18 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



When June is out feeding may commence, and in this 

 case feeding is essential to success. One of the liquid 

 manures mentioned in Chapter XIX should be used. 



Nevertheless a warning is needed. Feeding is essential 

 but it may be overdone. Liquid manure should not be 

 given more than three times a week, and when it is given 

 it should not be over strong. 



The feeding, commencing in July, should continue 

 throughout that month, and through August into 

 September. When the plants are covered with bloom it 

 may be given a little stronger, for then the plants specially 

 need it to keep them going. It goes without saying that 

 the liquid should be kept off the foliage. 



By the first week in August the plants should be bushy 

 " specimens" ; then the pinching must cease to allow the 

 flowers to be produced. With good management the 

 plants will soon be covered with bloom and will continue 

 to flower for 6-8 weeks or longer. 



To sum up the chief points which make for success : 

 Sow early in pots or boxes ; pot on at the earliest possible 

 moment ; plant out in May in a rich soil ; pinch the tops 

 out of the shoots repeatedly till July 3ist ; stake early 

 and generously ; give quantities of water ; and from July 

 onwards feed carefully with liquid manure. 



(2) HALF-HARDY ANNUALS. 



We cannot say that Half -Hardy Annuals are not popular, 

 for we see them wherever we go . But they have not increased 

 in favour so much as hardy annuals and hardy perennials. 



In half-hardy annuals we have most of the plants used 

 for summer bedding Stocks, Asters, Lobelia, annual 

 Phlox, Tobacco plants, annual Chrysanthemums and many 

 others. Included as half-hardy annuals are many which 

 are really quite hardy, but which it is better to raise in 

 this way, such as Jacobea, Helichrysum, and Calendula. 

 I also include those which are really half-hardy perennials, 

 viz. : Antirrhinum and Sweet Alyssum. 



In the present section it is not proposed to speak about 



