Annual Flowers. 303 



■ II. STATISTICS OF EASILY-GROWN ANNUALS. 



{G. N'. Laujnan.) 



In 1897, over four hundred kinds of annual flowers and in 

 1898 over fifty kinds, not including China asters and sweet 

 peas,* were grown on the grounds of the Horticultural Depart- 

 ment of Cornell University. In 1897, niost of the seeds were 

 sown May 21, while in 1898 it was June 6 before the seeds were 

 sown. The soil varied somewhat, but it was light and well tilled, 

 and only moderatel}^ rich. Both seasons were very wet, and that 

 of 1897 was cold during July and August. The falls of both years 

 were very favorable to continued plant growth, and that of 1898 

 was spared a frost at the usual time. About 250 other kinds 

 were grown or sown, but they either did not germinate or seemed 

 to be unadapted to general use at this place. 



The following table gives the data which were taken from the 

 plants from time to time and summaries are given to facilitate 

 the selection of plants for particular purposes. The names are 

 those in use among seedsmen, and no attempt has been made to 

 revise them to accord with the latest botanical nomenclature. 



Annuals are most useful for quick effects, to fill vacant places 

 about shrubbery and in bulb beds. It is generally advisable to 

 sow the seed rather profusely in order to provide against failures, 

 particularly if the ground is dry and not in good tilth. All the 

 annuals here mentioned are very easily grown, and no instructions 

 are needed in this bulletin. If, however, the reader wishes 

 details for their cultivation, the catalogues of the leading seeds- 

 men may be consulted. 



This is not the record of a variety test. The effort has been 

 made to give the inquirer, in small compass, those facts about 

 annuals which he chiefly desires to know^ for practical purposes. 

 Similar information can often be secured from seedsmen's cata- 

 logues, and these should aUvays be consulted ; but one does not 

 always know^ to what latitudes, soils and seasons those remarks 



*An account of China asters, with remarks on flower beds, is contained 

 in our Bulletin 90. Sweet peas are considered in Bulletins iii and 127. 



