me-nots, Venus' Looking-gla.s.s, Pansies, the Rosy Oxalis, Nemophilas, G.o.detias, Silenes, Coreopsis, and Scabious.

For the more important positions in the flower garden we have choice of many really sumptuous subjects, such as Stocks, Asters, Balsams, Drummond's Phlox, Lobelias, the lovely new varieties of Antirrhinums, Dianthus, Portulacas, Zinnias, tall Stock-flowered Larkspurs, Nemesias, and many other flowers equally beautiful and lasting. We do not hope by these brief remarks to change the prevailing fas.h.i.+on--indeed, we have no particular wish that way--but we feel bound to observe that it is sufficient for the beauty of the garden that the greenhouse bedders should be confined to the parterre proper. It is waste of s.p.a.ce and opportunity to place them in the borders everywhere, as is too commonly done. In sunny borders, annual and perennial herbaceous plants are far more appropriate.

Some time since, while walking over a large garden, we left the rich colouring of the geometric beds to discover what should make the wondrous glow of crimson on a border far away; and to our surprise it proved to be a clump of the Indian Pink, which had been sown as an annual with other annuals, and was there s.h.i.+ning in the midst of a constellation of the loveliest flowers of all forms and hues, the result simply of sowing a few packets of seed. No one can despise the Wallflower in the spring, and the heavenly-blue flowers of =Nemophila insignis= in early summer will tempt many a one to walk in the garden who would care little for sheets of scarlet and yellow that in full suns.h.i.+ne make the eyes ache to look upon them. It must be remembered, too, that among annuals are found many most richly-scented flowers; others, like the everlastings and the gra.s.ses, are valuable to dry for winter use for employment in bouquets, and garlands in Christmas decorations; and the Sweet Peas, and =Tropaeolum canariense,= and climbing Convolvulus may be employed to cover arbours and trellises with the best effect possible, and may even be allowed to hang in festoons about the sunny parts of rockeries, or trail over the ground to make genuine bedding effects. Another important matter must have mention here, and we commend it to the consideration of gardeners who are severely taxed to secure extensive displays of flowers during the summer season. It is that a number of plants of highly ornamental character, usually treated as perennials, are really more effective, besides occasioning less labour to produce them, when cultivated as annuals. The Dianthus and its several splendid varieties do better as annuals than biennials. For all the ordinary purposes of display, Lobelias may be as well grown from seed as from cuttings, and in every garden will be found proof of the small amount of care they require; for we find stray, self-sown plants in pots of Geraniums and other places, and these, if left alone, become perfect bushes, and are a ma.s.s of flowers all the summer. Many annuals commonly reputed to be tender and usually raised in heat do very well indeed on a more rough and ready method. In proof of this, sow =Perilla nankinensis= in the first week of May where it is required, and in the month of July you will probably be convinced that Perilla does not always need careful nursing in heated houses through the spring. Even the really tender Castor-oil Plant will thrive if sown in the open ground the first week in May. Having no check, as plants put out from pots must have, the growth will be regular and st.u.r.dy, and attain magnificent dimensions.

Perhaps the most effective way of growing annuals is to arrange them in harmonious blendings or contrasts of colour. The wide choice of varieties available admits of an almost endless number of combinations, and the following tables, cla.s.sified according to colour, will no doubt afford some serviceable suggestions, although these by no means exhaust the list. The height is indicated in feet and Climbers as 'Cl.'

==WHITE, AND CREAM SHADES.==

==TALL.==

Chrysanthemum coronarium, Princess May ... ... ... 3 Chrysanthemum coronarium, Double white ... ... ... 3 Cornflower, White ... ... 3 Helichrysum, Silver Globe ... 3 Larkspur, Stock-flowered, White 3 Lavatera alba splendens ... ... 3 Poppy, Giant Double, White ... 3 " Giant Single, White ... 3 Scabious, s...o...b..ll ... ... 3 Chrysanthemum carinatum alb.u.m 2-1/2 " Dunnetti, Double white ... ... ... ... 2-1/2 Nasturtium, Tall, Pearl ... ... Cl.

