PLANTING IN THE SEED-BED 57 
differences perfectly, although formerly he thought 
that in their way of growth they were all alike. 
Annual flowers are those that come up from the 
seed and bloom the first year; they last for that 
year only. Their seeds, in fact, have to be sown 
every season so long as they are desired. Sweet 
alyssum, mignonette and nasturtiums are among the 
annuals. Perennial plants are those that, once hav- 
ing had their seeds sown, last from year to^ year. 
Usually they begin to bloom in their second season, 
after which, when they have ripened their seeds, 
they die down to the ground. Their roots, how- 
ever, still live in the earth and are ready the next 
spring to send up new plants. Often they reseed 
themselves, so that groups of such plants gradually 
increase in size. Perennials are hardy individuals, 
and for this reason Joseph, thinks he will have many 
of them in his garden, as he likes tO' see the same 
flowers year after year in the same place. He 
would soon grow to expect them, and, if they did 
not disappoint him after the long winter, he would 
have the same pleasure in seeing them that he would 
if a friend had returned from a long journey. They 
would, he thinks, be more like the wild flowers in 
the woods, keeping to their own places and bloom- 
ing at the same time each year. When once they 
have become established, it is not necessary tO' keep 
sowing them over and over again. On the whole, 
I can see that Joseph has already a strong partiality 
for perennials. 
