THE ANNUAL GARDEN 63 



black, azure — all beautiful and distinctive. As the 

 scabiosa has little foliage it should be massed rather 

 closely, and the tall stems will be the better for some 

 support, as slender bamboos or strings drawn across 

 the beds to which the stems may be secured, but as, 

 inconspicuously as possible. The scabiosa is one of 

 our very best cut flowers, remaining fresh in water a 

 considerable time and the buds opening well. 



Cosmos is another annual which should be started 

 under heat early, and transplanted when the nights 

 and ground are warm. It should have a wann, sunny 

 situation and abundant room — ^not less than three 

 feet between plants, and five would be better. Give 

 rich soil, stake with a sturdy stake at least five feet 

 long and driven well into the ground, for the cosmos 

 is badly twisted and broken by high winds, and when 

 once down cannot well be raised again, but is then 

 better allowed to lie on the ground, where each branch 

 will root at the joint and grow erect from that point, 

 making a fine and sturdy clump. They make an ex- 

 cellent boundary line between the vegetable and 

 flower garden or other part of the grounds, and do 

 exceedingly well where they can have the cultivation 

 given the vegetables. 



Verbena seed will germinate much more quickly if 

 soaked in quite warm water over night, and seed 

 of the annual morning glories, especially the Japanese 

 variety, should be soaked in warm water until they 



