Guide to Better Gardening — Flowers 
Bedding petunia, ageratum and dwarf marigold were used 
here to gain eye-appeal in the window box. 
directly in the garden in July or August and given some 
protective mulch over winter, pansies will give a pro- 
fusion of bloom from early spring through midsummer. 
Planted direct in early spring, pansies will bloom freely 
from midsummer until freezing temperatures. Best in 
rich, cool soil and needs plenty of moisture. Can stand 
partial shade. Wide range of intense shades and two- 
tones. Excellent for use as cut flowers in bouquets, for 
low edgings or in window or porch boxes. 
PETUNIA. One of the easiest of all flowers to grow. 
Early in the spring, plant in a shallow box and place 
near a south window. Petunia seeds, and other fine 
seed, should be mixed with sand before sowing. Then 
cover very lightly with fine soil. When danger of frost 
is past, move box outdoors in the shade for 2 or 3 days. 
Then transplant to permanent place in the garden. Set 
24 inches apart in garden bed, 12 inches apart in win- 
dow box. Needs full sunshine. Should not be watered 
too frequently. One of the most free blooming of flowers 
and continues until frost. Fragrant. Excellent for cut 
flowers, bouquets, neat edgings or borders (1 to 3 ft.). 
One of the best for window or porch boxes. 
PINKS (Dianthus). Can be started in cold frames 
and transplanted or seeded direct anytime in late spring 
or summer as plants grow very quickly. Produces its 
best blooms in early fall weather. Sow \% inch deep in 
fine soil. Thin to 10 inches apart. Fragrant and quite 
showy but not especially useful for cutting. Used to 
achieve mass color effects—in beddings, good for me- 
dium height (10 to 24 inches) borders and in rock gar- 
dens. Color range includes: shades of pink, white, red 
and maroon. 
POPPY. Can be seeded direct as early in the spring as 
ground can be worked or in the late fall. Broadcast the 
seed and plan to allow plants to stand where they start 
as poppies do not stand transplanting well. It is best 
to mix seed with sand before planting to avoid sowing 
too thickly. Thin plants to 10 inches apart when 3 
inches tall. Poor or sandy soil and little or no extra 
watering produces best profusion of bloom. Can be cut 
in the bud but full open flowers usually shatter when 
cut. Color range includes white, shades of pink and red. 
PORTULACA. Seeds should be planted in late fall or 
early spring. Sow by broadcasting or in very shallow 
rows (no deeper than l inch). Space rows about 14 
inches apart. Thin to 9 inches apart in the row. Water- 
ing is not necessary. Stands hot weather and drought. 
Needs full sun. Good for solid beds or as an edging 
plant. Average height is 6 inches. Not good for cutting 
but is extremely floriferous and showy. High percentage 
of double and semi-double flowers in delightfully gay 
shades of red, rose, orange, and yellow. 
SNAPDRAGON. One of the best flowers for all-around 
use. The long sturdy spikes are excellent for cutting; 
when planted close they are good for bedding. Because 
of its wide range of colors and long blooming season, it 
is used very effectively in the annual border. 
Can be planted early in cold frames indoors and set 
out after danger of freezing is past. Or, it can be sown 
when soil warms sufficiently, directly in the garden 
where plants are to remain. Should not be watered on 
the foliage, but does require considerable soaking. Does 
best in rich soil. Snapdragons are a favorite of cut 
worms and if this insect is present in your garden, you 
should guard against them by using some cut worm 
bait at time of setting plants in the garden. 
SWEET PEA. (Send for free Ferry-Morse folder — 
Sweet Peas & How to Grow Them.) For winter 
bloom in California and the deep South, sow seed in the 
fall. In the rest of the country, sow seed as early in the 
spring as the ground can be worked. Whenever possible, 
select a location where the Sweet Peas will get morning 
and forenoon sun, and very little in the afternoon. The 
rows should not be too close to a building nor shaded 
by overhanging trees. Ina proper location the flowering 
season will be longer and the stems more satisfactory. 
Sweet Peas should be planted in soil that is fine, firm, 
level and moist. Sow seeds about 1 inch apart and 
1 to 1% inches deep. When sweet pea plants are about 
three inches high, twigs should be set around them to 
which the young tendrils may cling. The growth of the 
plants will be checked if allowed to be blown around by 
the wind. When the plants are about six inches tall, 
permanent support should be given with coarse netting, 
broad tree boughs with plenty of twigs or by driving in 
stout stakes and stretching strong strings between them 
as the plants require support. Flowers should not be 
allowed to wither on the vines but should continually 
be cut off. This will greatly prolong the blooming sea- 
son. A thorough soaking once a week, and later twice a 
week is much better. than a little sprinkle every day. 
The delicate, beautifully waved flowers are always in 
great demand for bouquets. One of the most beautiful 
vine plants. 
ZINNIA. One of the easiest to grow annuals. Sow 
seed in a sunny location where plants are to stand. 
Cover seed with 14 inch of rich soil. Will do best if 
started after soil warms and will surpass plants started 
in cold soil. Likes considerable water but do not sprinkle 
the foliage. - Plant in open, sunny place to prevent 
mildew. Taller plants with longer stems can be 
grown by spacing plants 3 to 5 inches apart. If spaced 
at 18 inches or more, the plants tend to remain shorter 
and have more branches but shorter stems. The first, 
or crown flower, will be the largest. If this is cut out 
early, it will force the blooms on side branches to be- 
come larger. Zinnias come in an extensive range of 
striking colors and types. The Giant types (2% ft.) 
come in all shades of pink, scarlet, yellow and violet. 
The Lilliputs or dwarf types (12 to 15 inches) come in 
pleasing shades of yellow, crimson, orange, purple, scar- 
let, white and mixed. Widely used for cut flowers, in 
bouquets. The Giant types are effective when used for 
high edgings or borders (2 to 3 ft.). 
