ANTIRRHINUMS 



lieeous border, whilst for cutting they are excellent, 

 providing an abundance of good spikes. The very tall 

 ones are admirably adapted for border work, where their 

 upstanding spikes, with anything from 7 to 10 inches of 

 open flowers when at their best, maice an imposing dis- 

 play, especially when planted in groups of about a dozen 

 plants of one variety. For large circular beds the tall 

 varieties make a good centre, or they may be distributed 

 over the bed with intermediates between, thus breaking 

 what might be called the monotony of uniform heights. 

 The Tom Thumbs are not suitable for cutting, but are 



I very useful for narrow borders in confined spaces, for 

 f small beds, or for the margins of larger beds otherwise 

 occupied by the taller varieties. 



In the evolution of the modem Antirrhinum crossing 

 of one colour with another has played its part, and in 

 some cases species of Antirrhinum and Linaria have been 

 utilised; but a great deal more than mere crossing has 

 been necessary, for the production of a new shade or 

 combination of colours is but the first stage ; the fixing of 

 characteristics in an Antirrhinum before it can take its 

 place as a new variety involves a great deal of patient 

 work in roguing and reselecting. Only by this means has 

 it become possible to raise from seed a distinct named 

 variety with a fair amount of certainty that the seedlings 

 will come true in form, habit, and colour. 



Formerly all named varieties had to be propagated 

 from cuttings, but thanks to the skill and care that have of 

 late years been devoted to the purpose it is now possible, 

 if we rely only upon the best strains and stocks of 

 specialists, to sow a packet of seed with an assurance that 

 a very large percentage will be true reproductions of the 

 I variety indicated by the name. This is a very great 

 l« advantage, and there can be no doubt it is largely due to 

 the practice of this natural method of propagation that 

 the excellent constitution and freedom from troublesome 



