Gardening For The Million Part 8

Cosmos.--Pretty plants, the flowers resembling a single Dahlia. They are mostly hardy, but some need protection. The annuals should be raised on a hotbed in February and be planted out in May. The perennials, too, are brought forward in heat. Some flower in June, others in September. Height, 1 ft. to 3 ft.

Cotoneaster.--Evergreen shrubs which will grow in any soil and are easily increased by layers. C. Hookeriana attains the dimensions of small trees, and produces a profusion of white flowers and bright crimson berries. C. Simonsii is largely used as a hedge. Height, 6 ft.

to 8 ft. C. Rupestris is a small-leaved, prostrate perennial species, bearing white flowers from May to August, followed by red berries.

Height, 3 in.

Cotyledon Chrysantha (_Umbilicus)._--A choice Alpine succulent which thrives in a sandy loam, or in well-drained pots of the same soil. It flowers from May to August, and is multiplied by cuttings, which must be left to dry for a few days in a sunny place. Flowers are produced from May to August. Height, 3 in.

Cowslips.--Well-known hardy perennials. These require the same treatment as Primulas. Plant in a mixture of loam and peat, and divide as soon as the bloom has died off. Height, 6 in.

Cowslips, Cape.--_See_ "Lachenalia."

Crambe Cordifolia (_Tournefort, or Sea Cabbage_).--This hardy herbaceous plant is suitable for a wild garden. It likes a good, rich soil, and is easily increased by seed or division. August is its flowering period. Height, 3 ft.

Crane's Bill.--_See_ "Geranium Argentium."

Crataegus Pyracantha (_Fire Thorn_).--This hardy, ornamental shrub will grow in any soil. It should be planted early in spring on a south or south-west wall, and may be increased by seeds, by budding, or by grafting. The profuse brilliant orange-coloured berries of the C.

Lelandii (Mespilus) ensures it a place on walls and trellises. A sunny position gives best results. Prune in March.

Creeping Jenny.--_See_ "Lysimachia Nummularia."

Crepis (_Hawkweed_).--An interesting hardy annual. It merely requires sowing in spring, and will grow in any soil. The flowers are produced in June. Height, 1 ft.

Cress.--Sow at intervals of a week from March to September in the open ground, and during the winter months in frames. A shady position is most suitable. By these frequent sowings, and by often cutting over such as readily renew a bottom growth, a constant succession of tender shoots is obtained.

Crocus.--Among our earliest spring flowers. These will grow in any garden soil, but prefer rich, sandy earth. Plant in October or November, 3 in. deep and 2 in. apart. Take the roots up every second year, and plant the small off-sets in a nursery bed for two years, when they will be fit for the beds or borders. Protect the bulbs from mice, as they are very partial to them, especially in winter.

_Indoor Culture_.--Select strong bulbs of the seedling varieties, and plant them in succession, commencing early in autumn, in good, rich, sandy soil. A liberal supply of water is necessary during the blooming season, but perfect drainage must be secured. They grow well in bowls filled with wet moss or sand. Height, 6 in. (_See also_ "Colchic.u.m.")

Crotons.--Fine-foliaged hothouse plants. A mixture of peat and sandy loam suits their growth, and they require a good amount of light to properly colour their leaves, with a night temperature of 70 degrees.

Crowea Saligna.--Charming greenhouse evergreen shrubs, which send forth their purple flowers in September. They grow best in loam and peat. Cuttings may be struck in sand under bell-gla.s.ses. Height, 3 ft.

Crown Imperials.--_See_ "Fritillarias."

Crucianella Stylosa.--A hardy perennial. Sow in August or September in a sheltered spot to stand the winter. The seed may also be sown from March to midsummer, and the plants moved in autumn to the place where they are to bloom. Their delicate pink flowers are produced in July.

Height, 1 ft.

Cuckoo Flower.--_See_ "Cardamine."

Cuc.u.mbers.--A rich, loamy soil is most suitable for their growth. Sow frame varieties in a heat of 75 degrees or 85 degrees during February and March for summer use, and when the plants are of sufficient size transplant to a well-prepared hotbed. Sow again in September for winter use. The hardy or ridge cuc.u.mbers (which are not suited for frame or hothouse culture) should be raised in a frame or hot-bed in April, and planted out about the middle of May in a warm border on strawed ridges prepared with good stable manure, placing a hand-gla.s.s over each plant until it is well established.

Cunila Mariana (_Dittany_).--This hardy perennial produces heads of pretty purple flowers from July to September. It is not particular as to soil, and can easily be increased by division. Height, 1 ft.

Cuphea.--Shrubs of a rather pretty description. The stove varieties require a sandy loam to grow in, and may be propagated by cuttings.

