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Selection of Varieties: African
Marigolds. Among the marigolds we have two nationalities, the French and the African. They are both of extremely easy culture and lavish with flowers. Their capacity for bloom seems to be almost unlimited and it is a satisfaction to have flowers in the garden from which one may feel free to cut as much as one wants, with the comforting assurance that there will always be plenty more.
The African marigolds are robust and tall, but in no way graceful; they must be used with discretion in the general planting scheme or be relegated entirely to the cutting garden. The taller varieties reach a height of three feet. The varieties designated in the catalogues as "dwarf" reach a height of eighteen inches to two feet. One may suppose that they are dwarf as compared with their threefoot brothers. These African marigolds need plenty of room; if they are not given it they will take it and make no apologies to their neighbors.
The French marigolds are really much more useful in the average garden than are the African. They form dwarf, bushy, rather spreading plants nine to twelve inches in height, and how they do bloom! There are single and double varieties and their colors range from pale lemon-yellow through deep orange to dull tawny reds. There is nothing really delicate or refined about the marigold family and its members do not fit at all into some planting schemes. They should, however, always be grown in the cutting garden, for they give a wealth of bloom during the late summer months and they can be used in the garden where a note of yellow or orange is wanted.
Phlox drummondi is one of the best of all the annuals and deserves wider recognition. It is a native of Texas and, being exceedingly hardy, it does well as a winter annual in the Southern States. I have seen it survive a temperature of ten degrees above zero in southern Georgia in a January cold spell and bloom blithely on. It reaches a height of hardly more than a foot and is inclined to be spreading in habit. The seed may be sown directly in the garden or may be started indoors for early bloom. The seedlings transplant readily even when they are quite large. If the faded blooms are removed it will flower almost continuously from early summer until frost. It comes in many colors: white, soft shell-pink, crimson, lilac, and buff or primrose. The latter variety, sometimes listed as Isabellina in the catalogues, is a delightful, soft tone, suggesting coffee with too much cream in it. Phlox drummondi prefers an open, sunny position and will thrive in almost any type of soil.
Salpiglossis is one of the newer annuals lately come into vogue. It bears trumpet-like flowers of dusky purple, deep wine-red, and ivory with stencilings of gold. The plants are not of such easy culture as many of the other annuals, but require considerable pampering in the first few weeks of their existence. For best results they should be started indoors in March or April and set out in the garden when all danger of frost is over. The young seedlings "damp-off" rather easily, and suffer seriously from any check due to lack of water or overcrowding in the seed bed.
The plants reach a height of two to two and one-half feet and should be spaced from eight to ten inches apart. They prefer a sunny position and deep, rich loam. The flowers are very decorative for cutting and last unusually well in water.
Scabiosa (Mourning Bride) is one of the taller annuals and is useful for planting toward the rear of the flower border. The plants reach a height of about two and one-half feet and the flowers are borne on long, wiry stems. The plants are hardy and the seed may either be planted directly in the garden or may be sown indoors for earlier bloom. The flowers come in a wide range of colors; white, lavender-blue, flesh-pink, rose, crimson, and deep purple. Azure Fairy is one of the most attractive varieties, the flowers being large and of a soft lavender-blue.
Scabiosa is excellent as a cut flower, it is good for planting in the rear of annual borders, and it is particularly useful for perennial borders. Its foliage tends to be scant, but the flowers are borne in profusion from midsummer until frost.
Schizanthus is often called the "poor man's orchid" or butterfly flower. The seed may be sown either out of doors or early under glass. It comes into flower in an amazingly short time and during the brief period of flowering it is a mass of graceful bloom. The foliage is a soft light green, very finely cut. The myriad delicate flowers offer a wide range of color--tints of lavender, rose, and brown.
Stocks. A few stocks should be grown in every garden if only for their fragrance. They were beloved in the days of our grandmothers and there is about them an endearing charm. They can be had in many colors and in both double and single forms, tall-growing and dwarf. For best results the seed should be started indoors and the young plants set out later. The seed may, however, be sown directly in the garden where the plants are to flower. Sweet Peas. I am a great lover of sweet peas. Their delicate orchid-like flowers seem to meet a special need in my gardening soul. I have found, however, that sweet peas can be very disappointing if they are not favored with just the right conditions. I cater, therefore, to all their whims and fancies, and they usually respond most generously to my labors. In order to make early spring planting possible, the ground for sweet peas should be prepared in the autumn. The soil should be trenched to a depth of about eighteen inches and liberal quantities of well-rotted manure and rich compost should be worked in. A comparatively short trench that has been well prepared will yield sturdy, vigorous plants and abundant bloom, so instead of attempting too much in the way of sweet-pea culture it is wise to concentrate on a small area and to do it thoroughly and well. The results will be gratifying in every way.
There comes a day in very early spring which I always term a "sweet-pea day." The frost is hardly out of the ground and there is just the faintest hint of spring in the air-just enough to make one long to get out of doors and to begin the season's gardening. It is on such a day that one should plant sweet peas. The trench is ready, having been prepared the autumn before. Early sowing is one of the secrets of success, for the plants love the cool, moist weather of spring. If they are sown too late, the hot, dry days of summer are apt to overtake them and one has nothing but disappointment for one's pains. Sweet-pea seeds will germinate more quickly if soaked overnight immediately before sowing. The trench should be opened to a depth of six inches and the seeds placed in the bottom of the furrow, being covered at first with only an inch or two of soil. The balance of the trench should be filled up gradually, as the plants grow, until it is level.
If this method of deep planting is followed, the vines will be more deeply rooted and will be better able to withstand periods of drought. The seed should be spaced about four inches apart in the row and the rows should preferably run from east to west.
Viscaria has but lately made its debut among the annuals. It was first listed in the English seed catalogues and may now be secured from a number of American firms. Its loveliness more than atones for its fleeting period of bloom. The small single flowers are borne on slender, graceful stems about twelve inches in height. It comes in pink, white, lavender, and crimson. It is of very easy culture and the plants when in full flower are a mass of bloom. Several sowings should be made for a succession of bloom throughout the season.
Zinnias. Such staunch and faithful flower friends as these are! They will succeed when all else fails. They will endure drought and neglect in the most astonishing fashion and bloom cheerfully on. In size they range from the tiny Lilliput or pompon zinnias to the giant varieties. The large-flowering dwarf double varieties are probably the most useful and most popular. There are crested and curled and dahlia-flowered varieties also, some of them desirable, some to be avoided. One of the best is the variety Salmon Rose of the large-flowered dwarf class. The pale pastel shades are best, for when zinnias are brilliant in color they are very brilliant. They are of the easiest possible culture and will thrive anywhere.