200 AGRICULTURE 



the flower garden as soon as freezing has ceased. Pansies, 

 like sweet peas, are cool-weather bloomers; both require 

 moist soil and are unable to withstand much heat. 



Verbenas are the favorite flowers of many children and 

 of many grown people as well. They grow either from 

 seed or cuttings. There are few more beautiful sights in 



Courtesy Minn. Expt. Station 



FIG. 130. ONE METHOD OF PLANTING SMALL SEED IN BOXES 



the flower garden than a border thickly bedecked with the 

 purple and crimson or other various colors of the verbena. 

 Among the annuals most able to continue blooming dur- 

 ing the heat of summer are the petunia and the nasturtium. 

 There are both dwarf and climbing nasturtiums, all having 

 large, bright flowers. The seeds of petunias are so small 

 that, like many other flower seeds, they need either the 

 shallowest possible covering, or none. A good way to 

 plant such seeds is to sow them, and then with a board 

 press them against the surface; sprinkle over them the 

 thinnest possible layer of very fine sifted forest soil. This 

 holds moisture and does not easily form a crust. 



