Gardening Indoors and Under Glass Part 5

Certain it is that some of the new ruffled giant singles are remarkably beautiful, even as individual flowers; and the new fringed doubles, which come in agreeable shades of pink, variegated to pure white (instead of that harsh magenta which characterized the older style) produce beautiful ma.s.s effects with their quant.i.ties of bloom.

They are grown either from seed or cuttings, the latter frequently blooming in the cutting box, if allowed to. In raising seedlings, be sure to save all the slowest growing and delicate looking plants, as they are fairly sure to give some of the best flowers, the worthless singles growing strong and rank from the start. Plants growing outdoors during the summer may be cut back, potted up and started into new growth. The singles bloom more freely than the doubles, especially indoors. After blooming, cut the plants back to within a few inches of the root, repot or give liquid manure and a new growth will be sent up, and soon be in blossom again.

_Primroses_

Of the deservedly popular primrose there are two types, the Chinese primrose (_Primula Sinensis_) and _Primula obconica_. Both are favorites, because of their simple beauty and the remarkable freedom and constancy with which they bloom. Another advantage is that they do not require direct sunlight. Primroses need no particular care. The soil may have a little extra leaf-mould and should slope toward the edges of the pot, to prevent the possibility of any water collecting at the crown of the plant, which must be left well above the soil when potting.

The easiest way to get plants is to buy small ones from the florist every spring. They may be raised from seed successfully, however, if one will take care to give them a shaded, cool location during the hot summer months, such as a coldframe covered with protecting cloth, or any light material that will freely admit air. From seed sown in February or March they should be ready to bloom by the following Christmas. It does not pay to keep the plants over for a second season.

There are numerous varieties. One very small sort, _P.

Forbesi_--sometimes called Baby Primrose--is exceedingly floriferous.

Several plants of this sort put together in a large pan make a most beautiful sight, and will do well as a decoration for a center table.

Until recently _P. obconica_ was inferior in size of flower to the Chinese primrose, but the newer strains, under the name _P. grandiflora fimbriata_, or Giant Fringed, are quite wonderful. Some of the individual flowers are over an inch and a quarter across, and range from pure white to deep rose. If you cannot obtain other plants of this type from your florist they will well repay the trouble of starting from seed.

_Snapdragon_

I feel somewhat doubtful about giving this comparatively little known flower a place among the especially recommended plants. Not on the basis of my own experience with it, but because in the several books in my possession which deal with house plants, I do not find it mentioned.

There certainly can be no question that the long spikes of flowers in pure white, light and dark reds, deep wines and clear yellows, with combinations of two or more of these in many cases, are among our most beautiful flowers. They stay in blossom a long time, each stalk opening out slowly from the bottom to the top of the spike, like a gladiolus.

They seem, in my own experience at least, to stand almost any amount of abuse; this spring several old plants that I had abandoned to their fate insisted on coming to life again and trying to vie with their younger progeny in flowering.

Snapdragons are easily raised from seed, or propagated by cuttings. For winter blooming sow the former in March or April, grow on in a cool place and keep pinched back to make bushy plants. If you have limited room, let one stalk blossom on each plant, so that you can avoid selecting duplicates. Cuttings may be taken at any time when the weather is not too hot. Take the tops of flowering shoots which have not yet matured so far as to become hollow.

The varieties have been greatly improved, that now sold as Giant-flowered Hybrids being the best. There is also a dwarf type and of still later introduction a double white. This will undoubtedly break into the other colors and give us a valuable new race.

With the directions given for the foregoing, and also on pages 6 to 50, the following brief instructions should be necessary to enable success with the other flowering plants which are worth trying in the house for winter blooming.

OTHER FLOWERING PLANTS

_Ageratum_--Valuable for its bright blue flowers and dwarf growth, going in well with other plants. There is also a white variety. Make cuttings in August, or cut back and pot up old plants.

_Alyssum_--Good with other plants to produce a light bouquet-like effect. White. Fall and dwarf varieties. Seed or cuttings.

_Balsam_--Beautiful colors. Take up and pot after blooming in garden.

Only double sorts worth while.

_Candytuft_--Colors. Good for cut flowers. Seed or cuttings.

_Cannas_--New dwarf hybrids, named varieties have beautiful flowers.

