212 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



be placed in botanical museums. Some annual vines, such as the morn- 

 ing-glory and moonflower, are very good for covering porches and 

 especially unsightly objects, as dead tree trunks, dilapidated outbuildiings, 

 etc. 



If one wishes to grow annuals in a flower garden, he should plant, 

 cultivate and tend them like a vegetable garden and the blooms should 

 be picked from them every day, after they commence to flower. This 

 method of growing cut flowers is quite another thing, however, from the 

 idea of having flowering plants, for the purpose of decorating the 

 grounds. 



In making the groups of annual flowering plants for the border, al- 

 ways place the tall growing kinds in the rear, in front of the taller 'shrubs 

 or trees. Low growing plants should be next to the border edge and the 

 medium tall plants ought to be planted between the largest and smallest 

 ones. By this method we will obtain the best view and finest effect 

 when the flowers bloom. But as we are grouping the plants according to 

 their heights, we must also arrange them so that the colors of their 

 flowers will harmonize. The mixing of dull colors can be exercised with 

 considerable freedom, but bright colored flowers need to be arranged 

 with greater care. Brilliant colors, which contrast too strongley, may 

 spoil an otherwise good effect. White makes a good contrast with a great 

 number of colors and consequently one finds a great many white flowers 

 used in annual plantings. I have found in experimenting with annual 

 flowers, that they have a wide range of characteristics. Some are 

 hardy and bloom profusely the whole season, almost regardless of 

 moisture, whereas others are killed by the first dry spell. Some like a 

 sandy and other prefer a clay soil. There are a few kinds which I 

 would especially recommend because they are so well adapted to our 

 soils and climatic conditions and bloom during the entire summer. 

 Among tall growing plants for the background, few are any better than 

 hollyhocks and castor beans. The hollyhocks, with their large flowers 

 are very showy. The blossoms of the castor beans are not very notice- 

 able, but their tropical-like foliage is excellent. Balsams, marigolds, 

 phloxes and zinnias give us wide range of colors for selecting medium 

 tall growers. The zinnias have large composite flowers and an ex- 

 tremely long season to bloom. If I were to recommend a single annual 

 flower as the best under all conditions, I would choose the zinia. For 

 edging the border, sweet alyssum, ageratum, mignonette and portulace 

 are well adapted. The first two are used to the greatest extent. There 

 are many other good annual flowers, but these are some especially recom- 

 mended for planting, if the conditions are adverse. 



After one hes made the plans for planting and selected his seed, 

 the next thing to be considered is the method of planting. It is a very 

 good plan to scatter a liberal quantity of well rotted manure over the 

 bed, during winter. This should be scattered evenly over the surface 

 so that it can be well mixed in the spring. After the frost has left the 



