Manual of Gardening Part 29

It is always well to set or sow more plants than are wanted, for there is danger of loss from cut-worms and other causes. The general tendency is to let the plants stand too close together at maturity. In case of doubt, place plants described in books and catalogues as very dwarf at six inches, those as medium-sized at twelve inches, very large growers at two feet, and thin them out if they seem to demand it as they grow.

The plants in these lists are thrown into four groups (rather than all placed together with the numbers after them) in order to cla.s.sify the subject in the beginner's mind.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 246. Wild phlox (_P. maculata_), one of the parents of the perennial garden phloxes.]

6 to 9 inches apart

Ageratum, very dwarf kinds.

Alyssum.

Asperula setosa.

Cacalia.

Candytuft.

Clarkia, dwarf.

Collinsia.

Gysophila muralis.

Kaulfussia.

Larkspur, dwarf kinds.

Linaria.

Linum grandiflorum Lobelia Erinus. Mignonette, dwarf kinds.

Pansy.

Phlox, very dwarf kinds.

Pinks, very dwarf kinds.

Rhodanthe.

Schizopetalon.

Silene Armeria.

Snapdragon, dwarf.

Sweet pea.

Torenia.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 247. Zinnias. Often known as "youth and old age."]

10 to 15 inches apart

Those marked (ft.) are examples of plants that may usually stand at twelve inches.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 248. Improved perennial phlox.]

Abronia (ft.).

Acroclinium.

Adlumia.

Adonis autumnalis.

Ageratum, tall kinds.

Alonsoa.

Aster, China, smaller kinds (ft.).

Balsam.

Bartonia.

Browallia.

Calendula.

California poppy (Eschscholtzia).

Calliopsis.

Cardiospermum.

Carnation, flower-garden kinds (ft.).

Celosia, small kinds.

Centaurea Cya.n.u.s.

Centauridium (ft.).

Centranthus (ft.).

Clarkia, tall (ft.).

Convolvulus tricolor (ft.).

Gaillardia, except on strong land.

Gilias.

Glaucium.

G.o.detia (ft.).

Gomphrena.

Gypsophila elegans.

Helichrysum (ft.).

Hunnemannia.

Jacobaea. {kinds.

Larkspur, tall annual Malope. {varieties.

Marigold, intermediate Mignonette, tall kinds.

Mesembryanthemum (ice-plant) (ft.).

Morning-glory.

Nasturtium, dwarf.

Nemophila.

Nigella.

Petunia.

Phlox Drummondii.

Pinks.

Poppies (6 to 18 in., according to variety).

Portulaca (ft.).

Salpiglossis (ft.).

Scabiosa (ft.).

Schizanthus.

Snapdragon, tall kinds.

Statice (ft.).

Stock (ft.).

Tagetes, dwarf French.

Thunbergia (ft.).

Verbena.

Whitlavia (ft.), {(ft.).

Zinnia, very dwarf kinds

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig 249. Eschscholtzia, or California poppy. One-half size.]

18 to 24 inches

Amarantus.

Ammobium.