ANNUAL FLOWERING PLANTS 95 
blooming in the house, lift late-blooming plants in the 
fall and put them in a cool room, where they should be 
kept moist. 
THE SUNFLOWER 
The sunflower is a very stately decorative plant and 
may be obtained in several varieties. The lowest are 
about two feet high and bear many cosmoslike blos- 
soms with widespreading petals. The giant-flowered 
Russian varieties grow to a height of eight feet. Some of 
the double varieties bear very large and showy flowers. 
A few plants may be placed here and there on the 
grounds with telling effect. Their golden-yellow disks 
make a beautiful appearance among the shrubbery, and 
for backgrounds and screens nothing can be finer. 
Sowing. To obtain early plants, sow seeds in window 
boxes and transplant out of doors as soon as danger 
from frost is over. If the plants grow too rank, they 
may be transplanted a second time before they are 
permanently located. 
Sow seeds in the open ground in early spring, placing 
six or eight in a hill. The hills should be from two to 
four feet apart, according to the variety. Thin first to 
three plants in a hill, and after they have made a good 
start, thin to one or two plants. If hills are missing or 
if more plants are desired, fill in with those thinned out 
of full hills. 
Sunflowers will grow anywhere, but the strongest 
plants grow on very rich soil. 
