MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 141 
Normal leaves and burs, and leaves and burs of the same 
age, but greatly undersized, due to cankers on the limb or 
trunk below. Ae ok are shown of both the native chest- 
nut and the Paragon variety, the latter furnishing a good 
share of the nuts sold on the market. 
A miscellaneous collection of specimens showing a variety 
of conditions and points of interest. 
FLOWERING PLANTS FOR ST. LOUIS 
The two Sate numbers of the BULLETIN have dwelt 
in considerable detail upon the trees and shrubs that are best 
adapted as flowering material for St. Louis. These two 
groups of plants serve primarily as a setting for the third 
group of plants, annuals and perennials. The latter plants 
should be grown along the edges of the shrubbery border, but 
care must be phiaerver not to plant them in long, even rows, 
giving the appearance of an extended band or ribbon. This 
effect can be easily avoided by a selection of annuals or 
perennials differing in color, height, and time of blooming. 
PERENNIALS 
Perennials are best planted early in the fall, or it might 
be said, most conveniently planted at that time, as they then 
have a chance to become established, and may even make 
some growth, before cold weather begins. A slight mulch- 
ing of leaves or well-rotted manure will carry them through 
very severe winters. In other parts of the country it is the 
rule to wait until frost is in the ground before mulching, 
but as this often does not occur in St. Louis before Decem- 
ber or even January, it is recommended that the mulch be 
applied late in November. It should then be spread lightly 
—not over two inches at the most, except for the perennial 
bulbs—a heavy layer tending to smother the plants. It is 
better to leave the crown of the plant nearly exposed and to 
apply the manure primarily for the purpose of covering the 
root growth. In the spring the mulch may either be removed 
or spaded into the soil 
The failure to transplant perennials at the proper time is 
probably the reason they are usually lacking in bloom the 
first season after transplanting. Because of the attendant dif- 
ficulties, very few growers attempt to move their perennials 
at the most suitable period, but transplant either in spring 
or fall and take whatever bloom may come the first 
year, knowing that the second year ja ong will again be 
normal. When to move a well-established perennial is a 
question to which the habit of the plant suggests an answer. 