The annuals should be sown on a gentle hotbed, and when strong enough potted off and kept in the greenhouse; they should not be moved into the open before the end of May. The perennial species if sown early make good bedding plants the first year; they need protection in the winter.

Currants.--_Black._--A rich, deep soil and a moist situation, together with partial shade, are most suitable for their growth. They succeed better as bushes than as espaliers or trained to walls. Cuttings of the previous year's growth are taken in autumn and planted firmly 1 ft. by 6 in. apart. In two years s.h.i.+ft every alternate plant so as to allow room for expansion, and plant out finally to a distance of 5 ft.

In pruning the bushes, remember that the fruit is borne on the young wood, therefore only sufficient should be cut away to allow of the admission of air and suns.h.i.+ne and the further growth of young branches. A portion of the old wood should be removed each year. Mulch the roots, and keep the plants supplied with water in dry seasons.

Baldwin's Black, Ogden's Black, Black Naples, Lee's Prolific, James'

Prolific, and Old Black are among the best.

_Red and White._--An open, sunny position is needed. The soil that suits them best is a deeply-manured, stiff loam. They are readily raised from cuttings--which should be as long and strong as possible--taken in autumn. Cut away all the eyes except the three uppermost ones, and plant firmly in rows 1 ft. by 6 in. apart.

Transplant at the end of the second year to a distance of 5 ft. apart.

While the plants are young cut out all the top centre branches, cutting always to an outgrowing bud, so as to give a cylindrical form to the bush. In further pruning leave the leading shoots untouched, but shorten all others to 4 in. or 6 in., and cut out all old, mossy wood. Towards the end of June is a good time for cutting the young wood away. The fruit is produced on spurs. In the autumn of each year carefully dig in a good dressing of half-rotted manure, in such a manner as not to injure the roots. Among the leading red varieties are the following:--Champagne, Cherry, Chiswick Red, Houghton Castle, Raby Castle, and Red Dutch. Of the white fruit the White Dutch and the Cut-leaved White are the leaders. In plantations they should stand from 4 ft. to 6 ft. apart.

Currants, Flowering.--_See_ "Ribes."

Cyanthus Lobatus--A small, but very beautiful proc.u.mbent perennial, well adapted to fill moist places on rock-work if the situation is open and sunny. A mixture of vegetable mould and sand suits it, and it is best increased by cuttings placed in moist peat. It flowers in the autumn, the flower-stems being from 6 in. to 1 ft. in length.

Cya.n.u.s(_Cornflower_).--Very pretty and free-blooming hardy annuals.

Sow the seed in the open in autumn for an early display of flowers, or in March for a later one. Thin out to 2 ft. apart. Bloom in July.

Height, 2 ft. to 3 ft.

Cyclamen.--Charming winter and spring blooming bulbous greenhouse plants, which thrive in a mixture of sandy loam and vegetable mould.

They require a moist atmosphere and a uniform temperature not lower than 50 degrees. They may be increased by seed sown in slight heat as soon as it is ripe. Plant the bulbs in October, also in February and March, placing them so that the crown is level with the top of the pots. One full-sized bulb is sufficient for a 6-in. pot, which must be provided with good drainage and placed on a layer of coal ashes that is kept constantly moist. Water moderately till growth begins, then increase the supply. Give a little liquid manure, in a weak state, if a large quant.i.ty of flower-buds appear. When the blooming season is over, plunge the pots in a shady, well-drained border, and when the leaves start afresh turn the plants carefully out of the pots, so as not to injure their roots, and re-pot in fresh soil. C. Persic.u.m flowers in February, and C. Neapolitanum in April. C. Europeum is a hard variety, thriving in any situation. It produces sweetly-scented flowers throughout July and August. It does best when planted under trees, or in partial shade on rock-work, in well-drained, good loamy or peaty soil mixed with a fair proportion of brick rubble. Plant the corms in September 3 in. apart, and 1-1/2 in. deep. Height, 6 in. to 9 in.

Cydonia (_Pyrus_).--These hardy plants are well adapted for trellis-work, but are more effective when grown as bushes, and flower more freely than when trained to the wall, the bloom often lasting to the winter. They will grow in any soil, and are increased by suckers.

Height, 4 ft. and upwards.

Cyperius Alternifolius.--A stove gra.s.s which will grow in any soil, but requires a plentiful supply of water. It is increased by dividing the roots. Height, 2 ft.

