ANNUAL FLOWERING PLANTS 99 



Cutting. Cut the flowers liberally; the more flowers 

 you cut off, the more blooms will form. Plants will soon 

 stop blossoming if allowed to go to seed. 



To produce extra large blossoms with long stalks, cut 

 off all flower stalks except one or two of the strongest ; 

 also the growing tips of the vines. This will cause the 

 plant to put forth all its strength to produce the desired 

 flowers. 



THE VERBENA 



The verbena is a low-growing plant with a creeping 

 habit. When grown in a mass the plants spread over 

 the ground like a carpet, above which heads of brilliant- 

 colored flowers appear in lavish profusion all summer. 

 These blossoms are borne on terminal or lateral shoots, 

 which lift themselves from five to seven inches above 

 the ground. The verbena may be used with good effect 

 in beds, borders, mounds, and window boxes. 



Soil. The soil should be well drained and fertile. 



Sowing. Sow the seeds in March in boxes. Equal 

 parts of manure, sand, and soil, sifted and well mixed, 

 will make a good compost. Cover the seeds a fourth of 

 an inch deep, press down firmly, and water sparingly. 

 When the seedlings are an inch high, transplant them 

 to other boxes two inches apart each way. When the 

 ground is warm and in good condition, plant out of 

 doors, setting them ten inches apart each way. Water 

 the plants thoroughly and shade them for two or three 

 days. 



