CHAPTER VIII. 



ANNUAL AND BIENNIAL PLANTS, AND HALF-HARDY PLANTS 

 ANNUALLY RAISED FROM SEED. 



Whatever we may do with perennials, shrubs, or hardy bulbs, the 

 plants in this class must ever be of great value to the flower-gardener ; 

 and among the most pleasant memories of flower-garden things are 

 often those of annual or biennial plants : tall and splendid Stocks in a 

 farmhouse garden on a chalky soil, seen on a bright day in early spring ; 

 Wallflowers in London market gardens and in cottage gardens, when 

 not cut down by cruel winters ; Snapdragons on old garden walls, and 

 bright Marigolds everywhere; Hollyhock lines, Sweet Pea hedges, and 

 Mignonette carpets ; Evening Primrose, Poppies, Sweet Scabious, and 

 Sweet-williams. However rich a garden may be in hardy flowers or 

 bedding plants, it is wise in our climate to depend a good deal upon 

 annuals. Although they do not last so long in bloom, and are not so 

 fine in quality as Lilies or Roses, yet they can generally be depended 

 upon for a very handsome show of flower in early autumn, particularly 

 in northern and cool districts. In some cases it would not be wise to 

 sacrifice the summer garden for autumnal flowering plants, but where 

 people do not much enjoy their garden except in autumn, it is 

 essential to make good use of those treated of herein. 



