ANNUAL FLOWERING PLANTS 99 
Cutting. Cut the flowers liberally; the more flowers 
you cut off, the more blooms will form. Plants will soon 
stop blossoming if allowed to go to seed. 
To produce extra large blossoms with long stalks, cut 
off all flower stalks except one or two of the strongest ; 
also the growing tips of the vines. This will cause the 
plant to put forth all its strength to produce the desired 
flowers. 
THE VERBENA 
The verbena is a low-growing plant with a creeping 
habit. When grown in a mass the plants spread over 
the ground like a carpet, above which heads of brilliant- 
colored flowers appear in lavish profusion all summer. 
These blossoms are borne on terminal or lateral shoots, 
which lift themselves from five to seven inches above 
the ground. The verbena may be used with good effect 
in beds, borders, mounds, and window boxes. 
Soil. The soil should be well drained and fertile. 
Sowing. Sow the seeds in March in boxes. Equal 
parts of manure, sand, and soil, sifted and well mixed, 
will make a good compost. Cover the seeds a fourth of 
an inch deep, press down firmly, and water sparingly. 
When the seedlings are an inch high, transplant them 
to other boxes two inches apart each way. When the 
ground is warm and in good condition, plant out of 
doors, setting them ten inches apart each way. Water 
the plants thoroughly and shade them for two or three 
days. 
