FLOWERS FOR EVERYBODY'S GARDEN. 89 



Imperialis (Royal Sweet Sultana), is another class of beautiful 

 sweet scented artistic flowers in pink, rose, lavender, purple and 

 white. Centaurea Suaveolens (Yellow Sweet Sultan, or Grecian 

 Cornflower) is the only variety which produces yellow flowers, 

 and they are very sweet too. 



Another one of our bright, pleasing annuals of very easy 

 culture is Caculia (Tassel Flower, or Flora's Paint-Brust) which 

 produces its beautiful scarlet red, tassel-shaped flowers in great 

 profusion all summer. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) is another 

 charming annual of easy requirements and should be given a 

 place in every garden, producing, as it does, its large, brilliant 

 and showy flowers from early till late with the minimum of care 

 or attention. 



Sweet Alyssum, Candytuft, Ageratum and Mignonette are 

 plants easily grown, and are general favorites as much by 

 reason of their fragrance as anything else. They are all rather 

 low growing and should be given a place on the outside of the 

 flower bed as a border. Nasturtium is another well known and 

 generally appreciated flower which should, however, not be 

 mixed with any other flowers but a separate place reserved for 

 it. In a dry place, not too rich soil, they will bloom best. The 

 seeds must not be sown until the soil is warm, say after the first 

 of May. 



All the other annuals mentioned should be sown early as soon 

 as the soil is in condition to work, that is as soon as it is dry 

 enough in the spring so as to make it mellow and not sticky. Do 

 not touch your soil in the garden before it is in condition. 

 Nothing is gained by it and very often much time lost, and your 

 plants will never do well if planted when the soil is in a wet or 

 sticky condition. Portulacca, called Sun Plant because it loves 

 a sunny exposed position, may be sown on a sunny slope, where 

 nothing else will grow, and will cover the ground with a carpet 

 in many of the richest colors and be a source of delight to every- 

 body. 



I could mention many others which are worthy of a place in 

 everybody's garden of just as easy culture, but what I had in 

 mind when writing this was to try to induce some one who has 

 not tried to raise flowers to make a trial by pointing out the way, 

 and show how little is needed and how easy it is to have at least 

 some of the really good things there are in the floral kingdom. 

 Anyone who will make a start with some of these I have men- 



