THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Where the choicest flowers are grown in beds near the house, or in 

 what should be the flower garden, autumnal annuals are not so good 

 as more enduring plants, although useful as an aid. In many cases 

 the best way would be to grow the annuals in separate borders, even 

 in borders in the kitchen garden, as they are very well grown at 

 Campsey Ash. Like most other plants, they enjoy fresh ground, and 

 where they are grown in borders by themselves it is easy to enrich 

 the ground, and make it fitted for them, easier than when grown 

 among perennials, Roses and the like. With this precaution the culture 

 is very simple ; in the south some attention to watering is essential 

 in dry years, in the north the moist cool climate gives the best results. 



In w'et seasons and in wet northern districts annuals surprise 

 us by their vigour and beauty. In warmer counties the effect of the 

 heat may in the case of the hardy kinds be met by autumn-sowing in 

 good rich ground. The autumn sowings are the best. The plants 

 not only flower much sooner, but, where the soil and climate suit 

 them, they are stronger and more beautiful. The reason why they 

 are so often seen in poor condition is that they are sown on hungry 

 soil and are crowded. 



Concerning crowding, " Salmoniceps " writes : — "I have just 

 measured a plant to-day (October 4) of Nemophila insignis, sown 

 more than a year ago. It has been in flower since May, and measures 

 now 4 feet by 3 feet 10 inches. It w^ould take a long time to count 

 the blossoms, although they are not so large as the earlier ones. The 

 plant grows in a new and rich border. According to the ordinary 

 way of sowing annuals, this single plant occupies the space which is 

 usually allotted to a whole packet of seed." 



In nature, annuals are usually autumn-sown and gather strength 

 in the winter. In growing a number of annuals from various countries, 

 we must remember that our winters can be faced by the hardy 

 ones only, such as the Sweet Pea, Cornflower, Silene, Nemophila, 

 Viscaria, Limnanthes, Larkspur, Poppy, and Scabious. Annuals are 

 best in masses or groups, and they are never perhaps so full of 

 colour and beauty as on an old rich vine border. 



In considering the best kinds we will look more at the important 

 groups of plants, as there is a great number of curious kinds that 

 might be named here, but they are not so important for effect. 



Among annual and biennial flowers we have the lovely Everlastings 

 of Australia, which have an order of beauty quite distinct from those 

 we see in gardens into which annuals do not enter. Carefully gathered, 

 they have the additional charm that they may adorn our houses during 

 the winter. The Pimpernels, which with their pretty blue flowers were 

 once made charming use of in gardens, are much neglected. The 

 Mexican Poppy is a pretty flower and quite distinct. Among annuals 



