Show r i I Annual Flowering Plants vv pp By L. L C. C CORBETT t Bureau of Plant Punt Industry U U. U S. S Department of A Agriculture VERBENA The verbena Is a n low-growing low annual annun an an- nun nual with a n decumbent or creeping habit The flowers are borne borno on terminal or lateral shoots which lift themselves from live five to seven Inches off the ground and when grown in Iii mass the tho plants will form a n mat which In full bloom will give Ive the soil the appearance appearance appearance ap ap- of at having a n carpet of ot flow flow- ers Because of the tho ability of at the plant to form a compact growth and produce a wealth of flowers over a along along along long period the verbena Is frequently used as a bedding plant where carpet bedding effects are desired The contrasting contrasting contrasting con con- colors In the varieties which come ome true from seed allow of at securing pleasing combinations of colors which are fire effective where low-growing low plants can an be used The length of at stem and the texture of the flower are such that the verbena Is of at value for bouquets and table decorations The Tho verbena can be used with good effect In beds borders mounds and In window boxes While the verbena grows readily from tram cuttings and from layers layer seed seed- r 4 a e- e ti Verbena ling Ung plants are more vigorous and as ns asa asa a n rule produce better flowers For the earliest bloom in the latitude of at Washington D. D C. C sow the seeds earl early In February In l a moderately warm living livIng living liv liv- ing room or greenhouse For general outdoor planting the seeds may be bo sown about March 10 either In a n living liv Ih ing lug room hotbed or greenhouse Soak the Ule seed a n few hours In tepid water and sow In seed boxes filled with light rich soil cover on one fourth 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 oung plants two or three Inches apart each way away If It thumb pots are available use these In place of boxes When plant plant- out ing-out time arrives choose a bright sunny situation Make the soil rich richand richand richand and compact rather than light but In all cases provide good drainage Set the young plants 10 to 15 Inches apart each way and give good cultivation until until until un un- un- un til they cover the ground With such treatment the verbena should give continuous bloom from tram early summer until killed b by frost HOLLYHOCK Althea Rosea These too frequently negIe neglected ted old old- fashioned perennials perennials' are most pleasIng pleas pleas- pleasIng pleasIng Ing and attractive when seen In groups or long rows against evergreen hedges or shrubbery n as a a background and In turn form a very satisfactory background background back back- ground setting for plants of lower lover growth Th The color variety In these plants Is very great ranging from pure white through almost every conceivable conceivable able shade of yellow red and rose to l 4 u c w 3 4 i r J C k Vii r rS S k F ri 0 d' d J 4 C a 5 Y S Ji J 4 i c 4 M Hollyhock gray Ashen and almost black Although Although Al Al- though holl hollyhocks hocks are oro permanent and hardy even during the tho first winter I It Is advisable to make seed sowings every Y year 1 as us the flowers on young oung vigorous plants are le much finer than those upon old ones Seed sowings should be made malIe In April or l Ia May and andrt rt t later than thun June to Gower flower the tit next year In the final transplanting each seedling should be given hen a n foot fout or more space each way woI to allow for full fuU development dc The he average height of ot the holl hollyhock hock 1 is to four feet many sorts however are ore much shorter willIe while an equal number are ure taller than the average average av av- av above e stated This bright flowered bright thick leaved annual Is unrivaled for brilliancy among plants of low growth It possesses the ability to flourish under under un un- un- un der del extremely adverse conditions even en the hot sun and a light sandy r soil soli with sparse water supply will not destroy It It Is satisfactory for beds edgings and rockwork and for tor filling up Irregular spaces or unexpected ed gaps In flower beds As an undergrowth undergrowth undergrowth under under- growth for taller taUer plants It Is also val val- It flourishes carpeting the ground with a mat of succulent foliage that In the forenoon Is hidden by the tho ga gayest Test flowers The plant Is particularly larI useful In the Northwest The seed does not germinate until hot weather and should be sown late Beyond Beyond Be Be- yond ond the sowing this p ff t requires little care The hardy character atthe of at the tho plant Is shown by the fact that It Itcan itcan can cnn b be transplanted while In full fuU flower flow flow- er through the driest hottest seasons season The average height of at the Is six Inches At Wa Washington and southward this plant will perpetuate Itself by self self- I sown seeds In some soils this Is sufficient sufficient suf suf- to cause the plant to assume a weedy character It never becomes troublesome like its near relative the tho weedy garden or CALLIOPSIS Coreopsis Coreopsis Is a genus of showy annual annual annual an an- nual or perennial herbaceous plants with graceful stemmed long-stemmed flowers vers well suited for bouquets The hardy annuals of this genus are generally known by the name calliopsis This is one of the tho gardens garden's great forces In yellows strengthened with rich maroons maroons maroons ma ma- and browns Seeds of the cal cal- for summer flowering in situations situations situa situa- north of New York city should be sown In March in boxes in a living Y 1 I I 1 or room or in a gentle heat In a greenhouse greenhouse greenhouse green green- house or hotbed In localities south of at New York the seeds may be sown Inthe in inthe inthe the open in May In good garden soil with the hope of an abundance of at flowers from rom August until frost The plants should be thinned or transplanted transplanted transplanted trans trans- planted to at nt least 10 Inches apart each ench way Their TheIL tall taU slender habit makes neat staking and antI t tying sary All are fine for cutting especially especially espe espe- coreopsis and O. O la COCKSCOMB COCKSCOMBs s Celosia crista crests The Tho cockscombs are prized and planted as an odd and picturesque decorative decorative dec dec- feature of the garden The dwarf varieties make novel and attractive attractive attractive tive borders the tall tull ones form 9 r Cockscomb ing lag groups and when Interspersed with other lower-growing lower plants In a border they produce a pleasing con con- There are aro both red and yellow ellow forms of the cockscomb but the bright red and crimson varieties are most effective effective ef er- ef- ef In gardens and also In winter bouquets for which the they are cut before before be be- fore foro fully ripe and und dried In the house The Tho young oung plants can bo be grown from flom seeds sown In gentle heat In April and transplanted to tho the open ground the tho middle or last of l Ia May or tho the seeds ma may be sown early In InIa May Ia In the open where the 1 plants are to stand Transplanting Trans planting Into rich soil about the time the combs begin to form makes maltes the heads flower much larger They are bright from midsummer until frost rost |