August 



AUGUST 



Annuals and Biennials, Hardy. In the majority of English 

 gardens the spring display of bulbous flowers is too often followed 

 by a dreary blank, which is almost unredeemed by a touch of colour, 

 except that afforded by the late Tulips and a few other flowers 

 which are comparatively unimportant. The very brilliance of the 

 Crocuses, Hyacinths, and early Tulips serves to throw into relief 

 the comparative barrenness which follows. And the contrast is 

 rendered all the more striking by the cheerful spring days. It is at 

 this juncture that annuals and biennials from autumn sowings light 

 up the garden with welcome masses and bands of fresh and vivid 

 colouring. They are then so valuable that it is surprising they are not 

 more commonly grown, especially as the cost of seed is very trifling. 

 Even the transitory character of some of them is an element in 

 their favour, for they do not interfere with the summer bedding 

 arrangements. Such flowers as Pansy and Viola, however, produce 

 a brilliant and long-continued show of bloom. 



The following list contains the varieties which are best adapted 

 for the purpose : 



Alyssum, Sweet Larkspur, dwarf rocket 



Antirrhinum Leptosiphon 



Asperula azurea setosa Limnanthes Douglasii 



Calandrinia umbellata Linaria maroccana 



Calendula officinalis fl. pi. Nemophila 



Candytuft Papaver glaucum 



Chrysanthemum inodorum Phacelia tanacetifolia , 



plenissimum Poppy, Shirley 



Chrysanthemum segetum gr. Saponaria calabrica 

 Clarkia Scabious, German 



Collinsia Silene 



Coreopsis Sweet Pea 



Cornflower Sweet Sultan 



Erysimum Venus' Looking-glass, purple 



Eschscholtzia Virginian Stock 



Gilia tricolor Viscaria 



Godetia Whitlavia grandiflora 



Iceland Poppy 



Sow thinly, not later than the middle of the month in cold dis- 

 tricts, but September will be early enough in the Southern counties, 



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