Start seeds indoors in a shallow box filled 
with vermiculite or light, rich soil which is not 
likely to bake nor form a crust when dry. Treat 
it with Formaldehyde or Semesan. Tamp firm- 
ly, until level is 4” below the top of the box. 
Dig shallow furrows crossways, approximately 
1” apart. Sow the seed thinly, and label each 
row. Cover with fine soil, mixed with sand. 
After pressing the surface with a board or 
brick, sprinkle very finely; a whiskbroom 
ANNUALS Ss 
dipped in water does a good job. Use a sheet 
of glass and newspaper to cover the box, which 
should be set in a warm place. 
From day to day, look at the box to make 
sure that the surface does not become dry or 
soggy. 
When the seedlings break through, remove 
the newspaper and set the box to receive maxi- 
mum sunlight. As soon as the first leaves are 
fully formed, remove the glass, or tilt it to 
admit air. Take off the glass when seedlings 
are all up. 
Transplant one time before moving to 
garden. 
Perennials may be handled the same way, 
after annuals are coming along. 
Most annuals can be sown outdoors any- 
time from early April to June. 
AGERATUM Annual 
Floss Flower 
Excellent for low borders and edging, and is 
often used for porch-boxes. Can be sown out- 
doors in May, but to have blooms earlier 
start indoors in March. 
Blue Ball Dwarf. Perfectly formed little 
plants about 6 inches tall, with flowers of 
clear blue. Pkt. 15 cts., 40z. 90 cts. 
Dwarf Blue Cap. A new variety only about 
4 inches high. Very uniform growth, com- 
pletely covered with bloom in rich deep blue. 
Pkt N25 ectsiel 407 45 $15,00 907.8 9.92028 OF: 
$5.50. 
Dwarf Midget Blue. Tiny plants, not over 
3 inches high, covered with masses of bright 
blue flowers. Pkt. 25 cts., 4oz. $1.50. 
% 
x 
eM 
eae 
~~ % 
Ageratum 
ALYSSUM Annual 
The ever-popular and always satisfactory 
flower for edging beds or planting in porch- 
boxes or rockeries. Sow the seed in the open 
ground any time from early April to June. 
Blooms all summer. 
Carpet of Snow. Annual. The name de- 
scribes it—a carpet of white only 2 to 3 inches 
high. Pkt. 15 cts., 440z. 40 cts., oz. $1. 
Little Dorrit. Annual. A dwarf form which 
makes dense, round, little bushes about 4 
inches high, covered with very white flowers. 
Pkt. 15 cts., Woz. 40 cts., oz. $1. 
Royal Carpet. Silver Medal, All 
America Selections, 1953. Annual. Vi- 
brant purple color. Grows only a few 
inches high but 10 inches across. Very free 
flowering. Self-sows. Pkt. 25 cts., Ygoz. 75 cts., 
Voz. $1.25, oz. $4.00. 
i 
I 
: Planting Tip: 
: Do not sow seeds too 
1 deeply. Small seeds should 
| be barely covered. Even 
1 large seeds should not be 
1 more than 1” deep, lest 
: they be “buried alive” un- 
1 der a soil crust. 
1 
’ 
Violet Queen. Annual. Dwarf, compact 
plants rarely 6 inches high. Flowers deep lav- 
ender-lilac. A very pretty variety. Pkt. 15 cts., 
40740 cts.) OZ plea 0: 
White Sweet. Annual. The old-fashioned 
variety. Low-growing and spreading. Sweet- 
scented, pure white flowers. Pkt. 15 cts., oz. 
DDEClSALO Za ODECLSs 
AMARANTHUS Annual 
Start seed in house or hotbed early in spring, 
or in a special seed-bed outdoors later on and 
transplant to place where they are to bloom. 
Molten Fire. One of the most beautiful foli- 
age plants. Grows 4 feet high and each lateral 
produces a poinsettia-like tuft of flaming fire. 
Pkee2 Ol ctsmalZoz ances: 
Tricolor. Joseph’s Coat. Tall, erect plants 
with luxuriant foliage gorgeously marked with 
scarlet, yellow, and green. Pkt. 15 cts., 402. 
J ACES Ozer ple 
ANTIRRHINUMS annul 
Snapdragons 
A free-blooming garden flower of the easi- 
est culture, producing its spikes of lovely 
flowers all summer and fall. 
Sow the seed in April, transplanting, when 
2 to 3 inches high, to the garden. 
17 
