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The Annual Garden (Good condition until September)

good condition until September. Cutting it back a little in early August will encourage fresh growth and prolong its blooming season. It is well to cover the seeds with sand as it will germinate poorly and irregularly in soils that bake. Thin the seedlings so that they stand about one or two inches apart.

Variety. Little Gem or Carpet of Snow is the best.

Ageratum, Floss flower. Ageratum is slow in developing and may be started in the greenhouse in February or the hot bed in March; if sown May 1st in the open it will not come into bloom until very late summer. It is a useful annual as it blooms continuously until frost. It can be used for edging or for mass plantings, the soft lilacs combining well with other flowers. Plant them about 10 inches apart in their blooming quarters.

Varieties. Cope's Pet the best good lilac, Blue, Perfection dark blue, Imperial Dwarf, good for edging. Antirrhinum, Snapdragon. Antirrhinum develops slowly and should be started in the greenhouse in January or February, or in the hot bed in March. The seed is very small, and must be barely covered with finely pulverized soil and the seedlings transplanted into flats, pots, frames or greenhouse benches and kept watered and cultivated to encourage growth. When the plants are 4 or 5 inches high pinch off the tips of [23] the shoots so as to make the plants bushy. They may be planted out in the garden the middle of May for bloom until frost. Plants started in January must be pot grown as they will be too large, otherwise, to transplant safely in May and will be excellent for immediate effect since they should be in bloom, or in bud at least. The half-dwarf varieties are the best for garden use. Varieties. Keystone and Nelrose best pinks; Mont Blanc, white, Golden Queen, yellow, Moonlight, apricot and rose.

Asters. The annual asters may be started in the hot bed in March or in the open seed bed from April 15th to May 15th. It is desirable to sow seeds in March, April and May in order to have a succession of bloom. Aster seeds germinate easily and quickly and the seedlings must be transplanted as soon as their true leaves develop so that they will have plenty of room in which to grow. Seedlings started in the open seed bed may be transplanted from there into blooming quarters, where they may be set 10 or 12 inches apart. The important points to remember in successful aster culture are to supply a rich soil that is not too heavy, frequent cultivation, and regular watering when necessary. Irregular watering will cause the "yellows" which stunts the growth and makes the leaves turn [24] yellow. Occasional feedings of sheep manure will be of great benefit in increasing the size of the flowers. Aster beetles must be picked off by hand and dropped into a container partly filled with kerosene. The lateflowering varieties have the finest flowers; they come in all shades of pink, rose, lavender and violet. The shell pink and soft lilac are the most delicate shades. Calendula, Pot Marigold. Calendulas are hardy annuals and may be started in April in the seed bed or garden where they are to bloom. Seed started in March in a hot bed will commence blooming in June and continue through August, if the seed pods are carefully removed. Plant about 10 inches apart.