THE POLYANTHUS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 16, 16 October 1912, Page 38

THE POLYANTHUS.

I would remind any beginners who are looking a little way ahead that the polyanthus gives a good account of itself in the spring. It makes a line show in clumps, and does fairly well as an edging. It is very easily come at, there is no need to buy plants, seed is very cheap, and young plants are better than old ones. I do not include in that the laced varieties as the result is apt to Im* disappointing, but the large flowering white, yellow and hose-in-hose, from seed are entirely satisfactory. There is also a new him* variety. I’otis, boxes, or the open ground can be used for the seed. If the open ground, then a shady place is best; in either case the surface of the soil should be made as line as possible and gently pressed down so that the seed will not get into holes ami Ik* too deeply covered. This is a point needing very careful attention in the ease of all small seeds. Another point of importance, and one in which beginners very often go wrong, is sowing too thickly. There seems to be an idea that thinning out will make all right, however thickly the sowing ha<s Im'cu done. This is quite a mistake, for in very thick sowing the seedlings an* ruined before the thinning logins, before it can begin. The earlier the seed is got in now the better the plants will be.— 11.11.