Give rich soil, lots of sun and water. Dry off after flowering.

_Carnation_--This beautiful flower is not well adapted for house culture. It may, however, be grown in five-or-six-inch pots, using a heavy soil, keeping in a cool temperature, about forty-five degrees at night, watering regularly and spraying daily with as much force as possible. For further information about growing the plants, see Part II., page 181.

_Carnation Marguerite_--These are much better suited for the trials of house culture. While not as large, they are in other respects fully as beautiful. Take up the best sorts from the flower garden, cut back severely and keep shaded until new growth starts.

_Chrysanthemum_--This is another beautiful flower not well suited to house culture. However, if you have room,--it will take an eight-, nine-or even ten-inch pot for each plant--and want to go to the trouble, you can have it indoors. For cultural directions see Part II, page 185.

_Daisies_, Double English Daisies--The bright little short-stemmed daisies, seen so frequently in spring (_Bellis perennis_) are not often used as a house plant, but make a very agreeable surprise. Start from seed in August; transplant to boxes of suitable size, and on the approach of freezing weather cover gradually with leaves and rough manure or litter in a sheltered, well drained place. Bring them in as wanted from January on.

_Daisy_, Paris or Marguerite--Beautiful daisy-like flowers, very freely borne, in two colors, pure white and delicate yellow. Root cuttings in spring and keep pinched back for winter flowering. Grow in rather heavy rich soil, with plenty of water.

_Patience Plant (Impatiens)_--This old-fas.h.i.+oned but cheery flowered plant resembles the flowering begonias in looks and habit. It grows very rapidly and is one of the most indefatigable bloomers of all plants.

Spring cuttings grown on will make good flowering plant for winter.

Give plenty of water.

_Lobelia_--This favorite little plant bears starry blossoms of one of the most intense blues found anywhere in the realm of flowers. Grown easily from fall sown seed, or cuttings. Star of Ishmael and Kathreen Mallard are two named varieties recently introduced and great improvements.

_Mahernia_--(Honey-bell)--Of great value for its fragrance. Grow on from summer cuttings.

_Mignonette_--Another flower owing its popularity to its fragrance.

Start winter plants by sowing in two-inch pots in July or August, several seeds to a pot. As soon as well started, thin to the best plant.

Grow on, keeping cool and well pinched back. Give support. There are several newer named varieties that are great improvements over the old type, especially in size of spike. Colossal, Allan's Defiance, Machet, are all fine sorts.

_Pansy_--If wanted for winter blooming, take cuttings or start from seed, as described for Daisy (_Bellis perennis_). The seed bed must be kept cool and shaded.

_Salvia_--One of the most brilliant of all flowering plants. For winter make cuttings in August, or take off suckers with roots at base of plant. They like heat. Keep thoroughly sprayed to ward off red spider.

_Piqueria or Stevia serrata_--Another fragrant flower. Root cuttings in January or February and grow on for blooming from November to February.

_Stocks_--What I said about snapdragons on page 64 might well be repeated here. Start from seed in August or September. They are very easily grown. In addition to their beauty--they resemble a spray of small roses--is their entrancing fragrance. Only the double sorts are good. There are many fine new sorts. Abundance, a beautiful delicate pink, will be sure to arouse your enthusiasm.

_Verbena_--If any of these old brilliant favorites are wanted, start from cuttings, being sure to use strong new growth which may be induced by spading up and enriching the soil in August, and cutting back the plants.

_Verbena, Lemon_--See page 77.

_Violets_--See Part II (page 183).

There is one thing which the beginner cannot be told too often, and which I repeat here, as it has much to do with the success of many of the above plants. Do not fail to pinch back seedlings and cuttings during their early stages of growth, to induce the formation of stocky, well-branched plants. This must be the foundation of the winter's returns.

CHAPTER IX

SHRUBS

The shrubs of dwarf habit available for growing inside in winter are numerous and valuable. They include a number of the most attractive plants one may have, and as a rule will stand more hards.h.i.+ps in the way of poor light, low temperature and irregular attention than any of the other flowering plants.

They differ from the other flowering plants in several ways. They are harder wooded; the resting spell is more marked and they make growth and store up energy for flowering _ahead_ of the blossoming season.