t38 



IRISH GARDENING 



Clump of White Annual Larkspur in Mix 

 (Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin). 



Annuals. 



Their uses in General Decoration. 



By G. O. SHERRARD. 



ANNUALS as a class possess great beauty of 

 coloiiringf and a lig'htness and ele§fance of form 

 such as are not found in many perennial flowerins^ 

 plants. There are amongst them species which can be 

 used for almost all purposes in g-arden decoration. For 

 boldness of effect in the mixed border or shrubbery 

 there are few plants which can excel the giant sunflower 

 {Hi'h'anfhus anmrKs). Clumps of sweet peas or of the 

 taller varieties of the annual larkspur make a lovely 

 feature in the border, and can be grown so as to flower 

 when many of the best perennials are out of bloom. 

 For edging, for occupying spaces in the border that had 

 been filled with bulbs in the spring', or for forming 

 masses by themselves, the smaller growing species are 

 invaluable. 



It is perhaps as an aid to the colouring: of the mixed 

 border that annuals are most useful to us. They should 

 never be substituted for the perennials but employed to 

 supplement their effect. There comes a time in the 

 middle of summer, usually between the second week in 

 July and the second week in August, when many of 

 the perennials are not in flower. The reason for this 

 is that a large number of herbaceous plants 

 flower in June, and many more in autumn, but those 

 which bloom between these periods are not so numerous. 

 Also, about this time yellow colour tends to predominate 

 among the flowers of the perennial plants, and the 

 effect of too much yellow in the border must be cor- 

 rected by the use of flowers or other hues. Annuals, 

 with their many colours, fulfil this purpose excellently, 

 and also serve to tide over the lull in the blooming of 

 the perennials. I have seen a mixed flower border all 

 aglow with colour at the beginning of August, and 

 found the plants which contributed most of it to be 

 clumps of rose-coloured and white annual larkspurs, 

 sweet peas planted in clumps of one colour, the white 

 and pink varieties of lavatera, and masses of that 



ED Border 



brilliant little flower Nemesia 

 s/runiosa. All these annuals 

 had been planted or sown in the 

 spaces between the numerous 

 clumpsof herbaceous perennials 

 which the borders contained, 

 and yet if they — the annuals — 

 had been removed at that par- 

 ticular time the border would 

 have been left almost devoid of 

 brightness. • 



The flower beds cut in the 

 grass, which are still a familiar 

 feature in many gardens, are 

 often filled with stocks and 

 asters. Fortunately this style 

 of bedding is d3'ing out, and 

 a more informal grouping of 

 plants is taking its place in 

 popular favour. Formal flower 

 beds cut in a lawn do not show 

 annuals off" to the best ad- 

 vantage. 



The cultural requirements of 

 annuals are simple. They like a 

 deeply dug and well pulverised 

 soil, which should be made 

 fairly rich with manuie ; and 

 the plants themselves should be 

 given room for their full de- 

 velopment. Thinning must be 

 practised if annuals are to be grown with success. 

 Growers have realised this in the case of sweet pea, 

 which is now planted with a foot of ground between 

 each plant in a row, or with one to six plants in a 

 clump instead oi the twenty or thirty of a few years 

 ago. 



The half-hardy species must be raised in heat in the 

 earl}' spring, and planted out when all danger of frost 

 is over, but the hardy kinds may be sown in the open 

 ground in spring or autumn. Autumn sowing for some 

 annuals has decided advantages. The plants flower 

 earlier in the season and make strong specimens which 

 remain a long time in bloom. Care must be taken not 

 to sow the seeds too early in the autumn, or the plants 

 will become too soft and sappy to stand the winter ; the 

 end of September or the beginning of October is quite 

 soon enough. Also, the plants must not be allowed to 

 get too crowded before winter comes on, and pests 

 must be guarded against. These latter, slugs in 

 particular, are very destructive during the winter months, 

 and it is often advisable for this reason to grow the plants 

 in boxes or frames, where they can be more easily pro- 

 tected both from the slugs and from very severe weather. 

 Shirley poppies, larkspur, sweet pea, nemophila, bar- 

 tonia and Virginian stocks are all suitable for autumn 

 sowing ; the poppies, of course, must be sown where they 

 are to flower. 



It is not within the scope of this article to give a long 

 list of all the annuals which are worth growing, but 

 mention may be made of a few of the best. 



The annual larkspurs possess great beauty, especially 

 the tall rose pink, white, and dark-blue varieties ; these 

 when sown in late autumn make bold clumps four feet 

 high by the following July, and are then covered with 

 bloom. Sweet peas have gained an unique position 

 amongst annuals. They appear to the best advantage 

 when sown in clumps of one variety each. 



The Swan River daisy is a dainty little plant, about 

 one foot high, with blue flowers like miniature cinerarias. 

 Phacelia campanidaria, also a foot high, has bell-shaped 

 flowers of a deep rich blue. Nigella, or Love-in-a-Mist, 

 has pretty little pale blue flowers set in a delicate tangle 

 of greenery. Mignonette should be grown in every 

 garden for its sweet perfume. 



