58 PLANTING IN THE SEED-BED 
The biennial plants have ways of growing differ- 
ent from either the annuals or the perennials. Like 
the perennials^ they do not bloom until the second 
year, but, having once formed and ripened their 
seeds, they die completely. Although they must 
be watered and cared for during two seasons, they 
bloom but once, after which it is as if they had 
never been. 
Joseph thinks that since we have no^ gardener but 
Timothy, the biennials would be a great deal of 
trouble for him to look after, with the reward of 
their blooming but once in two years, and so it is 
not likely that he will plant many of them. 
Happily, it is now time to* sow seeds. Joseph 
is busy putting perennials and some annuals in the 
seed-bed. There they will start and grow into lit- 
tle plants, which later he can set in their permanent 
places in the garden. This morning is warm, and 
the rain which lasted until breakfast-time has put 
the soil in good condition for planting, so he has 
taken out of the closet some of his precious seed 
packages. The perennials that he is sowing to-day 
are hollyhocks, columbines and oriental poppies. 
He wishes to have these in abundance and knows 
definitely where to place them. Of course he will 
have other perennials, and some perhaps that will 
bloom this year. In fact, it was Miss Wiseman 
who advised him to sow only these three. 
A great many young plants are growing at her 
place that she cannot use, so later she will give a 
