36 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENERj 



annuals, and allowing the plants to flower the same summer. 

 They are then left in the ground and flower the following 

 summer and then die. I do not, however, advise this 

 treatment. 



Ordinary biennials are better sown in June and July. 

 When large enough, prick off 6-9 ins. apart each way on 

 ground which has been well dug up and manured. They 

 should be watered and cared for, and in exposed districts 

 a cold frame should be put over the beds as a means of 

 protection in winter. In the spring, plant them out in well 

 manured borders i ft. apart each way, and keep them well 

 weeded. In the early summer when they are flowering, 

 water such as Canterbury Bells and Sweet Williams freely, 

 and give occasional doses of weak liquid manure. Sweet 

 Williams and Canterbury Bells should on no account be 

 used for spring bedding, as they are not over when the 

 summer bedding has to be put down. Their place is in the 

 mixed border or in beds to themselves. 



Plants to be used for spring bedding must be sown in 

 mid- June in well prepared end beds, and it is advisable to 

 prick them out 5 ins. apart at the earliest possible moment 

 into ground well cultivated and manured. They should 

 be made to grow quickly in the summer, or they will not 

 be fit for planting at the right time. Never let them surfer 

 for want of water, and if in August they are not getting on, 

 give a weak dose of nitrate of soda ( oz. of the nitrate to 

 a gallon or so of water). Or give clear soot water. Pinch 

 the tops out of the wallflowers, if need be, to induce them to 

 be bushy, and keep the beds free from weeds. 



In the first week in October pull up the summer bedding 

 plants and dig up the soil in the borders. Some old hot-bed 

 manure should be dug in well down, and if bulbs are to be 

 planted also, mix some sand in with the soil unless it is 

 already sandy. If the beds are dry, as they sometimes 

 are in the autumn, water freely the day before, and also 

 water the bedding plants. Then on the next day lift the 

 plants carefully, and plant them firmly in the prepared 

 borders. Alyssum sexatile, Arabis, and forget-me-nots 



