CHAPTER XXXIX 



THE BEST ANNUALS 



Below I give a list of the best annuals for .s;eneral 

 cultivation. It will not be understood, I trust, that 

 because I have not named more of those described in 

 the catalogs, these are the only ones worth growing. 

 There are dozens of good kinds which I have not 

 mentioned. I have selected these because I know the 

 amateur will be sure of success with them if he gives 

 them proper care, and because they are such kinds as 

 will give the greatest amount of pleasure with the 

 smallest amount of labor. 



Sweet Pea — One of the most delightful of all 

 flowers. No garden can afford to be without it. 



Petunia — One of the "old standbys" ; a great 

 bloomer, and one of the all-the-season flowers, bloom- 

 ing from June to the coming of severe frosts. The 

 colors are mostly shades of crimson and violet, very 

 rich and brilliant. Some varieties are rose-colored, 

 and some white, while others show combinations of 

 all the colors of the family ; one of the best plants 

 we have for massing ; most effective when grown in 

 beds by itself. 



Phlox — This is the grand flower for giving a solid 

 color effect. Its flowers literally cover the beds with 

 their brilliant hues. It comes in pink, crimson, violet, 

 carmine and pure white. It is a wonderful bloomer, 

 and will continue till very late in the season if it is 

 kept from perfecting seed. In sowing seed of it, I 

 would advise keeping each color by itself in the bed. 

 If mixed, the effect is too bizarre to be pleasing. .\ 

 fine effect is produced by massing the pink varieties 

 and using the white kinds as a border. 



