ANNUALS 227 



Supports for the plants: We frequently see a very promising 

 crop of Cosmos laid flat on the ground by a moderate wind storm, 

 which not only breaks half, or more, of the branches, but the flowers 

 on those which are left are at least a week later than usual in mak- 

 ing their appearance and have crooked stems in the bargain. 



COTYLEDON (Echeveria. Hen and Chickens). These are 

 not annuals but are here described because they are frequently 

 used for carpet bedding. Some of the best for this purpose are: 

 C. atropurpurea, C. californica, C. clavifolia, C. fascicularis, C. gibbi- 

 flora var. metallica, C. secunda var. glauca, C. imbricata, C. Pachy- 

 phytum, C. mirabilis, C. globosa var. extensa, and C. eximia. 



Propagation. The narrow-leaved kinds are raised in quantity 

 from leaves; others from seed, offsets and from cuttings. Novem- 

 ber and December are the best months for propagation. Pull the 

 leaves from the plants, taking care during the operation that the 

 bud in the axil of the leaf is preserved. Make a depression, say 

 2 inches deep and 4 or 5 inches wide, across the sand bed of a warm 

 house; lay two rows of leaves in this with their bases touching; 

 keep dry until the little growths start. When large enough they 

 should be pricked off close together in boxes. Old plants should be 

 lifted in Autumn and placed as thickly as they will go in boxes, 

 without adding much soil and keeping them without water in a 

 cool house. 



DIMORPHOTHECA (African Golden Daisy. Cape Mari- 

 gold). D. aurantiaca is an extremely showy Daisy from the Cape 

 of Good Hope, South Africa. Although, perennial, it is treated 

 as an annual. It suits our climatic conditions perfectly. The 

 bushy plants grow from 12 to 15 inches high; the flowers, which 

 are 2)^ inches in diameter, being a rich orange gold. Its strikingly 

 brilliant coloring is enhanced by the black disc. They bloom the 

 greater part of the Summer and Fall. D. a. hybrida is of similar 

 habit to the parent. It varies in color from the purest white 

 through the various shades of yellow and orange to rich salmon 

 shades. 



Propagation. By seeds. Can be sown in Fall and wintered 

 in greenhouse. 



ESCHSCHOLTZIA (California Poppy). E. californica some- 

 times survives the Winters in Washington. It will do this even 

 farther north if the plants get a little protection, by spreading a 

 few tree leaves over the plants. However, the seed is cheap and in 

 the North this plant is used as an annual. The Burbank varieties. 



