THE GROWING OF THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS 241 



blue ageratum; circle, blue lobelia; ground (3 parts), crimson alter- 

 nanthera. 

 Other carpet or mosaic beds (after Long), with the plants indicated, 

 are shown in Figs. 241, 242. 



2. The Annual Plants 



The annual flowers of the seedsmen are those that give their 

 best bloom in the very year in which the seeds are sown. True 

 annuals are those plants that complete their entire life-cycle in 

 one season. Some of the so-called annual flowers will continue 

 to bloom the second and third years, but the bloom is so poor 

 and sparse after the first season that it does not pay to keep them. 

 Some perennials may be treated as annuals by starting the 

 seeds early; Chinese pink, pansy and snapdragon are examples. 



The regular biennials may be treated practically as annuals ; 

 that is, seeds may be sown every year, and after the first year, 

 therefore, a seasonal succession of bloom may be had. Of such 

 are adlumia, Canterbury bell, lunaria, ipomopsis, Qi]nothera 

 Lamarckiana; and foxglove, valerian, and some other perennials 

 w^ould better be treated as biennials. 



Most annuals will bloom in central New York if the seeds are 

 sown in the open ground when the weather becomes thoroughly 

 settled. But there are some kinds, as the late cosmos and moon- 

 flowers, for which the northern season is commonly too short 

 to give good bloom unless they are started very early indoors. 



If flowers of any annual are wanted extra early, the seeds 

 should be started under cover. A greenhouse is not necessary 

 for this purpose, although best results are to be expected 

 with such a building. The seed may be sown in boxes, and 

 these boxes then placed in a sheltered position on the warm side 

 of a building. At night they may be covered with boards or 

 matting. In very cold ''spells" the boxes should be brought 

 inside. In this simple way seeds may often be started one to 

 three weeks ahead of the time when they can be sown in the 



