246 The American Flower Garden 



and, if it is to be enjoyed at evening by tired commuters from 

 town, let white and yellow flowers abound. These shine forth 

 after all others have been engulfed by darkness. Really, the 

 commuter should be far more considered than his wife, who has 

 the whole day at home in which to enjoy the garden. 



Probably the bedding-out system, once so popular, albeit 

 a ridiculously expensive and troublesome treatment for annuals, 

 marked the lowest point that our national taste in gardening will 

 ever reach. It flourished when flowers for stiff pyramidal bou- 

 quets were mounted on wire and toothpicks, and it had much in 

 common with this method. Here and there we still see geranium 

 beds edged with dusty miller in the exact centre of little lawns, 

 the name of a railroad station laboriously spelled out in parti- 

 coloured coleus plants, or the initials of a newly rich owner of a 

 country place displayed near its entrance where all who run may 

 read. But public taste is rapidly improving: clam-shells and 

 coleus are rapidly disappearing from American gardens. 



ANNUALS THAT EVERYBODY CAN GROW 



Plants marked thus (*) are vines, and useful for screens, etc. While the flowering 

 date given is that of New York, it is also practically true for most sections. 



AGERATUM (Ageratum conyzoides). Purplish blue; 8 inches. Best 

 blue hardy annual for edging; blooms 3 months. Start in heat in 

 March for early flowers, or in the open in May. 



ALYSSUM, SWEET (Alyssum maritimuni). White. 8 inches. Average 

 soils in sun. Fragrant. July till frost by cutting back or by suc- 

 cessional sowings. Grows in cold regions and in heavy soils also. 

 Sow in heat in March; outdoors April to September. 



AMARANTHUS, LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING (Amaranthus caudatus). Scarlet to 

 yellow. Warm, sunny places. June; 3 to 5 feet. The best of the 



family, but too gaudy for dainty gardens. , PRINCE OF WALES'S 



FEATHER (A. hypochondriacui). Coarser, with purplish heads and 

 foliage. Coarse, unlovely plants. 



