382 BEAUTIFYING HOME GROUNDS 



Other annual flowers are here listed in groups by their most 

 common colors: 



White flowers: Dianthus, iberis, poppy, stocks. 



Yellow flowers: Mignonette, calendula, cacalia, coryopsis 

 nasturtium, hibiscus, celosia. 



Blue flowers: Centaurea, lobelia, mimulus, ageratum. 



Red flowers: Adonis, agrostemma, cacalia, celosia, Clarkia, 

 dianthus, gaillardia, stocks, saponaria, nasturtium. 



Many colors: Godetia, mirabilis, nigella, sweet peas, pansies. 



Foliage Plants. — Annuals with ornamental foliage are often 

 used for bedding and border plantings. In some instances these 

 have no showy flowers, but their leaves are always beautiful. In 

 this group may be mentioned, amarantus, centaurea, coleus, 

 euphorbia, perilla, pyrethrum, racinus (castor bean). 



CONTESTS, SCORING, AND JUDGING 



1. Scoring Home Grounds. — Make a score card for use in judging the 

 home grounds of any region. Assign scoring values to each item. Include: 



(1) Plan of walks, roads, etc., with reference to surroundings, and 



buildings. 



(2) Plan of planting of shrubs. 



(3) Location of trees. 



(4) Choice of trees, shrubs, and vines. 



(5) Flower beds — arrangement, kinds, etc. 



(6) Paint or whitewash on fences, buildings, etc. 



(7) Lawns — kinds, success, care, etc. 



(8) General effects. 



(9) Permanency of plantings and improvements. 



(10) Economy of improvements, maintenance, and care. 



2. Use the score card in judging home grounds in the neighborhood. This 

 may be done "before" and "after" improvements have been made. 



3. Contests in improving home premises may be started. If possible 



Cremiums may be offered for first, second, and third best. Photographs should 

 e taken before and after the contests. Committees or judges to decide the 

 contest should be brought from outside the contest district. 



4. List of plants of all kinds used in planting should be made. In the vine 

 list indicate the method of climbing. In the shrubs indicate the height, special 

 value, etc. Of the lawn grasses state which are best for sod formation. De- 

 scribe the trees as to shade production, length of life, rapidity of growth, gen- 

 eral shape, etc. 



5. Make plans for planting the house grounds and school grounds. Any 

 school building should be beautified by the planting of shrubs, flowers, vines 

 and trees. What should be used for your school grounds? See figures 267, 270, 

 and 271. 



6. Use of Catalogs. — Make a collection of nursery catalogs of ornamentals. 

 Make a list of evergreens that would suit your soil and conditions. Arrange 

 a list of shrubs according to time of flowering, as early, medium, and late. 



7. Calculate the cost of buying all the vines, shrubs, evergreens, hedges, 

 and shade trees which you need to beautify your home grounds. Then 

 reduce the list, if possible, by arranging to secure some of these from your 

 neighbors from the woods, and by propagation of some you now have. 



