SOME GOOD HARDY ANNUALS 29 



The two best varieties are the double purple and the 

 double crimson. The single Jacobea is poor. 



Larkspur: Little need be said about these hardy 

 annuals; they are beautiful, and easily grown. The stock- 

 flowered sort reaches a height of 2 ft. and the dwarf 

 hyacinth-flowered i ft. There is a good range of colour to 

 choose from in these varieties. Seed may be sown either 

 outside where the plants are to grow or in a frame. Sow 

 in March and April. 



Leptosiphon : The variety L. densiflorus is the best 

 sort to grow, and in these annuals we have some very pretty 

 dwarf plants to place in the front of our borders. They 

 have blue flowers and should be sown where they are to 

 grow. The height of L. densiflorus is 12 ins. 



Linum : There are many annuals better worth growing 

 than the Linums, but many people are fond of them, so we 

 must not omit them. Linum grandiflorum rubrum is the 

 best. Its flowers are a good scarlet, and the plant reaches 

 a height of 18 ins. Any soil will suit it ; but as the plants 

 do not transplant well, it is the best to sow in good sized 

 clumps out of doors in April. 



Lupinus : The annual lupins are undeservedly neglected. 

 I think the reason is that most people have the perennial 

 varieties which are so good, and do not want both. But 

 the annual sorts are very easy to cultivate, and may be 

 sown out of doors. I find it better to sow in a frame in 

 March and plant out. They succeed in any good soil, and 

 the variety nanus may be used for summer bedding. 



Good Varieties. 

 Lupinus 



Hartwegii (mixed colours) . . . . . . 2 ft. 



Nanus (white and blue) . . . . . . f ft. 



Malope : One of the very best of Hardy Annuals, but 

 it must be well grown or it is a very poor thing. Seed 

 should be sown out of doors where the plants are to stand, 

 in early April, and it is essential that large clumps should 

 be sown, and that the seed be sown thinly. With plenty of 

 water and careful staking, they will develop into fine plants 