==MEDIUM.==

Clarkia elegans, s...o...b..ll ... 2 Lupinus Hartwegii, White ... 2 Malope, White ... ... ... 2 Poppy, White Swan ... ... 2 s.h.i.+rley, Double White ... 2 Calendula pluvialis ... ... 1-1/2 Chrysanthemum inodorum plenissimum ... ... 1-1/2 Clarkia, Double White ... ... 1-1/2 Gilia nivalis ... ... ... 1-1/2 Gypsophila elegans ... ... 1-1/2 Hawkweed, White ... ... 1-1/2 " Silver ... ... 1-1/2 Jacobea, Double, White... ... 1-1/2 Sweet Sultan, Giant White ... 1-1/2 Chrysanthemum coronarium, Dwarf double white ... ... 1-1/4

==DWARF.==

Acroclinium, Single White ... 1 Candytuft, Improved White Spiral 1 Clarkia, Dwarf white ... ... 1 " Double dwarf white ... 1 Convolvulus minor, White ... 1 Eschscholtzia crocea alba ... 1 G.o.detia, d.u.c.h.ess of Albany ... 1 Layia elegans alba ... ... 1 Linaria, Snow-white ... ... 1 Nasturtium, Dwarf, Pearl ... 1 Platystemon californicus... ... 1 Viscaria, Pure White ... ... 1 Alyssum, Sweet ... ... ... 3/4 Chrysanthemum inodorum plenis- simum, Bridal Robe ... ... 3/4 Collinsia candidissima ... ... 3/4 G.o.detia, Dwarf White ... ... 3/4 Swan River Daisy, White ... 3/4 " " " Star White ... 3/4 Venus' Looking-gla.s.s, White ... 3/4 Venus' Navel-wort ... ... 3/4 Virginian Stock, White ... ... 3/4 Candytuft, Little Prince... ... 1/2 Nemophila insignis alba ... ... 1/2 Alyssum minimum ... ... 1/3 Silene, Dwarf White ... ... 1/3

==YELLOW AND ORANGE SHADES.==

==TALL.==

Sunflower, Giant Yellow ... ... 10 " Primrose Perfection ... 6 " Miniature ... ... 4 " Stella ... ... ... 4 " Primrose Stella ... 4 Chrysanthemum coronarium, Double yellow ... ... ... 3 Chrysanthemum, Golden Queen ... 3 Coreopsis tinctoria ... ... 3 Helichrysum, Golden Globe ... 3 Sunflower, Dwarf Double ... 3 " Single Dwarf ... ... 3 Chrysanthemum Dunnettii, Double Golden ... ... ... 2-1/2 Marigold, African ... ... 2-1/2 Nasturtium, Ivy-leaved Golden Gem ... ... ... ... Cl.

Nasturtium, Tall, Yellow ... Cl.

==MEDIUM.==

Hibiscus africa.n.u.s major... ... 2 Bartonia aurea ... ... ... 1-1/2 Chrysanthemum, Star varieties ... 1-1/2 Coreopsis Drummondii ... ... 1-1/2 " coronata ... ... 1-1/2 Erysimum, Orange Gem ... ... 1-1/2 Hawkweed, Yellow ... ... 1-1/2 Leptosyne Stillmani ... ... 1-1/2 Lupinus Menziesii ... .. 1-1/2 Sweet Sultan, Yellow ... ... 1-1/2

==DWARF.==

Calendula, Orange King ... ... 1 " Lemon Queen ... 1 Cheiranthus Allionii ... ... 1 Chrysanthemum coronarium, Dwarf double yellow ... ... 1 Dimorphotheca aurantiaca ... 1 Eschscholtzia californica... ... 1 " crocea ... ... 1 " crocea fl. pl. ... 1 Layia elegans ... ... ... 1 Lupinus, Dwarf yellow ... ... 1 Nasturtium, Dwarf, Cloth of Gold 1 " " Yellow ... 1 Tagetes signata pumila ... ... 1

