the size of carawuy seed. In common with all umbel- 

 liferous seed. Anise seed does not retain its viability long, 

 the normal longevity being 1 to 3 years. 



Annuals. Plants which, in cultivation, are prefer- 

 ably grown from seeds each year are commonly classed 

 as Annuals. More strictly. Annuals are plants which 

 normally live but a single season. Among Annuals are 

 found a number of the most showy flowers. As a rule, 

 they are easily grown, pioducing quick results and af- 

 fording a variety of brilliant colors. The class is, there- 

 fore, one of the greatest value. Some of the Annuals last 

 only a few weeks iu bloom, others continue throughout 

 the summer. There are trailers and climbers, dwarfs and 

 tall growers. By a judicious selection and arrangement 

 of kinds, the han<lsomf-stefFo(-ts may be produced. Many 

 of theshowy kin^l- :nr- ri.l;ii.fp.l fn mass effects, while the 



dwarf -growing' ,, ,i , |..,,. M..wi;ringedgings for beds 



orwalks. Witli tin I. -me ribbon-beds are pos- 



sible, but this ir,|i..n I M ill I 111' selection of kinds, and 

 as the use of thu tiimiiuii-; -'m :ir< is almost precluded it 

 is best to limit ouusflf to suupU- designs. Annuals are 

 well adapted to the covering of bare spots of ground in 

 the border. Annuals, like other flowers, show off best 

 when seen against a background of foliage. See Pigs. 

 91, 92. The tall and leafy kinds make excellent covers 

 for unsightly objects ; see Screens. For climbing and 

 twining kinds, see Vines. See, also, Hverla.itings and 

 brasses. 



In the ease of others tlian tin- rnntiiinon-j hl-mmers, a 

 succession of sowings or plaiitiiiL-^ i- il. -imlil.- in pro- 

 vide for a continuous dis|.l;iv ; ili. ii n - ,i l.nul li, -ins to 

 fail its place may be filled wiih.\"Ui,- |.l;u.' - "I th.- same 

 or other species. The usual niutbud ■■1: ^Leuriiig suc- 

 cession is to sow the seeds in flats, or beds, and trans- 

 plant the seedlings first to pots. The potted plants may 

 be set out at any time, with but little check to growth. 



Most Annuals prefer an open, sunny situation, but 

 pansies, forget-me-nots, -.nul -.mi.' ..th.i-. tlirivr where 

 they get the full sunshiin^ l-r' ..nl>- li.ili 'h.- M .> , In all 

 cases the best results ar.- "Miiiih A miUv « hm <]>.■ soil is 

 well enriche<l and t)ior.MiL'lil\ pi .liuii ^1 |.r.\iiius to sow- 

 ing orphmiin- ; aiMl it i- lir I" ;t, I- to iNukeiliis prepa- 

 ration:. f.oHilL'lii or nio,,' II, :mIm .' A considerable 



proporiioMoi linnii- III I'l- -'il I- >|i-;i-.l.k-, rendering it 

 less suli|ori lo l..ikni- iiipI . 1 1 ', 1 1! ^ .ml. ( 'ow - manure, 

 Ml, Wo, k,a ill liberally, will snp- 

 - ~ pill. .1 thoroughly and at least 

 , . i- ilion again worked over to 

 r nil , will bo obtainable. The 

 In a. lioufviT. unless it pulver- 

 , . , I.I i..ii ..f ~,-,.,ls, the surface 



stable-maiiui... 

 ply this. Beds- 

 a foot deep. If 

 half this depth. 

 soil should not 

 izes readily. 1 

 should be mell. 

 drills or concei, 

 planting decide 



Is are sown in 

 the method of 



:P.^^ 



ANNUALS 



toward the center or back of tlie bed. Only the best 

 seeds should be purchased, and it is generally best to 

 get the colors in separate packets. In the open ground, 

 seeds may be covered to a depth of four or five times 

 their own thickness, but when sown indoors in trays or 

 pots, the rule is to cover them to about their own thick- 

 ness. The position of each row or kind should be marked, 

 so that when weeds and flowers spring up there will be 

 no trouble In separating the sheep from the goats. After 

 covering, the soil should be pressed firmly over the seed 

 with a board or hoe, or the feet. In soils which are in- 

 clined to bake, a sprinkling of sand or fine litter over 

 the surface after sowing- will remedy this evil. Ever- 

 green bout,'!,^ ).l„.-o.l .IV, T the beds until the seedlings 

 have appciiri,! will allor.l useful shelter from beating 

 rains. It i-; . I. ■^iinl. I,- i., s.>w the seeds thickly. When 

 up, the plants may \f- tljimied to their proper distances. 

 Particular care should be given to this matter, and to 

 keeping down weeds, or the plants may become weak, 

 spindling and valueless. No seed pods should be allowed 

 to form, else the vitality of the plants will be exhausted. 

 The flowers may be freely gathered with advantage to 

 the flowering. 



It is customary to divide Annuals into three classes: 

 (1) Hardy Annuals are those which are sown directly in 

 the open ground where they are to grow. They are vitally 

 strong, developing without artificial heat, and may be 

 sown from February to May, according to the season and 

 latitude. Some of them, as sweet peas, may be sown 

 even iu the fall. For this class, a well prepared border 

 on the south side of a fence or wall, or other sheltered 

 place, is usually preferred for early sowings. From here 

 the seedlings are transplanted later where they are to 

 grow. Some sorts, however, do not bear transplanting 

 well, con3eqnent;ly must be sown in the places they are to 

 occupy. Among such are poppies, eschscholtzia, barto- 

 nia, Venus' looking-glass, lupine, malope, and the dwarf 

 convolvulus. (2) Half-hardy Annuals are usually sown 

 in February or March in the window or a warm frame. 

 The season is usually not long enough to enable them to 

 reach full development in the open. In the early stages 

 of growth, they need protection and warmth. Such 

 kinds are sometimes sown in the fall and wintered over 

 in a coldframe. When once established, they are hardy 

 with slight protection. Pansies and some other kinds 

 are grown to their greatest perfection only in this way. 

 (3) Tender Annuals require still more warmth, and are 

 started from January to May in the greenhouse or other 

 suitable place. They commonly need a temperature of 

 from 60° to 70°. The danger with early grown seedlings, 

 especially those started in the window, is crowding and 

 want of light. As soon as crowding begins, the plants 

 should be thinned out or transplanted to other trays, or 

 into pots, and reset from time to time, as they need ; 

 frequent transplanting is usually an advantage. The 

 last transplanting is preferably into small 

 i, as then the seedlings may be readily 

 out in the open ground at the proper 

 ', with little or no check to growth, 

 mie of the staple or general purpos. 





tjpesof -Vnnuals m th. 

 lowing Petuiins phlo\, 

 thu.-es Hrk-pur.. or delpli 



Noith 



the fol 



