192 OCTOBER 



the young plants do not require large pots, four-inch 

 or five-inch being quite big enough ; and they may 

 be staged so close as to touch each other, which 

 makes them economical of space. If the gardener 

 does not exhibit sufficient forethought to ensure 

 a provision of these flowers, and of primulas, the 

 early winter season will be bare indeed. Chrysan- 

 themums, beautiful as they are, are not sufficiently 

 satisfying to take the place of everything else, 

 and there is always a certain amount of risk 

 attending the culture of hardy annuals in pots 

 for autumn use. They may turn out well or they 

 may fail entirely. Primulas and zonal pelargoniums 

 under ordinarily careful treatment never disappoint 

 the grower. 



Best of all the primulas I like the variety called 

 the Star. The blossoms, though small, are thrown 

 well above the foliage, and they are admirable for 

 cutting, as they last in water for a fortnight. The 

 blue kind of primula sinensis, too, is indispensable, 

 and a vase or pot of it always attracts notice. The 

 seed of this is expensive to buy at our best seeds- 

 men's, but for a few pence a packet of it can be 

 purchased from some of the German growers who 

 advertise in our gardening papers. As no amount 

 of money will at present secure a true-blue colour, it 

 is hardly worth while to pay several shillings for 

 seed which is only of lavender a shade deeper than 

 Germany can supply for half a dozen pence. 



In places where beds of annuals are used for a 

 summer display the space will now be available for 

 planting for spring. Nothing is more beautiful 

 than wallflowers for this. The best, to my mind, 



