Evening star., 1926-04-10
GROWING ANIMALS

There is a feeling of permanence
and satisfaction in the Towering
shrubs and also in the herbaceouS
plants that perpetrate themselves for
a number of years. Despite this fact,
however, we find the annual plants,
which complete their life cycle in a
single year, ever popular from the
most humble yard to the most lux
urtous garden. 1t is the annual that
is called upon to act in a relief role
in beds of other flowers when their
blooming period is on the Wane. Again,
the annual functions to give an i'm
mediate effect where shrubs or peren-
malls have not as yet been established.
Finally, for both exterior and interior
decoration the annual furnishes a
valuable contribution to our homes.
Doubtless the ease with which an
nuals can be grown is one of the rea-
sons why this type of plant is so
popular and it's seed so readily avail
able. For the termination of the seed,
light, air and moisture are necessary
A light, sandy loan is an ideal soil
for starting the Seed. yet we find that
the majority of our well known an
nua1S are by no means particular as
TO soil. The soil should, however, con-
tain a reasonable amount of plant
food, and good drainage is essential.
Regarding the time to SOW ANIMALS
IT is found that the seeds divide them
selves into two groups. We have
those which are hardy and can be
sown as soon as the ground can be
worked in the spring. On the other
hand there is a group of tender plants
whose seeds should be sown only after
all danger OF frost is past and the
ground is well warmed. Care must be
eXerc[---z lat the seed is soWn at the
correct depth. A general rule is to
COW at a depth twice the average di-
ameter of the seed.
After the seed is sown and firmed
in the soil the moisture supply must
be maintained and a temporary shade
erected to modify the effect of the
hot sun. AS the seeds grow the young
plants should be thinned out and
tranSplanted in order to a assure
stocky, healthy plants. There are
some ANIMALS which, on account of
their habit of growth, are best started
in pots and later transplanted, while
others are sOWn in the place where
they are to mature. Inclosed in this
list are candytuft, cOrnfiower, forget
me-not, mignonette, Drummond peloX,
SunfioWer, poppy and sweet alyssum
The soil Of the annual garden should
be kept cultivated in order to con-
serve its moisture and further to pre-
vent weeds from competing with the
plants themselves.
When one considers ANNALS for the
garden he usually has q definite place
in mind for their growth and perhaps
wishes them to bloom mostly at a
certain time of the season. For early
bloom some of the best ANIMALS are
calliOpsis, clarkia. poppy and sweet
alyssum. For a late fall display the
African marigold. American late
branching aster, celosia, cosmos, flow
ering tobacco, and sunfiOwer are very
desirable. 4
The small lot owner is often con-
fronted with the problem that his
garden area is in shade 10 a certain
extent during the day. For planting
in such place Clarkia. evening prin
rose, fOrget-me-n0t, godetia and snap
dragon are suitable. Among the an
nuals are also found plants that will
withstand a dry soil. In this group
are California poppy, ice plant, morn
ing glory, phloy and portulaca.
II often happens that a combination
of ANIMALS can be arranged in such a
way that they make very effective
flower border for the garden. Sweet
alyssum, dwarf ageratun, portulaca
and Verbena are very useful for edg
ing, while the higher material for a
background includes aSterS, calendu-
las, centaurea. gaillardia, marigold.
nigella, petunia, pinks, snapdragons
and Zinnias..
If space is available. one is fortu
nate who can plan o secluded space
where ANIMALS may be arranged in
rows to be used solely for cut flowers
for the house. Annuals which adapt |
themselves wen for this purpose and
have long stems for vase use are
calliopsis, ceoeia, cornflowers, cosmos, |
and sna pdra gon. For Winters adorn- |
ment the various types of straw |
flowers are uneXCelled.