121 



also as house plants they are very popular, growing finely 

 in the window-box or hanging basket. Either indoors or 

 outdoors their richness of color, duration of bloom, and 

 easy culture will always render them favorites. The 

 seed can be sown in spring in the open ground, or planted 

 still earlier in the hot-bed or a box in a sunny window, 

 and the plants transplanted into beds from eighteen 

 inches to two feet apart. By starting the plants early 

 and transplanting them, the}* will come into bloom earlier 

 though they flourish perfectly well sown in the open 

 ground. The seeds being very small should be simply 

 scattered over the soil, and slightly pressed into it ; if 

 covered deeply they will not germinate at all. At the 

 present time there is a great variety of kinds, single, 

 double, striped and blotched, fringed, etc., in great variety 

 of colors and markings, and any one purchasing petunia 

 seed will make a great mistake if they do not have the 

 best, for the best petunias are simply superb. 



PHLOX DRUMMONDII. 



The common phlox of our gardens, phlox drummondii, 

 is a native of Texas, and was discovered in 1835 by a Mr. 

 Drummond, a botanical collector, sent out by the Glasgow 

 Botonical Society, hence its name. Like the petunia it is 

 universally grown, which is the strongest proof of its 

 beauty and value as a flowering plant. Its culture is the 

 same in all respects as the petunia. It remains in bloom 

 a long time, and the colors are very rich, including white, 

 rose, scarlet, purple and pale yellow. 



ZINNIA. 



To grow zinnias . to perfection the seed should be 

 started early in heat, and transplanted at least twice 

 before they are set out where they are to remain ; to 

 make the plants stocky set them about two feet apart 

 each way, more rather than less, and they will completely 

 cover the ground. If large blossoms are wanted it will 

 be. necessary to pinch off a great many of the buds, as if 



