RAPID FLOWER CULTURE 205 



niay become a miniature hot-house in the hands of one who has not 

 yet learned to utter the word ' failure.' We must not omit to mention 

 that the owner of such a garden, or, indeed, of any garden, will be 

 prudent to take advantage of the first fine weather to sow in the 

 open ground whatever flower or vegetable seeds should be sown at 

 that season. The frame garden can be reserved, if needful, for wet 

 weather, because it is of the utmost importance to sow a good breadth 

 of seeds in the open ground as early as possible in the month of 

 March. 



Turning from this example to the great garden, we cannot but 

 reflect how immense are the advantages to the busy gardener, who 

 has heavy work always on his hands, of this transference of labour 

 from the old system to the new. There cannot be a doubt that to 

 employers and gardeners the advantages are of equal importance ; 

 the propagation of bedders by cuttings, and of florists' flowers by 

 suckers and divisions and layers and pipings, will not, of course, be 

 suddenly and completely abolished ; but for all ordinary purposes it 

 is evident that the ends in view may be accomplished more simply, 

 more expeditiously, and more cheaply than heretofore. The pits 

 hitherto appropriated to bedders, and the like, may to a great 

 extent be liberated, and there will be no difficulty in finding for 

 them more profitable occupants. While Mushrooms and early 

 Potatoes and winter salads are in request, it will be a gain to 

 many a garden to have reduced the summer display of flowers to 

 a simple system of seed-sowing, at an expense that may be de- 

 scribed as merely nominal. 



Before dealing specifically with certain flowers, it may be advisable 

 to say a few words generally concerning the culture of Annuals 

 Hardy, Half-hardy, and Tender and also on Hardy Biennials and 

 Perennials. 



ANNUALS 



ALTHOUGH the most popular kinds of annuals are largely employed 

 in the embellishment of flower gardens, they are adapted for many 

 uses to which they have as yet never been applied. A few miscon- 

 ceptions prevail as to the relative merits of this class of plants, as, for 

 example, by some they are regarded as ' weedy ' and { short-lived,' 

 and their very cheapness, and the comparatively small amount of 

 skill required in their cultivation, tend in some degree to their detri- 

 ment in public estimation. We will not be so rash as to say that a. 



