Hardy Flowers for Cutting.

Otago Witness, Issue 2116, 13 September 1894, Page 4

Hardy Flowers for Cutting.

Though all flowers may be said to possess some decorative value in a cut state when tastefully set up, there is a great advantage in having just those kinds which seem to fall naturally into position in the vase or bouquefc without any artificial aids. The grower of hardy flowers in this respect has an immense advantage over those who rely upon exotics. Without taking into consideration the greater variety and the larger range in colour, there is among hardy flowers plenty of length of stem. Squat, dumpy flowers, such as pelargoniums and calceolarias, cannot be made fo look well in a large vase ; but, with a fairly good collection of hardy plants arranged in any border ! specially for cutting, there will always be something, from the time the snowdrops and primroses come in at the beginning of the seasons till the violets and Christmas roses fill up the close. Bat the winter flowers and the early bulbs may with advantage occupy sheltered positions among shrubs, The annexed list does not pretend to be an exhaustive one. In thinking over the matter, I have jotted down the names as they occurred to me of such things as, in my experience, I have found useful for making a tasteful table or hand bouquet. All flowers maybe beautiful, but people having the management of a cut-flower department soon find out that all flowers are not equally valuible for the worir. Some flowers are very difficult to set up properly, whilst others drop into the right position as if by some special instinct ; and in planting flowers specially for cutting, it is just as well to have those thing* which even a novic© in the art of arranging cut blooms could not spoil or render ineffective. It is perhaps scarcely necessary to enumerate such things as roses, carnations, pinks, and things of that class, as everyone is acquainted with their value. I am dealing now more especi»%r ?ritU the less common amvoffbardj flmrers,

which, though easy enough to obtain and cot difficult to cultivate in the ordinary mixed style of border, do not in a general way receive the attention they deserve. Agrostemma flos Jovis (Jove's flower), rose, 18in; A. coronaria floreplena, couble rose campion, crimson, 2ft. All the anemones are beautiful for cutting, but special mention may be made of A. fulgens in spring and A. japonica alba in autumn. Anthericum abago (St. Bernard's lily), white, and its varieties, are very beautiful Columbines, especially tbe hybrid forms, are nice for cutt : ng. A. cnorpatitna, yellow ; A. Califomica, ecarlet ; A. C. alba, white ; and A. glandu'.o3a, blue, are useful *nd ffixctive, both as border plants and also in a cut state. Centaurea (perennial cornflowers) are handsome p'.ants. C. Montana, blue, and its white and red varieties, are among the best; but C. dealbata (rose) and O. | macrocephala, yellow, should be planted where there Is room for more than one species. Chrysanthemum latifoliuni and C. maximum, both white, are useful. Among marguerites, Corecopsis lanceolata, yellow, is an old favourite, and Gaillardia grandiflora and others are nice for cutting, being bright in colouupvith long slender stems. Delphinium and phloxes in much variety may be had. Ecliiuops ritro (blue, 3ft) is pretty; Erigeronspeeiosasupevba, lilac purple, orange centre, 3ft ; Geum coccineum flore-plena, 2ft; Henchera sangoinea, rosy crimson, 18in ; H. Richardson! (satin leaf) is valuable for its foliage. Hemerocallis (day lilies^ various. Are valuable for cutting, and ,When the plants get strong, whioh they are not long in doing, some of the leaves may be spared. Iberis corifojia (perennial) ; candytuft, white, 9in ; Lychnis vespertina alba plena, white, 3ft ; Omphalodes verna (creeping forget-me-not). The last, when planted in a moist sbady spot, is a sweet thing. Papaver orientale and its variety pink beauty are striking. One need hardly mention the Shirley and Iceland poppies, as they are popular now. Pyrethrum uliginosum, white, 4ft ; Pyrethums, doable and single, in much variety, are among the most valuable material for cutting. Ranunculus aconitif olios, the meadow sweets or spiraeas, are useful ; and the foliage, being hard aud lasting, has .Borne decorative value also. Statice latifolia, ,sea lavender, blue, 2£ft. Tritomas (torch flowers) are useful for hall decoration in large vases. Paeonies and lilie3 in much variety are valuable ; Irises also, and sunflowers in their different orders will be appreciated. Veronicas longifolia and spicata, and their varieties, are distinct in character. Thalictrum adiantifolia is useful for its elegant foliage, and I have found the leaves ot the green flowered Hellebores fcetidus and livides useful in certain effects. Foliage is as necessary as blossom to make an effective display. — E.H.