524 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



tion of hardy perennials. The growing 

 popularity and increased usefulness of hardy 

 perennials is sufficient evidence of the'r 

 value, if any is needed. Very little care is 

 required with perennials after they are 

 planted, other than keeping them free from 

 weeds and the dividing of the roots when 

 they become too large. The offsets may be 

 planted in other desirable spots or given to 

 friends. 



SOME GOOD ANNUAIvS. 



The choice of the professional florist in 

 annuals is limited. The Aster is probably 

 entitled to first place, because they are pro- 

 duced in any desired color, on long stems, 

 and they can be used with their own foliage. 

 If seeds are sown from time to time during 

 the summer the blooms can be had up to the 

 time of hard frost. They are used for all 

 purposes on account of their various colors 

 and lasting qualities. The aster carries as 

 many desirable points for cutting purposes 

 as any other flower in the garden. 



The next choice would probably be Mig- 

 nonette, principally on account of the odor 

 of the flowers, and their adaptability for all 

 purposes. The Sweet Peas would likely 

 come next, and for the same reasons as l:he 

 Mignonette. Centaureas, or Sweet Sultans, 

 are beautiful, large, and sweet scented flow- 

 ers that should be more grown. They are 

 produced freely on long stems, are verv 

 easily grown, and their lasting qualiUes 

 make them ideal for cutting. Their height 

 is two to three feet. 



The Ten-week Stocks are probably more 

 grown than any other annual. No plant of 

 its size will produce more bloom or is better 

 suited for cutting for the border. They 

 are extensively grown by the commercial 

 men for cutting during the winter. Sweet 

 Scabious, or Morning Bride, of late years, 

 have been very much improved in size and 

 in the colour of their blooms. The stems 

 are ideal entitling these plants to rank 

 among the first on our list as cut flowers. 



They are produced in all colours, and grow 

 to about three feet, in height. The hardiness 

 and very free blooming qualities of the 

 candytuft, even when sown in the open bor- 

 der, claim for it a first place among annuals. 

 The flowers are produced in several colors, 

 the plants being nine inches to a foot high, 

 good to cut, and suitable for the front row 

 in the border. 



Celosia Plumossus, Plumed Cockscomb, 

 has ibeen much improved lately, and those 

 wishing color can obtain it in these beauti- 

 ful plants. They are choice objects when 

 planted in a small round bed in mixed 

 colors or used as a line in a ribbon border. 

 They are grand to cut for autumn coloring 

 effects when used with the colored leaves of 

 other plants. They can also be used as 

 dried flowers and can be had in almost any 

 shade of color. The plants are one to two 

 feet high. Rudbeckia Tricolor Superba is 

 an annual that has taken a prominent place 

 of late as a cut flower. Its growth is very 

 simple and the plants are worthy of a place 

 in any garden. 



The annual Gaillardias are among the 

 most charming flowers to cut and for the 

 border on account of the long duration of 

 their blooming, which lasts from early sum- 

 mer until they are cut down by hard frost. 

 They stand wind and rain better than any 

 other flower we are acquainted with. Their 

 quick growth and hardy nature commend 

 them to all lovers of flowers. 



There is no annual flower more popular 

 than Nasturtiums. They are a magnificent 

 class which presents all the richest and 

 most varied shades found in flowers. The 

 blooms are much used for table decorations. 

 The taller varieties cannot be surpassed as a 

 trellis covering, and the dwarf varieties are 

 to be found in every window box and hang- 

 ing basket. If long lengths are cut from 

 the taller ones in the fall and placed in a 

 glass celery dish full of water they will root 

 in the parlor window and be a thing of 



