104 ANNUALS, HARDY AND TENDER. \^May, 



" When the eye or disc is shown in the full-blown flower, 

 it is also a striking defect. 



" The side view of a first rate flower should be that of a 

 perfect hemisphere. 



" There is, perhaps, no example of this perfection of form 

 without some slight deficiency. The Countess of Liverpool 

 • is one of the nearest to a perfect flower in this respect. 



^'2. Color. — This is looked upon by florists as an inferior 

 consideration to form, though it is usually the first to attract 

 the notice of common observers. 



'^In flowers of one color, or selfs, the color ought to be 

 bright and distinct, without any breaking or blotching. 

 When there are stripes, mottlings, shadings, or edgings, 

 these should be clear and uniformly marked, the colors dis- 

 tinct without clouding or running. 



^'3. Size. — Although large flowers with superior form 

 and clear distinct colors are esteemed superior to small 

 flowers with the same properties, yet size alone is looked 

 upon by florists as nothing when form and color are defec- 

 tive.'^ 



Particular care should be taken with seeds, especially such 

 as are saved from fine sorts. If they are sown about the 

 first of April, on a gentle hot-bed, or in a green-house in 

 plots, filled with light rich earth, covering the seeds about 

 three-eighths of an inch, and when they have made leaves, 

 pot them off singly into small pots, till time for planting out, 

 or where a quantity is grown, three plants may be put into 

 one pot, and thus planted, and when they bloom the bad can 

 be pulled up, leaving those of good character to stand for 

 farther trial : none should be kept but such as come up to 

 the above rules; and if they do not do so the first year, there 

 is little hope of their being more perfect the second. 



ANNUALS, HARDY AND TENDER. 



By the first of the month, finish sowing all hardy Annuals 

 and Biennials ; and about the middle of the month all those 

 that are tropical. The weather being now warm, they will 

 vegetate in a few days or weeks. Attend to thinning of those 

 that are too thick, giving gentle waterings to such as are 

 weak in dry weather. Those that have been protected in 



