92 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN". 



bed as if they were set by hand ; a bed with equal numbers 

 of the two was gay, of couse, but appeared as nothing to 

 the striking effect of the former mixture. A less number 

 of the blue does not answer at all. I hope every one Avho 

 delights in the simple combinations that can be produced 

 by very simple flowers, will try a bed of these two pretty 

 annuals next spring ; the seeds of both may be sown any 

 day in August. Those that I saw were from self-sown 

 seeds last July, but if we had had a hard winter they must 

 have perished, as they were strong plants by the end of 

 October." In planting beds of annuals, the distances 

 between each plant depend on its habit of growth ; thus 

 while nine inches are recommended above as the proper 

 distance between the JVemophilas, three inches are sufficient 

 for Lobelia rcwiosa, six inches for Lobelia gracilis and San- 

 vitalia procumbens, four inches for Clarkia pulchella, while 

 the pretty little Saponaria Calabrica may be j^lanted nine 

 inches apart, and Convolvulus minor and Eschscholtzia, ten. 

 Another branch of the culture of flowers that has a 

 charm about it, felt alike by gardeners and amateurs, is 

 striking cuttings. The pleasure of success is greater than in 

 merely seeing seeds springing up, the plants are more per- 

 manent possessions, and w^e feel more as if our own skill 

 liad brought about the successful result. Although the 

 gentle warmth of a hotbed is essential to the striking root 

 of many cuttings, and an advantage to all, both in point of 

 security and celerity, yet there are many of our favourites 

 that will take root in the open border, or under a hand- 

 glass ; so that, with a little care and attention to keeping 



