ANNUAL FLOWERING PLANTS 87 



Porch boxes. Pansies make beautiful porch boxes. 

 Set the plants in the boxes, four inches apart each way. 

 Keep them where they will have sunshine during at 

 least half the day. 



Tulip beds. To obtain a beautiful effect, plant autumn- 

 sown pansies in tulip beds when the tulips come up in 

 the spring. 



THE PETUNIA 



The petunia grows rapidly, coming into bloom early 

 in the summer and blossoming until frost. Plants 

 taken up in autumn may be used as window climbers 

 throughout the winter. Some varieties will grow to a 

 height of three or four feet. They give the best results 

 in direct sunlight, but will bloom in the open on the 

 north side of a building, where they obtain very little 

 sun. The single varieties produce seed easily without 

 any special attention. The double-flowered varieties will 

 produce seed only after careful hand-pollination of the 

 flowers. The plants may also be reproduced by cuttings. 



Sowing. For early flowers, sow in boxes. Prepare a 

 soil by mixing and sifting equal parts of earth, sand, 

 and manure. Put coarse material into the bottom of the 

 box to provide for drainage, and then fill to within half 

 an inch of the top with fine material. Smooth the sur- 

 face of the soil and then sow the seeds. Instead of cover- 

 ing the seeds with earth, merely press them down with 

 a piece of board ; then cover with a piece of cheesecloth, 

 and water until all of the soil in the box is moist. Cover 



