FLORICULTURE 
the castor bean has no equal among gar- 
den annuals. Only the annual climbing 
vines, when provided with suitable sup- 
ports, equal it as a low screen. It can 
be used with good effect in groups, as 
masses along shrubbery borders, or as 
belts for covering and shutting out an un- 
desirable view. 
At the North, the castor bean is most 
satisfactory when started in March or 
early in April in a gentle heat. <A hot- 
bed, greenhouse, or living room can be 
made use of for the purpose. As soon as 
the first true leaves have formed, the 
young plants should be pricked out into 
small boxes or pots, where they should 
be kept growing slowly until all danger of 
frost has passed, when they may be trans- 
ferred to the open. After transplanting 
the young plants, it is desirable that they 
have sufficient room to prevent them from 
growing too tall and consequently from 
losing their lower leaves. 
If planted in the open ground at the 
same time garden beans are planted, the 
castor bean will make a growth of from 
four to six feet by the middle of August. 
This plant loves a rich soil, plenty of 
moisture, full sunlight, and great heat. 
The varieties range in height from 3 to 
10 feet and have leaves of correspond- 
ing size. 
CENTAUREA. See Corn Flower. 
Chrysanthemums 
The chrysanthemums, like the pinks, 
contain some of the most valuable of the 
commercial florists’ products, both hardy 
perennial and annual flowering plants. 
The large flowered types of chrysanthe- 
mums, which each autumn produce such 
gorgeous shows in the stores, florists’ 
establishments, and conservatories, are 
not hardy, and since they are treated as 
greenhouse plants by the florists they are 
only mentioned in this list The class of 
hardy chrysanthemums, which should be 
more commonly seen in every flower gar- 
den, and which are known as pompons, 
are simply noted to give proper relation 
to the annual chrysanthemums which are 
the subject of this sketch. 
These plants bloom most satisfactorily 
if the seeds are sown early in a hotbed 
989 
or cold frame and the young plants trans- 
ferred to the open as soon as the soil 
has become sufficiently warm to keep them 
growing without check. If started in a 
hotbed the young plants should stand 10 
to 12 inches apart when set in their per- 
manent locations. Somewhat less satis- 
factory results can be secured by sowing 
the seed about corn planting time in the 
open where the plants are to bloom. The 
seedlings should be thinned to stand at 
least eight inches apart. If the same care 
in regard to disbudding and pinching back 
is taken with the annual plants as with 
the large flowered perennials the work 
will be rewarded by greatly increased size 
of the flowers. 
Clarkia 
The clarkia is one of the prettiest 
hardy native annuals of the Inland Em- 
pire. It blooms freely, which character- 
istic, taken in connection with the va- 
riety and brightness of its flowers, makes 
a bed of them in full bloom an attractive 
sight. They are useful, too, for hanging 
baskets, for vases, as edging plants, for 
low massing, or for borders. 
The seeds should be sown outdoors in 
early spring and the plants grown in 
partial shade. The clarkias thrive in a 
warm, light soil, and their period of bloom 
is midsummer and late autumn. The 
average height of the plant is 114 feet. 
Cobaea Scandens 
Cobaea scandens is a rapid growing, 
climbing vine which is easily propagated 
from seed. The dark color and refined 
character of its foliage, together with its 
bell shaped flowers, render it a very satis- 
factory vine for covering broad areas. It 
is a less rampant grower than the moon- 
flower, but furnishes quite as satisfactory 
a screen made up of much finer leaves. 
The flowers are not conspicuous, because 
of their modest colors and because they 
are hidden by the foliage. Their form, 
however, is pleasing and they are open 
during the day. 
When the young seedlings have devel- 
oped their first true leaves they should 
be transferred to three inch pots or to 
tomato cans and kept growing slowly un- 
til danger of frost is past. In the open, 
