AUGUST 349 



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 tran- 

 sitory 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 Leptosiphon androsaceus 



Asperula azurea setosa Limnanthes Douglasii 



Calandrinia grandi flora Nemophila 



Calendula officinalis fl. pi. Nigella, double dwarf 



Candytuft *Pansy 

 Centaurea Cyanus minor Phacelia tanacetifolia 



Chrysanthemum segetum gr. Saponaria calabrica 



Clarkia Scabious, German 



Collinsia Silene 



^Coreopsis tinctoria Sweet Pea 



Erysimum Venus's Looking-glass, purple 



Eschscholtzia *Viola 

 Eucharidiurn concinnum Virginian Stock 



Gilia tricolor Viscaria 



Godetia, Duchess of Albany Whitlavia grandiflora 



Godetia, Lady Albemarle *Xeranthemum. 

 Larkspur, dwarf rocket 



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

 tricts, but September will be early enough in the southern counties. 

 Drills are preferable to broadcasting, as the beds are more easily 

 weeded and kept in order. Those preceded by an asterisk should be 

 sown under a south wall or other sheltered situation, and be trans- 

 planted to flowering quarters during open weather early in the new year. 

 Transplanting must be resorted to if the plants are to be flowered in 

 heavy soil ; but on light, rich land, sow where they are intended to 

 bloom. Thin the rows early, so that the plants may become stout 

 and hard before winter overtakes them. 



ASTERS for indoor decoration should now be lifted from beds or 



