168 BRITISH FLORAL DECORATION 



essential that they are put into water immediately 

 they are cut, as being of a soft and succulent nature 

 they soon collapse, and are not easily revived. 



The majority of annuals are already so well 

 known that my list is confined to a few of the 

 newer varieties or the less-known ones. 



Aquilegias. These have been developed marvellously by 

 selection during the last few years. Most of the 

 leading seedsmen, such as Messrs. Veitch, Dobbie, or 

 Sutton, have carefully selected strains of this truly 

 beautiful annual. There is scarcely a flower that can 

 be called to mind that is more beautiful than the 

 Columbine, and I look upon it as the Orchid of the 

 Annual world : it possesses nearly every good point 

 for the florist, colour, lightness, and length of stem. 

 There is no doubt that it would be still more 

 popular if it were not for the fact that it is some- 

 what difficult to pack. 



Asters. Comet, Ostrich Plume, Early Wonder (single), and 

 Salmon Queen. 



Cornflowers. The Bridegroom, a beautiful heliotrope-coloured 

 variety. 



Clarkia elegans. Salmon Queen. A perfectly lovely shade of 

 salmon-pink. 



Cosmea. New early flowering varieties. 



Delphinium. Blue Butterfly. 



Gaillardia. Picta Lorenziana. 



Godetias. Duchess of Fife , Schamini fl. pi. 



Gypsophila elegans carminea \ These are invaluable 



grandiflora alba V for mixing with all 



rosea J other flowers. 



