322 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



marigold, the one is grand for a week, but the seed-pods swell 

 directly, and as soon as they are ripe the plants die ; the other 

 grows and blooms more and more profusely the longer the 

 cold weather keeps off, and is generally covered with flowers 

 when the frost cuts it off. If some of these so called annuals 

 were treated as perennials, there is no doubt they might be 

 perpetuated. Small cuttings struck towards the end of autumn 

 would go through the winter, and flower early in spring. 

 Stocks we know will do this, and balsams we have so treated 

 many times, but as no object is to be gained by it, the thing 

 is not worth the trouble. The distinction between hardy and 

 tender annuals is not strictly correct, for some of the so called 

 hardy are cut off by the first frost, and, strictly speaking, a 

 thing caimot be hardy that will not bear our climate. In 

 many cases it only means that they are able to perfect their 

 blooms in our short summers, or at least to make a great show 

 in a short time. For instance, the nasturtium is catalogued 

 as a hardy annual, because you may sow it, and it soon comes 

 into full bloom ; but there is not a more tender thing grown, 

 the very first frost cuts it off while in full growth and flower ; 

 however, the terms hardy and half-hardy, as well as tender, 

 are pretty well understood. Our summers are long enough to 

 bring the first into bloom, and even the second, whatever 

 may become of them afterwards, and the third are sown under 

 glass, early enough to be forwarded a month or six weeks, so 

 that they may be planted out as soon as the winter and spring 

 frosts are gone, and begin their out-of-door life when six 

 weeks or two months old. The haK-hardy and tender annuals 

 may be sown in shght hot beds, or within the greenhouse, or 

 stove, and as soon as they are large enough, prick them out 

 round the edges of pots, keep them near the Hght, and the 

 greenhouse, or a cold frame is the right place for them till the 

 middle of May, when they may be planted out where they 

 are to bloom. There are some very tender, requiring hot- 

 bed or stove culture all through the summer — such as cocks- 

 combs, these can hardly have too much heat, light, moisture, 

 and air. The only way we can prevent them from drawing 

 up too much, is to place them as near the glass as possible, 

 and give them air as they advance. The best of all means for 

 sucn things is the common dung-bed, for they can be placed 

 close to the light, and air can be given Hberally on warm days, 

 and sufficiently for their health on most days by tilting the glass. 



