THE SWEET SULTANS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7, 14 August 1912, Page 39

THE SWEET SULTANS.

All amateurs should endeavour to find space in their garden for those charming members of the Centaura family, the Sweet Sultans. Their large, thistle-like blooms, delicately scented, give a wealth of colour. Marguerita bears heads of perfectly double flowers, each floret cut into long, finger-like segments, giving to the whole a refreshingly soft and beautiful appearance. The colours vary from lihvc, pure white, light blue, and a mixed yellow and rose. There are four extra good varieties, all brought out within the last few years, which should certainly be grown together. These are The Bridegroom, lilac or rose-pink, with white central florets; The Bride, snowy white, with pale \ream centre; The Bridesmaid, (dear, delicate lemon; and Honeymoon, bright yellow, with a golden centre. The Howers are, in each case, larger than the ordinary types, and the plants themselves are likewise taller, reaching a height of Jabout three feet. They should consequently be staked to prevent them being beaten down by heavy rain, or tossed about by wind. Simple Culture. The ordinary garden soil, provided it be not too poor, will serve to grow these plants to perfection. If time and labour can be spared, it should be well and deeply dug, and a quantity of stable manure be worked in. This will ensure far .more satisfactory results, and save the trouble of watering when dry weather sets in; indeed, save for staking the tall-growing varieties, nothing further need be done. The flowers, which are very useful for indoor decoration, and for bouquets, should be kept constantly cut. Like all hardy annuals, the seed can be sown in the open border, where the plants are to Hower, early in the spring. The seedlings must be thinned out. for overcrowding, even in the early stages, involves weak, straggling growth. To get the first and earliest blooms, however, the seed should be sown in the early autumn of the preceding year. The plants will then grow and be of good size to withstand the winter.