A GARDEN OF ANNUALS 19 



the arrangement of these half-hardy annuals in bedding 

 out, but merely to give their cultivation. The subject 

 of their arrangement is dealt with in Chapter IX. 



With half-hardy annuals a very early start should be 

 made; shallow boxes filled with light loamy soil and 

 plenty of silver sand on the surface prepared, and the 

 seeds sown in late January or early in February. A warm 

 dark cellar is the best place for the boxes till the seedlings 

 germinate, and when the plants show above the soil the 

 boxes should be put on a shelf near the glass in a warm 

 greenhouse. As soon as they are large enough to handle 

 comfortably, prick the seedlings off 3 ins. apart each way 

 into other boxes of similar light soil, water, and again place 

 on a shelf in the heated greenhouse near the glass, or they 

 may be placed in a heated frame. Care should be taken 

 not to over water, or the soil may become sour and the 

 seedlings damp off. A happy medium must be struck. 



Early in May, if not before, the boxes should all be trans- 

 ferred to a cold frame and ventilated freely on all fine days. 

 Then gradually harden them off, and for a week before 

 planting out remove the frames entirely, unless there is 

 actual frost. 



The ground for half-hardy annuals should be dug up and 

 manured with stable dung a few days before they are 

 planted out. If it is at all dry it should be soaked with 

 water the night before, and the half-hardy annuals planted 

 out next morning. 



Great attention must be paid all the summer to well 

 watering the beds and borders containing these plants, 

 otherwise they will be ruined. No feeding of any kind is 

 necessary. 



A LIST OF HALF-HARDY ANNUALS. 



This list of Half-Hardy Annuals includes a few plants 

 which are strictly Hardy Annuals, and one or two Half- 

 Hardy Perennials. For details of the colour and habitj 

 and, with the few exceptions given, for named varieties, 

 readers must study some good catalogue. 



