PLANTS. 1 1 



ors gives them a pleasing effect. The Balsam, China As- 

 ters, Petunias, and many others are suitable for pot culture 

 as well as the open ground ; these annuals will always be 

 favorites with the lover of good flowers. There are many 

 annuals that are climbers: those should be transplanted 

 where they will show to the best advantage while in flower. 

 There are not less than one thousand annuals in cultivation, 

 and the list still increasing; but of late there has not been 

 many worthy of cultivation added to them, and if one half 

 of the present number were discarded there would be enough 

 left then. From the numerous lists published in the cata- 

 logues the amateur must judge for himself in his selection, 

 and by sowing seeds at different periods would enable him 

 to have annuals nearly all the year round. 



Biennials are those that flower the second year, ripen 

 their seeds, and then cease to exist. This class of flowers 

 are decidedly omimental and consist of a numerous family, 

 still not so extensive as annuals, but generally considered 

 more valuable for their exterior beauty and usefulness in 

 the flower garden. There are some biennials that flower 

 the first year, but generally they do not before the second. 

 The biennials do not require their seeds sown so early as 

 annuals. Amongst them are many florist flowers which 

 may be preserved for years by cuttings or slips from shoots 

 that have no flower buds on them. Biennials are divided 

 into classes, such as hardy, half hardy, and tender. The 

 proper time to sow their seeds, like annuals, will depend on 

 circumstances ; some so soon as ripe, that is, when they 

 flower early, and seed ripens in the early part of July, such 

 as the Sweet William, and a few others. The general 

 sowing should be in April and May ; when of sufficient 



