Four-o'-Clock (Marvel of Peru—Mirabilis).—A good, old-fashioned flower that has the peculiarity of opening its trumpet-shaped blossoms late in the afternoon. Bushy, well branched, and adapted to border use as a "filler."
Escholtzia (California Poppy).—One of the showiest flowers in the entire list. A bed of it will be a sheet of richest golden yellow for many weeks.
Gaillardia (Blanket-flower).—A profuse and constant bloomer, of rich and striking color-combinations. Yellow, brown, crimson, and maroon. Most effective when massed.
Gypsophila (Baby's Breath).—A plant of great daintiness, both in foliage and flowers. Always in demand for cut-flower work. White and pink.
Kochia (Burning Bush—Mexican Fire-plant).—A very desirable plant, of symmetrical, compact habit. Rich green throughout the summer, but turning to dark red in fall. Fine for low hedges and for scattering through the border wherever there happens to be a vacancy.
Larkspur.—Another old-fashioned flower of decided merit.
Marigold.—An old favorite that richly deserves a place in all gardens because of its rich colors, free blooming qualities and ease of culture.
Nasturtium.—Too well known to need description here. Everybody ought to grow it. Unsurpassed in garden decoration and equally as valuable for cutting. Blooms throughout the entire season. Does well in a rather poor soil. In a very rich soil it makes a great growth of branches at the expense of blossoms.
Pansy.—Not an annual, but generally treated as such. A universal favorite that almost everybody grows. If flowers of a particular color are desired I would advise buying blooming seedlings from the florist, as one can never tell what he is going to get if he depends on seed of his own sowing. The flowers will be as fine as those from selected varieties, but there will be such a medley of colors that one sometimes tires of the effect. I have always received the most pleasure from planting distinct colors, like the yellows, the blues, the whites, and the purples, and the only way in which I can make sure of getting just the colors I want is to tell the florist about them, and instruct him to send me those colors when his seedlings come into bloom.
Petunia.—Another of the "stand-bys." A plant that can always be depended on. Very free bloomer, very profuse, and very showy. If the old plants that have blossomed through the summer begin to look ragged and unsightly, cut away the entire top. In a short time new shoots will be sent out from the stump of the old plant, and almost before you know it the plant will have renewed itself, and be blooming as freely as when it was young. Fine for massing.