THE JOYOUS ART OF GARDENING 



sunflowers — these four are the tallest. Lower-growing plants 

 that will harmonize well with these are: The tobacco-plant 

 {Nicotiana sylvestris and N. colossea), Solanum Warscewiczoides ; 

 also the decorative grasses, Pennisetum longistylum or P. 

 villosum, P. Rupellianum, very decorative with its crimson 

 plumes, and the ornamental corn, Zea Japonica. 



The Growing of Anntjals 



Directions on seed packets always presuppose a greenhouse 

 and advise one cheerfully to " start indoors in February. " 

 But starting seed in boxes in the house requires much more 

 plant wisdom than is needed for sowing them outdoors — ^it is 

 the diflFerence between raising chickens by an incubator and 

 intrusting most of the responsibility to an experienced hen; 

 therefore, if you are not an expert you will find it much simpler, 

 much less disappointing, to wait until May, and then start 

 the seeds outdoors where Dame Nature does some of the look- 

 ing out for them. 



In the first place buy your seeds at first hand from reliable 

 seedsmen: it is as necessary to have fresh seed as to have a 

 fresh yeast-cake if one would have results, and fresh seed 

 can be had only direct from the best seedsmen. Get single 

 colors, not mixed packets; then when planting you know pre- 

 cisely what you are doing. 



Candytufts, California poppies, coreopsis, corn-flowers, 

 Japanese pinks, mignonettes, nasturtiums, petunias, poppies, 

 portulacas, sweet alyssums, and sweet peas prefer being sown 

 where they are to grow; other annuals benefit by transplant- 

 ing. 



The Seed-Bed 



If you have cold-frames or hotbeds, by all means sow your 

 seeds there as late as May 1; you will gain a great deal of 



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