Snowdrop
Notorious as a poisoning agent for centuries, Henbane is a very important plant from the pharmacological point of view.
Yellow-rattle
For an inconspicuous flower Field Fennel has some very extraordinary associations. It is, for example, darkly linked with the mysterious death of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa): found on the banks of the river in which he is said to have drowned was this hitherto unknown herb reminiscent of a nymph.
Scarlet Pimpernel
When feed for livestock is in short supply, hedgerows and vegetation growing between shrubs provides a useful alternative source of nourishment. But since clover is not always readily available, an emergency diet will obviously include some unwelcome plants.
Summer Pheasant’s Eye
When the superticious Greek god Adonis – beloved of Aphrodite and famed for his looks – was killed on a hunting expedition, southern Europe gained an exquisite new flower.
Thinning Dahlia
The medium and small pompons should be accorded similar treatment to that given to the small decorative and cactus, that is only the weak growths are removed when grown on rich soils, reducing a little more severely on poor soil. The small pompons require very little thinning unless the soil is particularly poor.
Dahlia Tips
In addition to stopping the plant to induce early flowering it is usual, particularly when grown for exhibition, to restrict the number of branches that each will bear in order that perfection of bloom may be achieved. The actual number that will be allowed to develop on any particular plant will naturally vary in accordance with the size of bloom, the vigour of the variety and the strength of the ground in which it is grown. It must be obvious, therefore, that a very fair knowledge of the capabilities of the dahlias grown, and of the soil, must be acquired.
Wild Flowers
By the year 2000, it is thought there will be approximately six to seven thousand million people crowding the face of the earth. Almost half this number will be living in cities and larger built-up areas. So, regardless of technological advances, what is of paramount importance to mankind – both now and in the future – is the preservation of this planet’s rapidly diminishing natural resources.
Field Poppy
Most field weeds are content to compete with cultivated crops in terms of living space. Not so with Red Bartsia, which is semi-parasitic and lives on the roots of other plants, in particular grain.
Factors Affecting Plant Distribution
Besides occurring in pine stands (sometimes precariously balanced on the upper ledges of rocky slopes), the Scots Pine is an important tree which is often found in the company of oak in pine/oak forests.
Growing Dahlias
Although it is possible to grow dahlias without much attention, there is a great deal of difference between, for instance, the lovely blooms seen at the National Show -and the rather weedy blooms seen in many gardens. Many things go to make this so, but without any doubt disbudding is one of the main factors.