Cypress (_Cupressus_).--Among these useful conifers C. Lawsoniana has no superior as a single specimen for the decoration of the lawn. Of free growth and perfectly hardy, it succeeds in almost any soil or situation. C. Fraserii is also hardy, of erect habit, and of a rich glaucous hue. When it attains a good size it is very ornamental. The beautiful silver variegated variety Argenteo Variegata deserves a place in every shrubbery. Nana Alba Maculata is a dwarf globular plant, the slender branches of which are tipped with white, giving it the appearance of being partly covered with snow. Pygmea is a compact dwarf-growing variety suitable for the centre of small beds and for rock-work. j.a.pan Cypresses are elegant little shrubs, one of the finest being Retinospora Ericoides, whose peculiar violet-red leaves contrast charmingly with light green plants. Any of the above may be increased by cuttings. They succeed best in a rich, deep loam, and are improved by thinning out the branches where too thick, and pinching out the stronger shoots where too thin, so as to encourage new growth.

Cypripedium (_Hardy Ladies' Slipper Orchid_).--This plant is of the simplest culture and is well adapted for pots, ferneries, or rock-work. It is most at home in a well-drained yet moist peaty soil, and kept in a frame or on a shady border, where it will bloom in June.

Protect from frost and heavy rains, but never allow the roots to get dry. Height, 1 ft.

Cytisus.--Elegant hardy shrubs with finely-cut leaves and terminal racemes of Pea-shaped flowers in July. They will grow in any soil, and are readily raised from seed or layers. Height, 3 ft. to 4 ft.

D

Daffodils.--These will grow in any good, cool, moist, well-drained garden soil if sand be put round their roots, but thrive best in a moderately rich loam. They may remain in the ground for years, for large bulbs produce the finest flowers. When the flowering is over the leaves must be allowed to die down, not cut off. Plant from September to December. The top of the bulb should be about 3 in. below the surface, according to its size; 10 in. apart is a good distance.

Daffodils are also suitable for pot culture. Plant three to six bulbs, according to size, in a 4-in. or 5-in. pot, using a compost of two parts fibrous loam, one part leaf-mould, and one part sand. Place the pots on a bed of ashes, and cover with 4 in. of cocoa-nut fibre. As soon as top growth has commenced, remove the plants indoors, and give plenty of light and air to prevent them being drawn. Daffodils likewise make a good display when planted on a lawn.

Dahlias.--These attractive plants require a deep, friable soil, not over rich. They may be grown from seed sown on a hotbed in March and lightly covered with fine mould. As soon as they are up give all the air which can with safety be given. When the seedlings are large enough pot them off singly in the smallest-sized pots or round the edges of 6-in. ones. Plant them out at the end of May, 1 ft. apart; they will flower at the end of August. Any that turn out very good had better be propagated by cuttings from the young tops, to save the kind in case the roots should die. When flowering is over take up the young bulbs and treat them as directed afterwards for old tubers.

Another way to propagate them is to place the old tubers in soil over a hotbed early in March. When the shoots are a couple of inches high the tubers may be taken up and divided with a sharp knife. Pot off separately. Water them occasionally with liquid manure, made from guano and powdered charcoal, well mixed with rain water, and plant them out early in May. Give them plenty of room, and tie the branches securely to stakes firmly fixed in the soil. When they have become good bushy plants put a layer of half-rotted manure round each plant.

As soon as frost turns their foliage brown take them up, cut off the roots, leaving about 6 in. of stem attached, and plunge them into a box of sand, chaff, or ashes, and preserve them from damp, frost, and heat during the winter.

Daisies (_Bellis Perennis_).--These pretty, little hardy perennials are very useful as edgings. To grow them to perfection the ground should be highly manured, and the roots divided every year, planting them out 6 in. apart in a cool, shady situation. October is a suitable time for transplanting. They flower continuously from February to July. Height, 6 in.

Dandelions.--Dandelions on lawns, etc., may be killed by cutting them down as low as possible, and putting a little gas-tar or a pinch of salt on the wound. Or they may be dug up and blanched for mixing with salad. In this case plant six roots in an 8-in. pot, and place an inverted flower-pot over the whole, in order to exclude the light; the plants are sometimes blanched in the open by covering them with old tan or fine ashes. The flowers must be kept picked off, for they soon run to seed, and if unattended to become troublesome.

Daphne.--Beautiful shrubs, mostly evergreens, bearing elegant flowers followed by bright-red poisonous berries. D. Mezereum is the most common variety, and is very suitable for the front of shrubberies. The Chinese variety D. Odorata is too tender for outdoors, but makes a fine ornament for the greenhouse. The dwarf kinds, bearing fragrant pink flowers, are rather tender, but are very useful for rockeries occupying sheltered positions. They all need a peaty soil, and may be increased by grafting on to the common Spurge Laurel. Different varieties flower at various periods, from February to October. Height, 9 in. to 6 ft, but the majority are from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high.

Datura.--Ornamental half-hardy annuals. The seeds of all the species must be sown on a hotbed early in spring. When the plants are strong enough transplant them in the border, where they will bloom more freely than in pots. The seeds of D. Ceratocaula will sometimes remain several years in the ground before they germinate. They flower in July. Height, 2 ft. to 3 ft.