WHO'S WHO AMONG THE ANNUALS 193 



be admitted to choice situations, but splendid for waste places, 

 where it perpetuates itself. There is a pale-yellow sort. 

 Asperula azurea var. setosa, h. a., one foot. Blue Woodruff. 



A charming responsive little plant, which cheerfully defies the 

 drought and puts up, if necessary, with a poor soil and shade. 

 Bears heads of clear lavender-blue flowers on stiff stems. Leaves 

 in whorls. Pleasantly fragrant. 



Callistephus hortensis, h. h. a., six inches to three feet. China 

 Aster. 



Beautiful and indispensable flowers for the late summer and 

 autumn, the seeds of which are best started indoors, or in a frame, 

 and planted out in May when all danger from frost is past. They 

 like a light soil, deeply dug and well manured, and should be 

 watered in dry weather. 



There are many fine types. I like best the tall branching sorts 

 known as Giant Comet, Ostrich Feather, and Paeony, which grow 

 as tall as twenty inches. The Victoria Asters are pyramidal in 

 shape and bear countless blossoms with overlapping, recurved 

 petals. There is another beautiful sort of rather recent introduc- 

 tion, with narrow "channelled" petals that are twisted. Single- 

 flowered Asters have lately come into favour and are very pretty. 

 The prettiest colours are shell-pink, pale lavender, white, and 

 strong purple. 



We tried last year, with great success, a very weak solution of 

 Paris Green for the voracious aster beetle. It did not injure the 

 plants and was fatal to the beetle. 

 Antirrhinum Majus, h. a., six inches to three feet. Snapdragon. 



These are the best and most invaluable of annuals. In mild 

 climates and occasionally here in sheltered places, or in the joints 

 of walls, they are perennial. For early bloom the seeds should be 

 started under glass in February and March. They flower all 

 summer and autumn and cover the widest range of colour. The 

 flame-coloured ones are particularly splendid, and also those de- 

 scribed as "apricot" and "chamois-rose." Shell-pink and coral- 

 pink, " old " pink and rose are lovely, also the pure white, blood-red^ 

 and clear yellow. They come in three heights; tall, medium, and 

 dwarf. The medium sorts are the best for general purposes. The 



