986 
Flowers and Plants in the United States 
1899 and 1909 
Acreage Value 
W899 cise we ccc cenee 9,307 $18,758,864 
1909 . 18,248 34,872,329 
The Cultivation and Uses of Annual 
Flowering Plants 
Ageratum 
“Hor strengthening the garden’s color 
forces in blue, no annual is so good as the 
ageratum.” Though ordinarily used in 
bedding and borders in contrast with 
such plants as geraniums, perillas, 
amaranthus, ete., the rose, white, and 
blue ageratums are exceedingly attractive 
when mingled with alyssum, candytult, 
and similar plants. They grow well upon 
almost all soils and through a wide range 
of climate; for that reason many combin- 
ations with them are possible. The 
plants are neat, bushy, and erect, with a 
continual profuse clustering of pretty 
brushlike flowers throughout the season. 
The dwarf blue sorts make fine borders 
and are much used where contrasting col- 
or effects are desired. For early bloom 
the seed should be sown in cold frames 
or in boxes in the house early in the 
season—March—but for summer and fall 
bloom the seeds may be sown in well 
prepared beds in the open. Seeds sown in 
August will produce good plants for win- 
ter flowering. 
ALTHAEA Rosea. See Hollyhock. 
Alyssum 
For borders, edgings, baskets, pots, 
rockwork, and for cutting, a liberal use 
of this dainty little flower is recommend- 
ed. For borders, the seed should be sown 
thickly so as to form masses. For winter 
bloom, sow late in August and thin the 
seedlings so as to stand about four inches 
apart, but for spring bloom or for borders 
the seeds should be sown in the open 
early in the spring, or even late in the 
preceding autumn in some Jocalities. 
Where the plant will not endure the win- 
ter, however, early spring planting under 
cover, either in a cold frame or spent 
hotbed, or in boxes in a dwelling, is most 
to be relied upon. Alyssum can also be 
increased from cuttings made from strong 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
new side shoots, as well as by division of 
the roots. By cutting back after the first 
flowers fade others will be produced. 
While white is the most common and 
popular color, there are yellow varieties 
of alyssum. 
ANTIRRIUINUM. See Snapdragon. 
AquiLtegia. See Columbine. 
Aster 
The aster is certainly one of the most 
satisfactory of the annual flowering 
plants. The great variety in its size, col- 
or, form, and season of blooming makes 
it a most satisfactory plant for supplying 
cut flowers. In fact, many of the im- 
proved sorts produce flowers equal in 
form and size to some of the better sorts 
of chrysanthemums. The range of color 
presented in this group is one of its chief 
merits. Strange as it may appear, the 
plant world is not very well supplied 
with blue flowers possessing characters 
which render them suited to domestic or 
commercial uses. In the aster, however, 
are found many shades of blue and pur- 
ple and for this reason, if for no other, 
the aster should prove an attractive dec- 
orative plant. The habit of growth 
adapts the aster not only to close plant- 
ing for cut bloom, but some forms are 
robust, tall-growing plants, well adapted 
for use in an herbaceous border where 
late bloom and careless effects are desired. 
The more compact-growing,  large- 
flowered forms are most desirable for 
cut blooms, while the tall-growing, open 
types are most useful in wild gardens or 
for screens. The wild aster (Aster novae 
angliae) is one of the most beautiful and 
most satisfactory of this latter class. The 
vigor and ease of culture of the aster 
are factors which contribute to its popu- 
larity. 
Plants from seed sown in the open 
ground in May bloom finely in Septem- 
ber and October, when the flowers are 
seen at their best. For July and Au- 
gust bloom, seeds should be sown in 
March or April in a cold frame, spent 
hotbed, or in pots or boxes in a living 
room. Cover the seeds about half an 
inch deep with rich, light soil and when 
the plants have three or four leaves 
