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The Annual Garden: Salpiglossis
Salpiglossis, Painted Tongue. Salpiglossis is a rather difficult annual to grow, and in order to obtain the best results the protection of a greenhouse or hot bed is necessary. Seed may be started indoors in March or April and care must be taken to keep the growth continuous, as a stunted growth will spoil all prospects for future success. Planting in the garden can take place after May 15th. Salpiglossis is one of the most beautiful annuals when it is well grown and is most effective when grouped in thickly planted masses (about 8 inches apart) in the garden.
Varieties. White and gold, purple and gold, rose and gold.
Scabiosa, Mourning Bride. Scabiosa is a hardy annual, easily raised from seed sown outdoors after April 15th. It blooms from July until frost, and is excellent for use as a cut flower. Space the plants 6 or 8 inches apart as the habit of growth is upright [37] rather than compact and bushy. It is best to start the seed in a seed bed and transplant to the garden later. Earlier bloom can be obtained by starting seed in a hot bed in early March.
Varieties. Azure Fairy, lovely lavender, the flesh pink, rose and white are also good colors. King of the Blacks is a very deep purple.
Stock. The seed of stock may be sown in the garden, where it is to bloom, in May; but earlier and better results can be obtained by starting the seed in a hot bed in March or April. As soon as germination takes place the seedlings must be given plenty of air and sunshine and sufficient water to meet the demands of the growing plant without causing the soil to become waterlogged. Plants started in early March are best transplanted into 3-inch pots, when they are 2 or 3 inches high, but April sown seedlings may be transplanted directly from the seed bed to the garden in May. The ten-weeks flowering Stock is the best class for out-of-door use. It comes in red, purple, lilac, white, pink and yellow.
Sweet Peas are very particular about their requirements and will refuse to flourish unless their desires are catered to. They have certain very decided tastes, and demand an open, sunny location, early planting, a rich, well-prepared soil and an ample sup- [38] ply of water during the growing season. Full sun, early planting and liberal watering are really the secrets of success; for sweet peas will grow in any land that is good enough for vegetables, but far better results are obtained in soils trenched from one to two feet deep. It is usually not practical to spare the time to dig the trench deeper than one foot, but when it is possible to do so, a deeper preparation is so much the better. In the bottom of the trench put a generous layer of rotted cow manure, and fill in with as rich a top soil as can be obtained. Compost is ideal. If the only available soil is poor, the lack of natural fertility must be partly overcome by adding a little manure provided it is thoroughly well rotted.
Many people recommend fall planting, the advocates of this method claiming earlier and finer bloom. The writer has never succeeded with this method. However, fall preparation of the soil is very desirable. In this case it is well to incorporate bone meal into the soil, one pound to every 6 feet of trench; a little slacked lime, sprinkled over the surface when the work is completed, will counteract any soil acidity. This is necessary because sweet peas will not grow well in acid soils. The seed must be sown in spring just as soon as the ground is dry enough. The time, in this locality, varies from March 15th to April 15th accord- [39] ing to the season. The luxuriance of the growth will be greatly assisted by treating the seeds, before sowing, with sweet-pea Mulford culture. It can be purchased at any seed store, and may be applied according to the directions on the bottle. The sweet pea belongs to the family of legumes which has the ability of utilizing the free nitrogen of the air. This free nitrogen becomes "fixed" in the root nodules by means of tiny soil bacteria that live on the roots of plants belonging to this family. These bacteria convert the nitrogen, in the root nodules, into a form available for use as plant food. The Mulford culture contains these bacteria, and therefore greatly increases the ability of the plants to utilize this free nitrogen, thus increasing growth.
Sow the seed one inch deep in a 6-inch depression, and gradually fill in with soil as the plants grow.
Thin, so the seedlings stand one inch apart: a thick growth shades the soil and keeps the roots cooler and more moist. Abundant and regular watering is of the greatest importance, as sweet peas will become stunted and soon burn up if their thirst remains unquenched. An occasional feeding with sheep manure or weak liquid cow manure will benefit, especially in soils not overly rich. Cultivate often to conserve the soil moisture and to prevent baking, and pick the [40] flowers frequently to encourage continuous bloom, until the weather becomes so hot that the vines burn up. Stake the vines early; tall pea brush is the best support to give, but wire netting gives a neat appearance and makes a permanent support. When the latter is used a row of seed may be sown on each side. Varieties. Lavender King, pale lilac. Princess, best lilac. Blue Bird, slaty blue, Zephyr, lovely pale lilac, Gypsy Maid, pink, Fairy, good flesh pink, Cheerful, rather deep salmon pink, Peach Blossom, pale pink, Flamingo, bright salmon. Fairy Queen, pale pink, Earl Aurora, mottled pink, Mrs. Keer, orange pink, Exquisite, white tips shaded flesh, Apricot, gorgeous vivid pink, Fire King, very bright rose.
Verbena. Verbenas bloom continuously until frost and the varieties come in many lovely shades of pink, lilac, purple, yellow and white. The seed may be sown in the seed bed by May 1st in which case bloom should start in early August. Transplant the seedlings to the garden so that they will stand 10 or 12 inches apart, as they spread rapidly forming a thick mat. Better and earlier results can be obtained by starting the seeds in a hot bed in March. They are satisfactory annuals, especially when associated with taller growing plants, such as gladioli, nicotianas, or giant zinnias. Verbenas prefer a light, rich soil. [41] Vinca, Madagascar Periwinkle. This Vinca is a tender annual and the seed should be started in the greenhouse in December or early January. Sow in a soil containing plenty of sand, and transplant the seedlings to 2-inch pots as soon as they develop their true leaves, later shift to 3-inch pots and plant in the garden about May 15th, one foot apart, for bloom until frost. Vincas are absolutely useless as cut flowers, but form neat, compact bushes about one foot high, that are covered with bloom. The foliage is glossy and dark green, and the plants are useful for supplying color in the garden.
Varieties. Alba, white with carmine eye. Alba Pura, white, Rosea, deep rose pink.