There is, perhaps, no class of plants so indispensable for bedding as
the geranium. In selecting varieties for this purpose it is very import-
ant to choose sorts which stand the sun ; for very many that do well in
the greenhouse or in a sheltered position, fail to give satisfaction when
exposed to the sun. The following list comprises some thoroughly
tested : Master Christine, the very best bedder — free bloomer ; Jean
Sisley, very fine scarlet ; white Tom Thumb, Queen of the West, and a
beauty.
The fuchsia is a magnificent pot or bedding plant, if grown in partial
shade with an abundance of water, and will produce its handsome blos-
soms, which are sometimes called " Ladies' ear-drops," in great profu-
96 FLOWERS.
sion. The very best winter-blooming varieties are speciosa, red through-
out ; Carl Holt, red and white striped, and lustre, with dark crimson
corolla and white sepals. Plants intended for winter flowering require
a period of training and rest in the summer. They must be encour-
aged to make an abundant growth and all the flowers kept off till Sep-
tember.
Nasturtiums, balsams and seeds of a similar size, can be planted half
an inch in depth, but sweet peas will blossom much longer if planted
like garden peas, from two to three inches in depth, and they always
seem to bloom much handsomer when planted in rows in the vegetable
garden than in small circles or patches in the flower garden. They are
as indispensable for cut flowers in June as green peas are for the table,
and, if their first blossoms are gathered and none allowed to go to seed,
they will continue to flower and perfume the air with their exquisite
fragrance until frost. For hedges between a flower and a vegetable
garden they are very ornamental, and will also prove an excellent screen
to hide any disagreeable objects. As they are quite as hardy as garden
peas, they can be planted as soon as the frost is out of the ground, and
in six weeks, if the season is favorable, you can gather the bright
sweet-scented flower.
Asters take the first rank among the annuals, their great diversity of
color and beautiful form making them favorites with all florists. But if
early flowers are desired, you must plant the seeds early, then the plants
will be of good size when the garden beds are ready for them. Asters
vegetate very easily, the seeds often sprouting in three days, and as the
roots are fibrous, and grow compactly, they are much more easily trans-
planted than the tap-rooted plants, such as larkspurs and sweet peas,
and if you choose a cloudy day in May for the work, or plant them after
sunset, when it has been raining, the plants will not wither. The soil
for asters should be made very rich with compost, as their roots demand
the choicest of plant food to produce the finest of flowers ; and when the
buds appear, liquid manure applied twice a week will increase their
beauty tenfold. Cocardeau or crown asters are very beautiful, and dif-
fer essentially from all other kinds, the center of the flowers being pure
white, while the margin may be either pink, crimson, lilac or purple.
The Washington aster has larger flowers than any other variety, and
the plants are very vigorous.
Page 85
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
There is, perhaps, no class of plants so indispensable for bedding as the geranium. In selecting varieties for this purpose it is very important to choose sorts which stand the sun ; for very many that do well in the greenhouse or in a sheltered position, fail to give satisfaction when exposed to the sun. The following list comprises some thoroughly tested : Master Christine, the very best bedder — free bloomer ; Jean Sisley, very fine scarlet ; white Tom Thumb, Queen of the West, and a beauty.
The fuchsia is a magnificent pot or bedding plant, if grown in partial shade with an abundance of water, and will produce its handsome blossoms, which are sometimes called " Ladies' ear-drops," in great profu-
sion. The very best winter-blooming varieties are speciosa, red throughout ; Carl Holt, red and white striped, and lustre, with dark crimson corolla and white sepals. Plants intended for winter flowering require a period of training and rest in the summer. They must be encouraged to make an abundant growth and all the flowers kept off till September.
Nasturtiums, balsams and seeds of a similar size, can be planted half an inch in depth, but sweet peas will blossom much longer if planted like garden peas, from two to three inches in depth, and they always seem to bloom much handsomer when planted in rows in the vegetable garden than in small circles or patches in the flower garden. They are as indispensable for cut flowers in June as green peas are for the table, and, if their first blossoms are gathered and none allowed to go to seed, they will continue to flower and perfume the air with their exquisite fragrance until frost. For hedges between a flower and a vegetable garden they are very ornamental, and will also prove an excellent screen to hide any disagreeable objects. As they are quite as hardy as garden peas, they can be planted as soon as the frost is out of the ground, and in six weeks, if the season is favorable, you can gather the bright sweet-scented flower.
Asters take the first rank among the annuals, their great diversity of color and beautiful form making them favorites with all florists. But if early flowers are desired, you must plant the seeds early, then the plants will be of good size when the garden beds are ready for them. Asters vegetate very easily, the seeds often sprouting in three days, and as the roots are fibrous, and grow compactly, they are much more easily transplanted than the tap-rooted plants, such as larkspurs and sweet peas, and if you choose a cloudy day in May for the work, or plant them after sunset, when it has been raining, the plants will not wither. The soil for asters should be made very rich with compost, as their roots demand the choicest of plant food to produce the finest of flowers ; and when the buds appear, liquid manure applied twice a week will increase their beauty tenfold. Cocardeau or crown asters are very beautiful, and differ essentially from all other kinds, the center of the flowers being pure white, while the margin may be either pink, crimson, lilac or purple. The Washington aster has larger flowers than any other variety, and the plants are very vigorous.