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Show ! yenr. In the final transplanting each seedling should be given a foot or more space each way to allow for full development. The average height of tin; hollyhock is four feet ; many sorts, however, are much shorter, while au equal number are taller than the av (rage above stated. PORTULACA This bright-flowered, thick-leaved annual (portulaca) Is unrivaled for brilliancy among plants of low growth. It possesses the ability to flourish under un-der extremely adverse conditions; eveu the hot sun and a light sandy Annual Flowering Plants L. C. CORBETT Horticulture, Bureau of Plant Industry U. S Department of Agriculture VERBENA Tin! verbena is a low-growing annual, an-nual, with a decumbent or creeping habit. The flowers are borne on terminal or lateral shoots, which lift themselves from five to seven Inches off the ground, and when grown in mass the plants will form a mat which In full bloom will give the soil the appearance ap-pearance of having a carpet of flowers. flow-ers. Iiecause of Hie ability of the plant to form a compact growth and produce a wealth of Mowers over a long period, the verbena Is frequently used as a bedding plant where carpet liedding effects are desired. The contrasting con-trasting colors In the varieties which come true from seed allow of securing pleasing combinations of colors which lire effective where low-growing plants (mi be used. The length of stem and the texture of the flower are such that J ho verbena Is of value for bouquets and table decorations. The verbena can be used with good effect In beds, borders, mounds, and hi window boxes. While the verbena grows readily from cuttings and from layers, seed- Portulaca. soil, with sparse water supply, will not destroy it. It is satisfactory for beds, edgings, and rockwork, and for filling up irregular spaces or unexpected unexpect-ed gaps In flower beds. As an undergrowth under-growth for taller plants it is also valuable. val-uable. It flourishes, carpeting the ground with a mat of succulent foliage that in the forenoon is hidden by the gayest flowers. The plant Is particularly particu-larly useful In the Northwest. The seed does not; germinate until hot weather, and should be sown late. Beyond Be-yond the sowing, this plant requires little care. The hardy character of the plant is shown by the fact that it can be transplanted while in full flower flow-er through the driest, hottest seasons. The average height of the portulaca is six Inches. At Washington and southward this plant will perpetuate itself by self-sown self-sown seeds. In some soils this is sufficient suf-ficient to cause the plant to assume a weedy character. It never becomes troublesome like its near relative, the weedy garden purslane, or "pusley" (portulaca obracea). CALLIOPSIS (Coreopsis) Coreopsis is a genus of showy annual an-nual or perennial herbaceous plants, with graceful long-stemmed flowers well suited for bouquets. The hardy annuals of this genus are generally known by the name calliopsis. This is one of the garden's great forces in yellows, strengthened with rich maroons ma-roons and browns. Seeds of the calliopsis cal-liopsis for summer flowering in situations situa-tions north of New York city should be sown In March in boxes in a living Verbena. ling plants are more vigorous and as a rule produce better flowers. For the earliest bloom in the latitude of Washington, D. C, sow the seeds early in February In a moderately warm living liv-ing room or greenhouse. For general outdoor planting the seeds may be, sown about March 10, either in a living liv-ing room, hotbed, or greenhouse. Soak the seed a few hours in tepid water and sow In seed-boxes filled with light, -rich soil; cover one-fourth of an inch deep, press down firmly, and water sparingly. When the seedlings are about an inch high transplant them into other boxes, placing the young plants two or three inches apart each way. If thumb pots are available use these in place of boxes. When plant-Ing-out time arrives choose a bright, sunny situation. Make the soil rich nnd compact rather than light, but in nil cases provide good drainage. Set the young plants 10 to 15 inches apart each way and give good cultivation until un-til they cover the ground. With such treatment the verbena should give continuous bloom from early summer .uutil killed by frost. HOLLYHOCK (Althea Rosea) These too frequently neglected old-fashioned old-fashioned perennials are most pleasing pleas-ing and attractive when seen iu groups or long rows against evergreen hedges or shrubbery as a background, and, in turn, form a very satisfactory background back-ground setting for plants of lower growth. The color variety in these plants Is very great, ranging from pure white through almost every conceiv-ible conceiv-ible shade of yellow, red, and rose to Calliopsis. room or in a gentle heat In a greenhouse green-house or hotbed. In localities south of New York the seeds may be sown in the open in May in good garden soil, with the hope of an abundance of flowers from August until frost. The plants should be thinned or transplanted trans-planted to at least 10 inches apart each way. Their tall, slender habit makes neat staking and tying necessary. neces-sary. All are fine for cutting, especially espe-cially coreopsis grandifiora and C. lanceolata. COCKSCOMB (Celosia crista) The cockscombs are prized and planted as an odd and picturesque decorative dec-orative feature of the garden. The dwarf varieties make novel and attractive attrac-tive borders ; the tall ones form strik- - I $$ j , S - & VVVvA7 Cockscomb. ing groups, and when interspersed with other lower-growing plants in a border they produce a pleasing contrast. con-trast. There are both red and yellow forms of the cockscomb, but the bright red and crimson varieties are most effective ef-fective in gardens and also in winter bouquets, for which they are cut before be-fore fully ripe nnd dried in the house. The young plants can be grown from seeds sown in gentle heat in April and transplanted to the open ground the middle or last of May, or the seeds may be sown early in May in the open where the plants are to stand. Transplanting Trans-planting into rich soil about the time the combs begin to form makes the llower-heads much larger. They are bright from midsummer uutil frost. Hollyhock. dshen-gray nnd almost black. Although Al-though hollyhocks are permanent and hardy, even during the first winter. It Is advisable to make seed sowings every year, aj; the flowers on young, vigorous plants are much liner than those upon old ones. Seed sowings should be made in April or May, and pit later than June, to tiwwer the next |