16 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



But think about it for a few minutes. The plant's object 

 in life is to ripen seed, and when it has done this its task is 

 over and it dies. If we allow the first flowers to remain 

 on, and the seed to ripen, the plant dies before the summer 

 is half over. But if we cut the flowers, or at any rate the 

 dead flowers, and do not permit the plant to ripen seed, 

 then more and more buds and flowers form as the season 

 goes on. By this process of cutting flowers generously, 

 and removing all dead flowers, the lives of most hardy 

 annuals can be extended throughout the summer. 



So my advice is : " cut generously." You need not go 

 over the border and cut all flowers off, although if you did 

 you would soon have more opening. Some annuals are 

 not suitable for cutting, but cut the suitable ones gener- 

 ously and remove all dead flowers and seed vessels from the 

 rest at once to prolong the blooming period. This removal 

 of dead flowers should take place at least twice a week, 

 and if it be done every day so much the better. 



Do not worry about seed saving, it looks very easy and 

 sounds easy, but it is not worth it in the long run. Good 

 seed can be had very cheaply, so amateurs should leave 

 seed-harvesting alone. 



"Specimen" Plants: The word "Specimen" is here 

 used to signify something extra good. " Specimen " 

 plants of hardy annuals are single plants which have been 

 highly developed by extremely good cultivation. For 

 instance, a specimen plant of Godetia easily develops into 

 a kind of small bush 9-12 ins. or more across, so it differs 

 very considerably from a plant cultivated in a border in 

 the ordinary way. 



Some people do not like specimen plants. They say 

 they look artificial, but there is no doubt that "specimen" 

 plants yield better flowers and in greater quantity than 

 ordinary plants ; on the other hand they are more trouble 

 and take up much more room. 



The secret of success lies in making an early start. If 

 you have a heated greenhouse sow the seeds in boxes of 

 light soil and put the boxes there early in March or better 



