ANNUALS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 133 



been made in the improvement of the Zinnia, until now it is a 

 magnificent autumn flowei* ; we could not get along without it. 



It is important in planning mixed beds to study the habits of 

 growth and the colors of the different plants, and to arrange them 

 so as to produce harmonious and pleasing effects. The tall grow- 

 ing kinds should be placed in the rear or centre of the beds, with 

 the lower growing kinds in front. He had seen one border 

 planted against a curbstone sixteen inches high, with tall Phloxes 

 in front and Cupheas behind — exactly the reverse of what should 

 have been. 



In regard to pansies, the essa^ast had said all that was neces- 

 sary. The speaker sows his seed in September and keeps the 

 plants over the winter in a cold frame for planting in April, so as 

 to have as good a bed as he can by Decoration Day. His expe- 

 rience with verbenas is the same as Mr. Ross's. He makes two or 

 three sowings ; the first about this time, and afterwards at inter- 

 vals of two or three weeks. The}' flourish best in new soil, and 

 he tries to give them a new place ever^"^ year. They deserve a 

 prominent position. We have neglected some of the old things 

 too much, and he means this year to have a little garden of an- 

 nuals on his own account, including mignonette. 



The ladies were next called on. Miss S. W. Story approved 

 especially of the Schizanthus. Last year she cultivated in the 

 greenhouse a species of Cosmos, a comparatively new annual re- 

 sembling the single dahlia. 



Mrs. E. M. Gill said that last 3'ear she grew three thousand pan- 

 sies. She sows the seed in August and September and transplants 

 as she gets time, covering them with glass from October to the last 

 of March. She uses fresh cow manure for them successfully. Seed- 

 ling verbenas are not onl}' freer from disease than those raised 

 from cuttings, but the flowers have more substance. Calendulas 

 and Marigolds are valuable annuals. 



Robert T. Jackson said that the season of bloom of marigolds 

 is short, and it is well to have a succession, sowing until the mid- 

 dle of May. Those latest sown will last until frost comes. When 

 it is desired to have double flowers, single ones should not be left 

 in the garden as the bees will carr}' pollen from them which will 

 cause the double ones to deteriorate. He pulls up all the poor 

 ones. 



Mr. Faxon added to the annuals previously mentioned by him 



