70 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



annual, and if sown in a bed will give a fine mass of brilliant gold 

 yellow. It is usually described as half bardy, but there is no occa- 

 sion to give it the attentions that half-hardy annuals require. 



Stocks make rich beds, and are easy to manage. Select your 

 sorts, and begin on the 20tli of March. Sow the seeds in line soil 

 in pans, only just covering them deep enough to put them out of 

 sight. Put these pans in frames ivitliout heat, and take care of 

 them, keeping them close to the glass, and allowing them plenty of 

 air, but with judgment. "While they are growing in the frame pre- 

 pare the beds for them by digging them deeply and manuring freely, 

 and leave them as rough as possible. About the 15th of April 

 throw on the beds a thin sprinkling of quite rotten manure, then 

 slightly fork the surface over, break all the clods and level it neatly, 

 and it will be read}^ for planting. As soon as the bed is prepared 

 expose the seed-pans nigbt and day to the weather, and seize the 

 first opportunity when, tlie weather is moist, warm, and dull to plant 

 out the stocks in the bed ; they should be planted four to six inches 

 apart, and be put in as deeply as possible without burying any of 

 their leaves. Thereafter, from time to time, thin them, and either 

 destroy or plant elsewhere the thinnings. When there is a glim- 

 mering of colour amongst them, look out sharp for single flowers, 

 and draw out those plants and destroy them. As the single flowers 

 usually open first, they will probably be all got rid of ere the double 

 ones open, and then there wdll be a fine display, which will last till 

 frost stops it in the autumn. This is the simplest and the best code 

 of treatment for stocks. All the sorts are good, but there are too 

 many. Those called Dwarf Bouquets are the best for beds, and the 

 best colours nre scarlet (this is a fine pinky red), darJc hlne (this is 

 really a purple of a fine indigo tone), and flesh colour. Those who 

 can sow intermediate stocks in Augu&t, and keep them in frames all 

 winter, may have finer beds than the bouquets make from spring 

 sowings. Yellow stocks are pretty and sweet, but quite washy and 

 weak, if regarded as bedders. 



Viola lutea makes a nice bed of yellow, and Viola cornuta will 

 furnish a mass of blue. There is a certain w^eakness of efifect, how- 

 ever, about both these plants, and they have disappointed many. As 

 rock and border plants they are charming, and ought to have a place 

 in every garden. 



To keep annuals in bloom for the longest possible time, all seeds 

 should be removed as fast as they are formed. In some cases this is 

 irnpossible, but where the seed pods are large enough to handle, 

 their removal should be followed up systematically. Many subjects 

 that only last in bloom a few weeks, if allowed to keep their seeds, 

 will last the season out if the seeds are removed as soon as formed, 

 and that means simply cutting oft' the faded flowers, S. H. 



