Garden Notes - Calceolaria to Celsia

Herbaceous Calceolaria

Although requiring special treatment Herbaceous Calceolarias are not difficult to manage. Sow seeds as soon as ripe in pans of light compost placed on a hotbed, and kept moist. Prick out plants into boxes, and later pot separately into 4 inch pots in turry loam containing about one-fourth hotbed manure. Shift into 4 in. pots in due course, and winter near glass in greenhouse, protecting from frost and sunshine. Shift into 8 inch pots in February, and when well rooted sprinkle daily with water and apply liquid manure weekly until flower stems develop, then discontinue and apply water only.
 

Chimney Campanula

This showy hardy perennial, Campanula pyramidalis, is admirably adapted for green-house culture. Seed should be sown in heat in spring, and transplanted into small pots in due course. When rooted transfer to cold frame for a few weeks, then plant out in a sunny border until the following March. Plants should then be lifted and set in 6 or 8 inch pots in a compost of two parts loam, and one part leaf-mould, decayed manure and sand. Water freely, and stake flower spikes when a foot or so high. Remove to greenhouse, and apply liquid manure occasionally.
 

Perpetual-Flowering Carnation

Take cuttings annually between November and March, and dibble in an inch deep and two inches apart in silver sand. Water well, and cover with glass. Stand in a temperature of 55 degrees, and keep moist and shaded from sun. Plant rooted cuttings singly in 2 inch pots in compost of loam three parts, wood-ashes and silver sand one part. Press soil firm, keep at about 55 degrees, and sprinkle overhead with water on sunny days. In due course shift to 3 inch, and finally to 5 or 6 inch pots, in richer, well-sifted compost, pinching off shoots as required.
 

Celosia

Celosias are attractive annuals for greenhouse or conservatory cultivation; the brilliant feathery blooms of C. pyramidalis and the striking "cockscomb" of C. cristata being quite distinctive. Sow pyramidalis seed in March, in compost of leaf-mould two parts, loam and decayed manure one part each, and sand; and water well. Pots must be well drained, and plunged in bottom heat of 65 to 70 degrees, in a garden frame placed on hotbed. Syringe seedlings frequently, and ventilate when weather is suitable. In due course transfer singly to 2 ½ inch pots, and return to hotbed. Re-pot into 4 ½ or 6 inch pots or richer soil for final flowering.
 

Celsia

C. Arcturus is a shrubby perennial particularly suitable for growing in greenhouses with just sufficient heat to exclude frost. It may be struck in spring from slips of young wood set in sandy loam mixed with leaf-mould. In a cool frame they strike readily, and should be potted up firmly in small pots, re-potting annually, and providing good drainage. C.Arcturus must be kept under glass, if possible standing plants on shingle, into which the roots will find their way. This plant will form bushes 4 feet high, covered with spikes of bloom.