ANNUALS, AND TIIEIE CULTIVATION. 



Ten Week Stock — Mathiola annua. — There are perhaps few species of which 

 there are more varieties, ranging from pure white to the darkest and richest purple. 

 These varieties can he bought at the seed 

 stores ; hut we have found that seed raised 

 in this country can not be depended on to 

 produce any distinct variety, sufficient care 

 not being taken in growing and preserving 

 the seed. Last year we obtained some 

 thirty varieties from Paris, every one of 

 which came as named. 



The pLant grows from one to two feet 

 high, with an erect, branching stem, hoary 

 leaves, and long spikes of flowers. The 

 size and richness of these flowers vary 

 greatly in the different varieties, and some 

 of them are very splendid. The species is 

 a native of the south of Europe, by the sea- 

 shore, whence it was introduced in 1831 ; 

 but the principal varieties have been origi- 

 nated in England and Germany. The 

 German varieties are particularly beautiful. 



For very early flowers, a few plants may 

 be raised in a hot-bed, or in a pot in the 

 house, to be transplanted into the open 

 ground as soon as the weather is suffi- 

 ciently warm. For sowing in the open 

 ground, the soil should be dug deep, and 

 very finely pulverized with the rake. The 

 seed may then be sown in drills, and slight- 

 ly covered with fine earth. As soon as the 

 plants show their third pair of leaves, if too 

 thick in the bed, they may be carefully 

 transplanted, leaving the plants in the bed 

 about ten inches apart. Transplanting 

 should be done on a damp day, and with 

 care, so as not to disturb the roots, or they 

 will receive a check from which it will take them a long time to recover. 



The Candy-Tuft — Iheris. — The Purple Candy-Tuft, (/. umbellata,) an engraving 

 of which we give, is an annual plant, growing to the height of about a foot, with 

 spreading branches and largo heads of 2:)urple flowers. This species is a native of 

 Candia, and receives its name partly from this fact and partly from the form of the 

 flowers. Seeds were taken to England about the year 1590. From that time it has 

 been a general favorite in British gardens, and should be grown by all lovers of flowers, 



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GERMAN TEN AVEEK STOCK. 



