Annual Flowers. 299 



settled. But there are some kinds, as cosmos and moon-flowers, 

 for which our season is commonly too short to give good bloOm. 

 These kinds ma}^ be started early in the house or in hotbeds ; 

 and similar treatment may be given any plants of which it is 

 desired to secure blooms before the normal time. 



Prepare the ground thoroughly and deep. Annuals must make 

 a quick growth. See that the soil contains enough humus or 

 vegetable mold to make it rich and enable it to hold moisture. 

 If the ground is not naturally rich, spade in well-rotted manure 

 or mold from the woods. A little commercial fertilizer may help 

 in starting off the plants quickly. Prepare the land as early in 

 spring as it is in fit condition, and prevent evaporation by keep- 

 ing the surface loose by means of raking. 



If the flowers are to be grown about the edges of the lawn, 

 make sure that the grass roots do not run underneath them and 

 rob them of food and moisture. It is well to run a sharp spade 

 deep into the ground about the edges of the bed every two or 

 three weeks for the purpo.se of cutting off any grass roots which 

 may have run into the bed. If beds are made in the turf, see 

 that they are three feet or more wide, so that the grass roots 

 will not undermine them, Against the shrub borders, this 

 precaution may not be necessary. In fact, it is desirable that 

 the flowers fill all the space between the overhanging branches 

 and the sod. Observe the picture on the title-page. 



Sow the seeds freely. Many will not germinate. Even if 

 they do all germinate, the combined strength of the rising 

 plantlets will break the crust on the hard soils : and in the 

 thinning which follows, only strong and promising plants are 

 allowed to remain. Better effects are also often secured when 

 the colors are in masses, especially if the flowers are thrown 

 into the bays of heavy shrub borders like those in Fig. 38. 



Plants continue to bloom for a longer period if they are not 

 allowed to produce seeds. The flowers should be picked, if 

 possible, as .soon as they begin to fade. 



The kinds of annuals, — In the selection of the kinds of 

 annuals, one's personal preference must be the guide. Yet there 

 are some groups which may be considered to be standard or 

 general-purpose plants. They are easily grown almost anywhere 



