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GARDEyERS- CHRONICLE 



ing better than tlie Californian ropi'}', Eschscholtsia cali- 

 fornlca. To have it thrive well, seed must be sown early 

 in Spring. It is very impatient of transplanting and must 

 be left alone. The tine.-^t kinds would include, crocea, 

 Golden \A'est, tcniiifoUa, and maritiina. 



The annual Gaillardias are well adapted for Summer 

 gardening as they produce their (lowers all Summer. 

 Amblyodon, puIchcUa, and pnlchcUa var., picta are the 

 best. 



Cosmos is one of the tinest annuals we have in mid- 

 Summer and Fall. Much has been done of late years to 

 have the plants bloom earlier and the size of the flowers 

 has also been improved. \\"e have now early flowering 

 kinds, mid-Summer and late Fall flowering, and also 

 double flowered varieties. What we need now is the im- 

 provement of the habit of the plants. 



The annual Larkspurs are showy plants when well 

 grown, very valuable for cutting. They thrive best if 

 sown very early out of doors and given plent_\- of room to 

 develop; are strong growing plant.-;, enjoying rich soil. 

 There is a great range of color, including shades of light, 

 dark and azure blue, white, rose, pink, red lilac, dark 

 lilac and violet. The variety known as Newport Pink, 

 which was introduced a few years ago, has rose colored 

 flowers and is well worth raising. The choicest varieties 

 are now grown in the \\'inter in the greenhouse for cut 

 flowers. 



The best of our garden poppies originated from the 

 corn poppy, Papavcr RItocas. The carnation, picotee and 

 ranunculus poppies are double forms of this species as 

 are also the Shirley poppies. The corn poppy is the 

 comifion wild poppy of Europe which grows abundantly 

 in the fields there and which is found so plentifully in 

 France. This is the poppy which Col. MacCrae referred 

 to in his never to be forgotten lines : 



"In Flanders' fields the poppies blow- 

 Between the crosses row on row." 



The Shirley is a charming race and was obtained by 

 selection. They are the most lovely of all ttie poppies 

 and are of even,- imaginable shade and combination of 

 white, pink, and red with yellow anthers. There are 

 double flowered varieties of this species. The opium 

 poppv, Papavcr soumifcnnn. has some pleasing shades 

 and the pasony-flowered poppies belong to this plant. 

 The range of color in this species and its varieties run 

 from white through pink and red to purple. Bride and 

 Flag of Truce are good single w'hite forms ; Danebrog is 

 a wonderful, single variety of the richest scarlet with a 

 white cross at the base of the petals. jMephisto is a beauti- 

 fringed variety varying from red and black to rose and 

 white. The double forms are all delightful and well 

 worth growing, but we like the single kinds best. For 

 gracefulness, airiness and poise, and delicacy there are no 

 annuals that excel the poppies. Poppies present a inost 

 gorgeous sight when they are grown liberally. ^Many 

 are" good for cutting and not nearly as fugacious as 

 Robert Burns had them in his simile when he said : 

 "Pleasures are like poppies spread. 

 You seize the flower, the bloom is shed." 



If, just as the flower is opening, tiie stamens are taken 

 out. tile flower will last much longer when cut. To ob- 

 tain good results they must be sown out of doors when- 

 ever the frost is out of the ground in Spring, covering 

 the seeds very lightly. Thin out the plants well, allow- 

 ing plenty of space for development. They do not stand 

 transplanting. 



The Marvel of Peru, or Four o'Clock, is a perennial 

 in its native countrv', but is raised here as an annual, 

 thriving and flowering in any kind of soil or situation. 

 Four o'clock will do well under the shade of trees. 



Petunias are very attractive and easy to grow. For 

 massing or bedding we have nothing better because they 

 flower continuall}- from July to frost. They are not 

 fastidious about soil and will grow almost anywhere. 

 The large flowered variety, called Rufiled Giants, is 

 magnificent with very large, beautifully marked flowers. 

 Countess of Flsemere is a good bedding variety and, 

 although the flowers are not as large as some kinds, they 

 are produced profusely and are of a pleasing pink color. 

 Rosy Morn is one of the best, a light pink color, and well 

 adapted to many uses. White Pearl is an excellent, single 

 flowered, white variety. \"iolet Queen is a superb variety 

 of a rich, violet blue. 



Drunimond phlox, when sown in masses, gives very 

 brilliant effects : is easy to grow from seed, and remains 

 a long time in bloom. As phlox contains almost all 

 shades of color and is so compact in habit, it adapts itself 

 to manv purposes. If given plenty of water and if re- 

 lieved of the seed pods when formed, the plants last in 

 flower longer than usual. They are much better for cut- 

 ting than the perennial kinds. The grandiflora forms are 

 by far the best ; the flowers are larger and better shaped 

 than the old kinds. The ciispidata varieties are pretty 

 and interesting on account of their star-shaped flowers. 

 Sutton's Purity, Pink Beauty, Mauve Beauty, Snowball 

 and Fireball are the most admirable of all the Drum- 

 mend phloxes. 



The African and l-'rench marigolds. Tagctcs, are na- 

 tives of Mexico and are so well know'n that we hardly 

 need to mention them. They are very valuable for late 

 Fall and it is then that they appear at their best. There 

 are many fine varieties, the dwarf kinds being very com- 

 pact and striking for beds. Tagctcs signata pmnlla is 

 well worth growing on account of its dwarf habit ; it 

 does not attain more than one foot ih height and is com- 

 pletely covered with small yellow flowers. 



We must not forget Mignonette. No garden should be 

 without this old-fashioned, fragrant plant. The seed may 

 be sown early in Spring and later another sowing may 

 be made for succession. .Almost any kind can be recom- 

 mended but those that are the most fragrant in the garden 

 are the best. 



For low growth and brilliancy of color we have noth- 

 ing to surpass Fortulaca. excellent for beds and edgings, 

 and one of the easiest plants to grow. 



For large, imposing flowering annual plants, the sun- 

 flowers are superior to all others. There are several 

 species which are not grown as widely as they ought to 

 be. The silver-leaved sunflower, Hclianthus argopJiylliis. 

 growing four or five feet high, has handsome, silvern- 

 foliage with beautiful, single flowers. The cucumber- 

 leaved sunflow-er, Hdiantbus cucuiiicrifolius, is the most 

 handsome of all the annual sunflowers. It has compact 

 growth and produces an immense number of single, 

 bright orange flowers. The varieties, Stella and Orion. 

 are very decorative and their flowers are good for cut- 

 ting. 



The China Asters. Calllstcplms Iwrtcnslc. are among 

 the most common of all the annuals. Of the easiest cul- 

 ture, thev can be had in a large number of forms and 

 colors. The history of the evolution of this plant is very 

 similar to that of the Ch.rysauthciimm. When it was in- 

 troduced It was a single flower, and it is pleasing to 

 note that there is a growing fondness for single flowered 

 forms again. They are subject to several diseases, but 

 the diseases which attack the roots are avoided, if the 

 plants are not grow-n on the same piece of ground two 

 years in succession. The fungus diseases which attack 

 the leaves can be held in check by spraying with some of 

 the copper fungicides. Spraying the plants should begin 



