Herbaceous Plants 297 



up the floral display throughout the season. If a supply of 

 annuals in pots is provided, they can be set at any time 

 during the season, when required. Among the best annuals 

 are asters, balsams, calendula, calliopsis, centaurea, celosia, 

 cosmos, datura, four o'clock, African marigold, larkspur, 

 mignonette, petunias, poppies and zinnias. 



An interesting annual, now often planted, is standing 

 cypress or Belvidere (Kochia trichophyUa), which can be 

 used for hedges or planted in formal gardens. The plant 

 is a lively green during summer, but turns a vivid red in 

 autumn. It grows about 3 feet high, and when it has room, 

 develops as symmetrically as an evergreen. 



Pansy {Viola tricolor). — When properly grown no early- 

 blooming flower gives more satisfaction — so much show 

 outside and so many flowers for indoor decoration. To 

 obtain the best results the seed should be sown in August 

 in a cool, slightly shaded, airy place, and when three or four 

 of the middle leaves have formed be transplanted to a bed 

 where they may be protected for a time from very severe 

 freezing until they have reached a size to show some flower- 

 buds. They should then be exposed to the weather to 

 harden them off and be protected from severe freezing 

 during the winter by a covering of pine boughs and a few 

 leaves. Too deep covering will destroy the plants by pro" 

 ducing fermentation. In the spring the covering should 

 be removed as soon as severe freezing is over, in this section 

 about April ist, fine rich manure be worked in about the 

 plants, and the soil settled by a hea\y watering. All of 

 the very early buds should be removed as soon as cpen 

 until the plants have gained good size and are vigorous, 

 when the blossoms may be allowed to mature which will 

 then be of large size. These plants may be transplanted to 

 beds on the lawn or in the garden and will produce large quan- 

 tities of blossoms for two months, i.e., April to June. All 



