88 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



surface of the soil stirred occasionally and keep it clean from 

 weeds, and if the season is not a very wet one a light mulch of 

 stable litter applied about the first of July will be all the care 

 they require. You will be very much surprised at the results, 

 the wealth of grand flowers you will have until frost cuts them 

 down. 



Besides these we have quite a variety of Dwarf Sunflowers, 

 which I consider very charming and worthy of a place in any- 

 body's garden. I like especially the single varieties. They have 

 a very refined and artistic appearance. Growing to a height of 

 about four feet, with numerous slender branches always supplied 

 with a wealth of flowers, they are very desirable to place in the 

 background or for filling up odd corners. They may be raised 

 and given the same treatment as recommended for the Zinnias 

 and Marigolds. 



Very many of our prettiest and loveliest annuals may be 

 sown right in the beds where they are to bloom, and they thrive 

 and develop best when not disturbed by transplanting. In this 

 class I should place Calleopsis at the head. This is a splendid, 

 easily grown plant which thrives and flourishes under almost any 

 condition. They come in a great variety of colors, from rich 

 crimson garnet and velvety brown to golden yellow, and are very 

 free flowering, being literally covesed with charming flowers, of 

 which single plants will produce thousands through the summer. 

 When sowing do not sow too thick, and when up thin out to at 

 least six inches between the plants. As an all around desirable 

 and easy plant to grow, which will give most pleasure for the 

 little cost and trouble in sowing them, I think I would place 

 some of the Poppies next in order. The charming Shirley 

 Poppies at least should not be missing in any garden. The 

 main quality I like them for is their earliness; they will be in 

 their glory before most annuals are ready to show color, and 

 though they do not last all summer they richly pay for their place 

 while they are with us. When through their beauty they may be 

 removed and their place taken by their slower sisters, like Cen- 

 taureas, which take more time for their toilet; or to develop 

 their beauty they may be so sown as to fill the place of the Pop- 

 pies by having the rows alternate. 



There is quite a variety of Centaureas worthy of a place 

 in anybody's garden. Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) comes in 

 a great variety of colors from white to darkest blue. Centaurea 



