Ageratum-A fine lavender-blue flower; very useful for cutting; a profuse and constant bloomer.

Celosia-A most peculiar plant, with "combs" of brilliant crimson, scarlet and yellow; some varieties have a feathery effect from the peculiar divisions of the "comb."

Dianthus-The Chinese Pink; a most profuse bloomer, running through almost all colors; very fine. Delphinium-Better known as Larkspur; charming plants for using in the background, on account of their tall habit.

Portulaca—A vegetable salamander, enjoying our hottest weather, and doing its best under a scorching sun; in almost all colors; a low grower; excellent for beds near the house or path.

Stock-More usually called Gillyflower; a most excellent flower, coming in various shades of red, blue, lilac, yellow and pure white; fragrant; fine for cutting; a late bloomer.

Zinnia-A strong-growing plant, the larger varieties well adapted for back rows; quite like a Dahlia in form, very double, and coming in a great variety of most brilliant colors.

Candytuft-A low-growing plant, bearing a pro

fusion of white and purple flowers; very pretty as an edging for beds containing taller flowers.

Sweet Alyssum-Another good edging plant; a profuse bloomer, with white flowers; very sweet, and excellent for cutting.

Mignonette-Delightfully fragrant, and having very pretty, if not showy flowers; one of the most useful of all plants for bouquet use.

Lobelia A charming little thing; blue and white; compact grower and great bloomer.

Flowering Vincs

Morning Glory-One of the best plants we have for covering screens, and training over doors and windows. Exceedingly profuse in bloom and rich and varied in coloring.

Sweet Pea-Not a tall grower, but sufficiently so to be of use in covering low screens and fences.

Japan Hops-A very pretty vine of rapid growth, having dark and gray-green foliage variegated with white.

Flowering Bean-An old favorite which has been allowed to drop out of notice, but whose merits are bringing it again to notice. Rich scarlet flowers, as vivid as those of a Geranium.

Cypress-A very beautiful vine of delicate habit, with finely-cut foliage and bright scarlet flowers.

Gourds-Rank, strong-growing vines, useful for covering summer houses and outbuildings. Valuable chiefly because of their exceedingly rapid growth. An effective planting of annual vines is seen in Fig 54.

I want to give "special mention" to a few flowers named in the above lists, because of their great merit. One of these is the Aster. Because of its great floriferousness, and its habit of flowering after most other

FIG 54-BACKYARD GARDEN IN A CITY LOT, DAYTON, OHIO

plants have passed their prime, it has long been a general favorite. But those who are familiar only with the popular varieties of five or six years ago have no idea of the perfection to which our florists have carried this plant in their improvement of old strains. The Branching Aster, the Comet and the Ostrich Feather sorts are as beautiful as any Chrysanthemum, and, in fact, they so closely resemble some varieties of that favorite flower that they are often mistaken for them. They are large in size, delicately, as well as brilliantly, beautiful in coloring, and have such long flower stalks that they are better adapted for cutting than any other annual except the Sweet Pea. They last for two weeks, when used in vases, if the water in which they stand is changed occasionally. The pale pinks and lavenders are especially lovely because of their delicate daintiness of color.

The Sweet Pea of to-day is another most lovely flower. Such exquisite combinations of color, such long-stalked blossoms, and such general all-around excellence, the old Sweet Pea never thought of laying claim to. To grow this plant well, it must be got into the ground very early in the season-in April, if possible. Do not wait for warm weather, but sow the seed as soon as the ground can be worked with spade and hoe. Make V-shaped trenches at least six inches deep, and scatter the seed thickly in them. Then cover lightly. When the plants have grown to be three inches high, draw in a little of the soil thrown out from the trench, and work it well about the plants, taking care to not injure them in the operation. By and by, when they have made a few more inches of growth, fill in with more soil, and keep on doing this, from time to time, until all the soil taken from the trench has been returned to it. In this way we get the roots

of the plant down deep in the ground, where they will be cool and moist during dry, hot weather. Allow no seed to form on your plants, if you want them to bloom during the entire season.

Another most excellent plant for late flowering is the Marguerite Carnation. Plants from seed sown in the garden will not come into bloom before October, but early-sown plants will begin to bloom in August. In size and richness of color, and delightful fragrance, this strain equals the greenhouse Carnation, and it is wonderfully floriferous. Plants can be potted in fall, and made to bloom throughout the winter in the window garden; where they will give better satisfaction than any of the greenhouse varieties.

The Poppy of the present is a most magnificent flower. It comes in a wide range of colors, and makes the garden gorgeous with its brilliance for many weeks during the summer months. Where masses of solid color are desired, the best annuals to use are Phlox Drummondi, in rose-color, white and pale yellow, Petunias in various colors, and Calliopsis. These for large beds, with Candytuft or Sweet Alyssum as edging.

What striking effects can be produced by the means of inexpensive annuals is shown in Fig 55; the principal plants being Cosmos, Castor Bean and Morning Glory.