THE GROWING OF THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS 24) 
blue ageratum ; circle, blue lobelia; ground (3 parts), crimson alter- 
nanthera. 
Other carpet or mosaic beds (after Long), with the plants indicated, 
are shown in Figs. 241, 242. 
2. THe ANNUAL PLANTS 
The annual flowers of the seedsmen are those that give their 
best bloom in the very year in which the seeds are sown. True 
annuals are those plants that complete their entire life-cycle in 
one season. Some of the so-called annual flowers will continue 
to bloom the second and third years, but the bloom is so poor 
and sparse after the first season that it does not pay to keep them. 
Some perennials may be treated as annuals by starting the 
seeds early; Chinese pink, pansy and snapdragon are examples. 
The regular biennials may be treated practically as annuals ; 
that is, seeds may be sown every year, and after the first year, 
therefore, a seasonal succession of bloom may be had. Of such 
are adlumia, Canterbury bell, lunaria, ipomopsis, Cinothera 
Lamarckiana; and foxglove, valerian, and some other perennials 
would better be treated as biennials. 
Most annuals will bloom in central New York if the seeds are 
sown in the open ground when the weather becomes thoroughly 
settled. But there are some kinds, as the late cosmos and moon- 
flowers, for which the northern season is commonly too short 
to give good bloom unless they are started very early indoors. 
Tf flowers of any annual are wanted extra early, the seeds 
should be started under cover. A greenhouse is not necessary 
for this purpose, although best results are to be expected 
with such a building. The seed may be sown in boxes, and 
these boxes then placed in a sheltered position on the warm side 
of a building. At night they may be covered with boards or 
matting. In very cold “spells” the boxes should be brought 
inside. In this simple way seeds may often be started one to 
three weeks ahead of the time when they can be sown in the 
R 