==YELLOW AND ORANGE SHADES==--=continued.=

==DWARF==--=continued.=

Eschscholtzia, Mikado 3/4 " Mandarin 3/4 Linaria, Golden Gem 3/4 Marigold, Miniature lemon 3/4 " " orange 3/4 Eschscholtzia, Miniature Primrose 1/2 Limnanthes Douglasii 1/2 Sanvitalia proc.u.mbens, Single 1/2 " " Double 1/2 Leptosiphon aureus 1/4

==BLUE, MAUVE, AND PURPLE SHADES.==

==TALL.==

Cornflower, Blue 3 Larkspur, Stock-flowered, Blue 3 " " Pale Mauve 3 Lupinus, Tall dark blue 3 Poppy, Giant Double, Mauve 3 Scabious, Mauve 3

==MEDIUM.==

G.o.detia, Double Mauve 2 Lupinus Hartwegii, Azure Blue 2 Poppy, Mauve Queen 2 Sweet Sultan, Purple 2 Xeranthemum superbissimum 2 " imperiale 2 Anchusa, Annual Blue 1-1/2 Gilia capitata 1-1/2 " tricolor 1-1/2 Jacobea, Double, Purple 1-1/2 Nigella, Miss Jekyll 1-1/2 Phacelia tanacetifolia 1-1/2 Salvia, Blue Beard 1-1/2 Sweet Sultan, Giant Delicate Mauve 1-1/2 " " Giant Mauve 1-1/2

==DWARF.==

Asperula azurea setosa 1 Candytuft, Lilac 1 Convolvulus minor, Dark blue 1 " " Sky-blue 1 Cornflower, King of Blue Bottles 1 Eutoca viscida 1 Linaria, Mauve 1 Lupinus, Dwarf rich blue 1 Mathiola bicornis 1 Phacelia congesta 1 Viscaria, Bright Blue 1 Whitlavia gloxinioides 1 Cornflower, Victoria, Dwarf blue 3/4 Leptosiphon androsaceus 3/4 Nigella, Double dwarf 3/4 Phacelia campanularia 3/4 Swan River Daisy, Blue 3/4 " " " Star Blue 3/4 Campanula attica 1/2 Nemophila insignis 1/2

==PINK AND ROSE SHADES.==

==TALL.==

Cornflower, Pink 3 Larkspur, Stock-flowered, Rosy Scarlet 3 Lavatera rosea splendens 3 Lupinus mutabilis, Cream and Pink 3 Poppy, Giant Double, Chamois-rose 3 Scabious, Pink 3 Nasturtium, Salmon Queen Cl.

" Rosy Queen Cl.

==MEDIUM.==

Clarkia elegans, Double Salmon 2 " " Double Delicate Pink 2 G.o.detia, Double Rose 2 Jacobea, Single, Bright Rose 2 Poppy, Pink Gem 2 " Cardinal, Salmon-pink 2 " s.h.i.+rley, Single Rose-pink 2 " " Double Pink 2 Saponaria Vaccaria, Pink 2 Clarkia, Double Rose 1-1/2 Hawkweed, Pink 1-1/2 Jacobea, Double, Rose 1-1/2 Silene Armeria, Rose 1-1/2 Statice Suworowi 1-1/4

==DWARF.==

Acroclinium, Double rose 1 " Single rose 1 Convolvulus minor, Pink 1 Eschscholtzia, Frilled Pink 1 " Rosy Queen 1 " Rose cardinal 1 Gypsophila elegans, Delicate pink 1 Lupinus, Dwarf delicate pink 1 Nasturtium, Dwarf, Salmon Pink 1 " " caeruleum roseum 1 Silene, Double Salmon Pink 1 " " Delicate Pink 1 " Bonetti 1 " Pseudo-Atocion 1

==PINK AND ROSE SHADES==--=continued.=

DWARF--=continued=.

Statice spicata 1 Viscaria, Delicate Pink 1 Cornflower, Victoria, Dwarf rose 3/4 G.o.detia, Dwarf Pink 3/4 " Satin-rose 3/4 Abronia umbellata 1/2 Candytuft, Dwarf Pink 1/2 Saponaria calabrica 1/2 Silene, Double Dwarf Delicate Pink 1/3 Silene, Double Dwarf Brilliant Rose 1/3 Silene, Bonetti, Dwarf Pink 1/3 Leptosiphon roseus 1/4