ON CANDYTUFTS 49 



the clumps show serious signs of decay. It is, however, 

 only fair to say that culture has much to do with dura- 

 tion of bloom. Plants with plenty of room, growing 

 in fertile and moist soil, flower much longer than others 

 that are crowded together in poor dry soil. The latter 

 go to seed prematurely in sheer self-defence, anxious 

 to perpetuate their kind before they seek an early 

 grave. 



Other Candytufts besides the Giant White Hyacinth- 

 flowered, and other annuals besides the Candytuft, re- 

 spond with equal generosity to such little labour and 

 care as are involved in digging soil deeply, manuring it 

 if poor (but not heavily, especially for Nasturtiums), pre- 

 paring a fine surface tilth, sowing thinly, thinning out, 

 and watering in dry weather. The double pink Clarkia 

 and the double pink Godetia will rival the Candytuft in 

 length of blooming ; and both will come in admirably 

 for vase decoration. The touch of orange at the base 

 of some of the Godetias makes them associate very well 

 with salmon-coloured Sweet Peas, like Henry Eckford, 

 in wide bowls. Larkspurs are long lasters, but it is 

 important to get a dwarf strain, as the tall are very 

 straggly, and apt to look gawky and untidy. Poppies 

 are not, in the main, lasting flowers ; their value lies in 

 the brilliant blaze of colour which they make at mid- 

 summer ; but the doubles are not nearly so transient as 

 the singles, and the flowers are nearly as large and rich 

 as Paeonies. The Eschscholtzias, with their orange 

 flowers and finely cut leaves, are long lasters. So are 

 the Rose Mallows (Lavateras), and the blue Love-in-a- 

 mist (Nigella). Not so durable, but free growers, free 

 bloomers, and bright in colour, are the Coreopsis, 

 Leptosiphons, Linarias, Linums, Lupins, Nemophilas, 

 Silenes, and Virginian Stocks. 



D 



