Gardening for the Million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Gardening for the Million
John Stuart Mill · en
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.