IRISH GARDENING 



105 



Annuals as Pot Plants. 



There are a large number of plants utilised for 

 the decoration of the greenhouse and dwelling- 

 house, es])ecially during the winter and spring 

 months, and it behoves the gardener who wishes 

 to keep abreast of the times to begin to think out 

 his i)lans for the months quoted above. 



In the present article I shall deal with a few 

 showy annuals that will thrive in ])ots and 

 ■|)roduce a charming effect soon after Christnias 

 if given a little care and attention. 



Among the most prominent are the Clarkias of 

 the elegans class. They embrace Scarlet Beauty, 

 which is really a fine salmon-scarlet : the flowers 

 are double and ]n'oduced in long s]^rays. Firefly 

 is a vivid rose-crimson, and Salmon Queen is also 

 a desirable variety, while Queen ]Mary is one of 

 the l)rightest-coloured Clarkias, producing an 

 abiuidance of double flowers of a lovely rose- 

 carmine. It is an ideal pot ]»lant, and grows 

 about two feet high. 



The Salpiglossis are pretty ornamental annuals 

 with large-veined, funnel-shaped flowers, which 

 are excellent for pot work and decorative pur- 

 ])Oses. They attain a height of two or three 

 feet, and mixed vai'ieties usually prove most 

 satisfactory. 



Mignonette is always a favourite on account of 

 its delicate and pleasing iierfume. There are a 

 number of varieties on the mai'ket, but Machet is 

 still one of the best, with its dense spikes of very 

 fragrant dark-red flowers. Crinison King is of 

 dwarf habit and delightfully scented, while the 

 new American Giant offered by Dawkins, of 

 Chelsea, and other giant forms are also desirable. 

 Scabious, particularly the German kinds, are 

 sure to be largely cultivated in pots when their 

 value as svich is more fully understood. They are 

 offered in various colours and as mixed, but for 

 the majority of growers the separate kinds will 

 jirove most useful, as they are excellent for 

 cutting. 



Antirrhinums, although not really annuals, 

 are sv>lendid for greenhouse decoration during the 

 dull i)eriod of the year. Great improvements 

 have been made of recent years in the colour and 

 habit of these charming plants. The inter- 

 mediate class is preferable to either the tall or 

 dwarf varieties, and the colours generally admired 

 are pink and apricot, while Fire King, Barr's 

 Sunset — an orange-rose with scarlet glow set oft" 

 by a golden li]) — is an admirable Snai)dragon, 

 unsurpassed as a pot ])lant. Fireflanie is another 

 good kind, with deep orange flowers, while Coral 

 Red, Hosy Queen and Pink Beauty can also be 

 recommended. These are only a few of the many 

 sorts oftei'ed by different seedsmen, in fact they 

 are becoming somewhat bewildering to the 

 amateur and i)rofessional gardener. 



Swc'et Peas, where they can be had in bloom 

 at Christmas, are extremely valualjle for cutting. 

 There are special varieties rvow offered for this 

 pur])Ose, but careful cultivation is essential, or 

 they become spindly and weak, and therefore 

 useless for winter work. Mildew is their worse 

 enemy, but I have found an occasioiuil spray with 

 Cyllin soap a most effectual remedy. 



If I may be permitted to make a slight digres- 

 sion, I would strongly advise Hose growers to try 

 this Cyllin soaj) on their bushes; it will kill the 

 aphis and destroy mildew, while it has no bad 

 effect on the foliage, providing it is done on a dull 

 day or in the evening. 



The Schizanthus are beautiful free-flowering 

 half-hardy annuals admirably adapted for pot 

 culture, especially the grandiflc)ra hybrids, 

 Wisetonensis, the retusus varieties, and the dwarf 

 strains offered by various trade houses. They 

 are of easy culture, and for a s])ring disitlay the 

 seed should be sown from August till October, 

 and if a little is sown again in February or March 

 a good disi»lay will be secured throughout the 

 summer. Where a nvmaber of plants are needed 

 for dwelling-house decoration, the latter sowing 

 will be foiuid most useful for grouping in flre- 

 places and large receptacles when greenhouse 

 ])lants are rather scarce. Directly the seedlings 

 are large enough they should have a separate 

 existence, and never be overcrowded. Cool, airy 

 treatment should be the rule throughout their 

 growing period. As the pots V)ecome full of roots, 

 the ]>lants should be moved into others two sizes 

 larger, and, as a general rule, one six inches in 

 diameter will be most convenient for the flnal 

 potting. It will be necessary to place a .stout 

 stick in the centi'e of the X)ot, to which the 

 strongest side shoots can be neatly tied as they 

 develop. It is most inaportant to have a strong 

 stake, because a thin one usually breaks away at 

 the base just when the plants are in flower. An 

 occasional watering with soot water and liquid 

 cow manv.re will be beneficial wlien the ■i)ots are 

 filled with roots. 



Cultural Remarks. — Seed should be sown at 

 any time between .July and Se])tember, and, with 

 the exce])tion of Sweet Peas and Mignonette, the 

 .seedlings must be ]K)tted off' singly as early as 

 possible. Mignonette may be sown in 8-inch or 

 4i-inch pots, and then thinned out to three ])lants, 

 and no more re])otting will be needed unless large 

 specimens are wanted. The soil must be firm 

 and never allowed to become dry. After they are 

 finished with in the greenhouse they can be 

 planted out in the open ground, and it is sur- 

 ])rising what a lot of flower they will give at a 

 time when Mignonette is scarce in the garden. 

 The Sweet Peas are sown in the same size pot, 

 and directly they are filled with roots they should 

 be shifted into 8-inch ])ots. in whic'h tliey will 

 flower. They make fine material for training 

 under the roof of the greenhouse, but where* side 

 ventilation is in vogue a shar]) look-out must be 

 kept for the first sign of mildew. Iii regard tt) the 

 Clarkias, Scabious, Antirrhimim. and Sali)iglossis, 

 they ai'e ■|)otted off into sixties, aiul when well 

 rooted the largest exam])les are i)laced in (i-incli 

 pots and the smaller in 4.\-inch. The .\ntiiT- 

 hinums are ])inched back once in the seedling 

 stage, and the (^laikias are also treated in the same 

 way, and again when about 9 inches high. 



.Just the ordinary ])otting comi>ost may be 

 em|)loyed — i.e., a mixture of loam, leaf-moidd 

 and sand — because if a rich rooting medium is 

 chosen, the plants make vigorous sa,pi)y growth 

 which is very susce]>tible to dani]) (hiring l)eci'm- 

 ber and .latuiary. It is much bcttei- to u.se a iioor 

 soil aiul feed tlie ])lants slightly when the days 

 begin to lengthen. l)ut it nught to be discontinued 

 when the flower buds are showing. 



To secure the best results cool treatment is 

 absolutely essential 1 hi'oughout their existence, and 

 fire heat should only be used during frosty weather. 

 A cold franu> is an ideal i)lace for them, providing 

 there is no frost and they do not damp off". 



Xo gardener or ajuateur need fear taking up 

 the culture of these annuals quoted above, and 

 with ordinary care and attention some excellent 

 and pleasing resvUts will be obtained. — T. W. B. 



