THE BEST ANNUALS 221 



plants have passed their prime, it has long been a 

 general favorite. But those who are familiar only 

 with the popular varieties of five or six years ago 

 have no idea of the perfection to which our florists 

 have carried this plant in their improvement of old 

 strains. The Branching Aster, the Comet and the 

 Ostrich Feather sorts are as beautiful as any Chrys- 

 anthemum, and, in fact, they so closely resemble 

 some varieties of that favorite flower that they are 

 often mistaken for them. They are large in size, deli- 

 cately, as well as brilHantly, beautiful in coloring, and 

 have such long flower stalks that they are better 

 adapted for cutting than any other annual except the 

 Sweet Pea. They last for two weeks, when used in 

 vases, if the water in which they stand is changed 

 occasionally. The pale pinks and lavenders are 

 especially lovely because of their delicate daintiness 

 of color. 



The Sweet Pea of to-day is another most lovel\ 

 flower. Such exquisite combinations of color, such 

 long-stalked blossoms, and such general all-around 

 excellence, the old Sweet Pea never thought of laying 

 claim to. To grow this plant well, it must be got into 

 the ground very early in the season — in April, if pos- 

 sible. Do not wait for warm weather, but sow the seed 

 as soon as the ground can be worked with spade and 

 hoe. Make V-shaped trenches at least six inches deep, 

 and scatter the seed thickly in them. Then cover 

 lightly. When the plants have grown to be three 

 inches high, draw in a little of the soil thrown out from 

 the trench, and work it well about the plants, taking 

 care to not injure them in the operation. By and by, 

 when they have made a few more inches of growth, 

 fill in with more soil, and keep on doing this, from 

 time to time, until all the soil taken from the trench 

 has been returned to it. In this way we get the roots 



