SUMMER. 5/ 



About the prettiest annual for bedding out is Hoponaria 

 calahrica, tlie deep-Vjlue lobelia i.s another little beauty, 

 the small red nasturtium called Thom Thumb makes u 

 gay bed, and lasts long in flower ; and there is also a 

 beautiful crim son flox, Linum ruhrum, which is a fine contrast 

 of colour to the lobelia. Without going into the regular 

 science of arranging beds in coloured masses, there is still 

 room in the smallest j^arterres for planting harmonious 

 colours together, and avoiding the error of placing crimson 

 and scarlet, or blue and lilac, beside each other. Scarlet 

 geraniums are frequently planted along with yellow calceo- 

 larias or blue salvias, but I think they form a much 

 more pleasing contrast with white jacobea, or double 

 fever-few ; the grey lilac of the heliotrope also contrasts 

 well with the bright scarlet, especially when the flowers 

 are gathered for a nosegay ; but, as a matter of taste, I 

 prefer the geranium alone in a bed, or mingk-d with white 

 flowers. 



In sowing annuals where they are to remain in patches 

 in the borders, it is not easy to sow some of the small seeds 

 thinly, and some resolution is required to thin the seed- 

 lings out after they haye sprung up. It must be done, 

 however, or the flowers will be poor, scanty, and soon over ; 

 whereas in a well thinned-out bed, where the plants get air 

 and room, they will last much longer in flower, as well as 

 look much better. All that are thus weeded out need not be 

 thrown away ; some may be transplanted to other parts of 

 the border, where they will continue in bloom longer than 

 those left in the ori>:inal bed. 8ome annuals seem to have 



