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Garden Notes 
The Best Twenty Annuals for the Flower Garden 
AsTeERS.—Grow from 1-2 feet high and should be planted a foot 
apart, not mixing colors in the same bed. There are endless 
varieties and colors. ‘They are in bloom from late August until 
killed by frost. Peony Flowered, Comet and Late Branching are 
good forms. ‘The best flower there is, in its season, to cut. 
CENTAUREA.—Bachelor’s Buttons grow 2-214 feet high, rather 
straggling, but its blue flowers lasting from July to frost makes it 
very serviceable. Plant 8-12 inches apart. 
Cosmos.—A tall plant (6-10 feet), with single flowers in pinks 
and whites. Blooms from the first of September to frost. Plant 
two feet apart and stake. 
EscHSCHOLTZIA.—California Poppy, 12-18 inches high and _ has 
a profusion of pale-yellow, golden and white flowers throughout the 
summer. Gray foliage deeply cut. Plant 10 inches apart. Charm- 
ing and valuable in the garden because of its color. 
Marico.tps.—In three or four species are handsome plants. “The 
African variety is three feet high, and the Dwarf French 12-18 
inches, the colors are yellow or brown, the flowers single or 
double. Deep green, fragrant foliage. Plant 1-2 feet apart. Not 
very nice in the house, but its brilliant masses are indispensable in 
the garden. 
MIGNoNETTE.—A straggling plant 1-3 feet high, grown for its 
delicious fragrance. Planting seed in May and July should give a 
succession all summer. 
Mrrasitis.—Marvel of Peru, Four-o’clocks, grow to two feet 
high. The flowers are white, pink or red, and open in the after- 
noon and fade before morning. Plant 18 inches apart. 
Myosotis.—Forget-Me-Not, a low sprawling plant, but a charm- 
ing and profuse bloomer, as everyone knows. M. dissitiflora is the 
best, but M. palustris is the common variety. 
NASTURTIUMS.—Perhaps our best known and most valuable an- 
nual. Grows in the poorest soil. Its fine foliage (like the lotus) 
and charming flowers make it indispensable. Dwarf or climbing. 
Beautiful growing and one of the best flowers to use in the house. 
PansigeSs.—Familiar in many varieties. A low plant blooming 
profusely in spring and fall, and sparingly through the summer. 
The horned pansy (V. Cornuta) and the tufted pansies should be 
tried. Plant six inches apart. ‘ 
PeTruniA.—Height, two feet. Much variety in color and form. 
They are single, or very double with frilled edges, in white, pink, 
maroon, and magenta shades. A continuous bloomer. ‘The single 
flowers in solid colors are the best. Plant 12-18 inches apart. Use- 
ful for cutting. ; 
PHtox DrumMmonpi.—Ten to twenty inches high; clear and 
brilliant colors. Blooms from June to frost. Colors, pink, white, 
red, and pale-yellow. Plant 8-16 inches apart. : 
Pinks.—Twelve to eighteen inches high, bloom from July to 
frost. Fragrant and lovely flowers in many varieties, including 
Marguerites, Chinese pinks, Heddewigi pinks, and Sweet Williams. 
Plant 6-12 inches apart 
PortuLaca.—A low spreading plant which looks much like Pus- 
ley, but bears large and brilliantly colored flowers in many shades. 
Useful in dry places in full sunlight. Sow the seed ,where they are 
to remain. 
Poppy.—Twelve to twenty-four inches high. Well-known, fuga- 
cious flowers in many shades of red and white. Shirley is a good 
strain, and the old fashioned tulip poppy is a favorite. Plant six 
inches apart or scatter seed in early spring where they are to bloom. 
They bloom early and are gone by the middle of July. 
Sweet Atyssum.—A low plant covered with white flowers 
throughout the season, which is useful for edgings. 
VERBENA.—Fighteen to twenty-four inches high, bearing large, 
flat bunches of flowers of brilliant color, white, pink, purple, red, 
and blue. Very useful for cutting. Plant ten inches apart. 
SALVIA.—T wo to three feet high; is a blaze of scarlet throughout 
the summer. Not good in the house, and too brilliant for many 
situations, but will lighten a dark corner. Plant 18 inches apart. 
ZINNIA.—Height, 2-3 feet. Colors, bright scarlet, rose and. 
orange. Useful in mass in the garden. Plant 18 inches apart. 
_ Nicotrin1a.—Two or three feet high. Sweet scented white, or 
in a variety of colors. The white is much the best. This is the last 
annual to be killed by the frost. Plant 18 inches apart. 
The Best Seed Bed for Annuals 
All the above annuals should be planted at the same time, in a 
specially prepared seed bed. 
A cold frame is a good thing, because it is well drained and the 
soil is in good condition, but in lieu of that, four boards, about a 
foot wide, can be nailed together, making a sort of box without bot- 
tom or top. ‘This is set on the ground and filled six inches deep 
with finely sifted soil, which is compacted as it is put in. The sur- 
face of the seed bed should be about half a foot above the soil outside, 
for the sake of drainage. ‘The seed are sown in rows; the rule is 
to cover each seed with earth equal in thickness to the diameter of 
the seed covered. With fine seeds this means simply a sifting of 
earth after they are sown on top of the ground. When the plant- 
ing is finished the whole bed should be covered with a frame on 
which cheese cloth has been stretched. This will keep the air damp 
and prevent the surface of the ground drying while the seeds are 
germinating. When the seeds have sprouted, however, the cover 
should be taken off in the day time, and not put on tightly even at 
night, unless there is danger of a frost. Watering the seed bed 
should be done carefully and never over done. Better too little 
water than too much, which, without sufficient ventilation, causes 
“damping off,” or death from a fungus disease due to an atmosphere 
overcharged with moisture. 
It is much better to delay planting until the first week in May 
to have plants which are hardy and strong, and which will grow 
fast when set out. 
When the seedlings are old enough (2-3 inches high) they should 
be transplanted to their permanent beds. An old three-tined kitchen 
fork will be found the handiest tool for this pricking off. If it is 
done in damp weather the seedlings will need no protection, but if 
the sun comes out strong they should be shaded for a few days with 
shingles stuck in the ground, or with cheese cloth frames. 
Beans should be planted in the driest and hottest part of the gar- 
den, in soil which has been well manured the year before, and which 
now, before the planting, may have a dressing of ground bone and 
wood ashes, ten pounds of each to a square rod. 
The soil should be thoroughly prepared before planting, and after 
the seeds are up should, should be walked on and cultivated as little 
as possible, as the bean seems impatient of any interference with its 
root system. Weeds can be destroyed by shallow hoeing. 
The planting should not be done until warm and settled weather 
is expected, the rule being to plant beans when the apple blossoms 
are falling. Plant string beans in rows two feet apart, putting the 
seeds about three inches apart in the rows, thinning to six inches 
when they are up. 
Bush limas should be in rows four feet apart, one foot apart in 
the row. =) 
Pole beans should be in hills four feet apart each way, with three 
vines to a pole. 
The best varieties of beans are: Mammoth Stringless Greenpod, 
Stringless Refugee Wax, Dreer’s Wonder Bush Lima, Dreer’s Im- 
proved Pole Lima. 
The Sieva, or small lima, is a delicious bean, and is preferred by 
many to the ordinary lima bean. 
