146 



THE SCHOOL GARDEN BOOK 



where they are to grow, and they will continue to develop 

 without interruption. If one desires very early flowers 

 one should, of course, select for these plants the earliest 

 varieties. 



The Dwarf or French Marigolds may also be started to 

 advantage in-doors. The seed germinates readily and the 

 young seedlings are thrifty and vigorous even where they 

 recei\e little direct sunshine. They develop very nicely in 

 two-and-one-half-inch paper flower-pots, and sometimes will 



even come into blossom before 

 they are planted out of doors. 



It is also worth while to try in 

 the window-box the early flower- 

 ing varieties of cosmos. In this 

 case, give the seedling plants from 

 the first as much direct sunshine 

 as possible. Something may be 

 gained also in the case of the 

 nasturtium by early planting if 

 the seedlings can be in a window 

 where they get much direct sun- 

 shine. 

 . „ „. . „ ^, The bachelor buttons and 



Nasturtium beedhng in Paper I'lovverpot. 



calendula or Pot Marigolds are 

 also easy to start in the window-box, and will yield much 

 earlier blossoms when so treated. This is true also of the 

 annual larkspurs, a number of attractive \arieties of which 

 are now offered by seedsmen. The Drummond Phlox is 

 well worthy an early start, as its season of bloom will thus 

 begin out of doors some time before it can under ordinary 

 conditions. 



