ANNUAL FLOWEBLNG PLANTS 95 



blooming in the house, lift late-blooming plants in the 

 fall and put them in a cool room, where they should be 

 kept moist. 



THE SUNFLOWER 



The sunflower is a very stately decorative plant and 

 may be obtained in several varieties. The lowest are 

 about two feet high and bear many cosmoslike blos- 

 soms with widespreading petals. The giant-flowered 

 Russian varieties grow to a height of eight feet. Some of 

 the double varieties bear very large and showy flowers. 



A few plants may be placed here and there on the 

 grounds with telling effect. Their golden-yellow disks 

 make a beautiful appearance among the shrubbery, and 

 for backgrounds and screens nothing can be finer. 



Sowing. To obtain early plants, sow seeds in window 

 boxes and transplant out of doors as soon as danger 

 from frost is over. If the plants grow too rank, they 

 may be transplanted a second time before they are 

 permanently located. 



Sow seeds in the open ground in early spring, placing 

 six or eight in a hill. The hills should be from two to 

 four feet apart, according to the variety. Thin first to 

 three plants in a hill, and after they have made a good 

 start, thin to one or two plants. If hills are missing or 

 if more plants are desired, fill in with those thinned out 

 of full hills. 



Sunflowers will grow anywhere, but the strongest 

 plants grow on very rich soil. 



