54 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



Among the half-hardy annuals, the best are Asters, of all colours except yellows and 

 bright blues. Stocks, crimson, purple, white, and blush ; double French and African 

 Marigolds, of many shades of yellow and orange ; Phlox Lrummondii, various ; Salpi- 

 glossis, various ; sweet Sultan, yellow, purple and white ; and for special choice purposes 

 the following — Acroclinium roseum, a splendid new everlasting flower of a lively satin 

 rose; Anagallis indica, pretty blue; Alonsoa toarscewicsii, bright scarlet, and splendid for 

 beds; Bartonia aurea, line orange; Ilelichrysum, of many shades of white, yellow, and 

 pink ; Lobelia ramosus, splendid blue, for beds and edgings ; Veronica syriaca, a perfect 

 gem of the speedwell family, charming blue and white, and admirable for pots; Portulaccas 

 of sorts, yellow, rose, and white ; Saponaria calabrica, for a neat bed of pink ; and 

 Zinneas of many colours. 



It is not the greatest variety whicb produces the best effect, and in a long border the 

 repetition of the same colours, at regular intervals, will be found far more pleasing than a 

 heterogenous mixture. Indeed, a few of the cheapest and commonest annuals of distinct 

 and showy colours, repeated again and again along the whole length of the border, is the 

 best way for any beginner to use them. Those wbo have had experience may find many 

 things in the list I here present, that may be usefully added to their selections this season, 

 but any one not sufficiently experienced " to forecast the future whole," should trust to twelve 

 or fifteen sorts, repeating each in succession, at regular intervals, and, perhaps, reserving some 

 choice sorts for use in beds only. Thus we may have a patch of scarlet, then wbite, then 

 purple, then orange, and so on — taking care that lilac is divided from blue by scarlet, blue 

 from purple by white, or otherwise, so that by no unhappy juxtaposition to rob the 

 several colours of their due effect. Above all, things, purchase your seeds at first-class 

 houses, and pay a fair price for them ; for cheap seeds are, like other cheap things, very 

 dear in the end, and it costs as much trouble and care — nay, more— to grow plants from 

 poor seed as it does from the best. 



An Old Gardener. 



CULTIVATION OF ANNUALS. 



BY MESSRS. BUTLER AND MC'CULLOCH. 



Tine soil should not be over rich, and should be dug deep; the surface should be rendered 

 smooth and fine before sowing the seed ; small seeds sown on rough ground fall between 

 the clods and into the crevices and get buried. Attention to this simple hint will save 

 growers much disappointment and seedsmen a great amount of blame ; for, in cases of 

 failure, the quality of the seeds is almost invariably impeached. Hardy annuals may be 

 sown from the middle to the end of September for spring flowering ; the plants ought to 

 be thinned out before winter, to prevent their damping off, and transplanted early in 

 March, to the flower border, or, when more convenient, may be sown where they are to 

 bloom. Many of the Hardy Annuals, especially the Californian, flower more profusely, 

 produce finer blooms, and remain longer in perfection during the spring months than at 

 any other season of the year. For summer and autumn flowering, sow from 

 the middle of March to June. A common error in the cultivation of Annuals, is, in allow- 

 ing them to grow too close together; and, many of what would otherwise be an attractive 

 " patch," or bed of annual flowers, is ruined for want of thinning. We, therefore, say, 

 thin early, and sufficiently to afford ample space for the perfect development of the plants 

 left. It is also very important to afford support to such kinds as require it, before they 

 get broken or injured by wind or heavy rain ; perhaps the simplest method of doing this is 

 to place amongst and around the plant small neat branches like pea-stakes ; the lateral 

 shoots will extend amongst and hide the stakes, and the support afforded by this simple 

 and inexpensive means, will, in most instances, be found all tbat is required. But, perhaps, 

 the common practice of covering the seed too heavily, causes more disappointments than all 

 other errors. Small seeds should be covered very lightly, and with soil not liable to cake 

 by exposure to sun and air Common garden loam and leaf soil, or old dung, passed 

 through a fine sieve, and well intermixed, will be excellent for covering with. Half-hardy 

 Annuals should not he sown in the open border before May, and the ground will require 

 the same preparation, &c, as recommended for Hardy Annuals. But the best method of 

 raising these, is to sow in pans or boxes, in April, or in a bed, about three inches thick, of 

 light soil, placed on a gentle hot-bed, formed of stable manure or vegetable refuse, and 

 protected with a frame or hand-glass. Water sparingly, and give plenty of air when the 

 plants appear, and thin out, or prick off in small pots, and be careful to get the plants 

 well imvred to the weather previous to planting in the open border, and also to give water 

 as may be necessary, after planting, till established. 



