28 THE GARDEN 



take place in June and last through July, after which the tall flower spikes 

 may be cut down. It is possible to have a second blooming if the plants 

 are strong, along about early September, if such has been done. 



The tall varieties are best seen when used as backgrounds in the herb- 

 aceous border, and all varieties are used best in clumps or large groups 

 of separate colors. 



The plants require loamy soil, and, as "a rule, a sunny exposure, with 

 plenty of winter protection. 



LOVE-IN-A-MIST 



"Love-in-a-mist," or "nigella," as the botanists call it, is without any 

 manner of doubt a bewitching addition to any garden. Flowering, as it 

 does, in the very hottest period of the hot months, when so many of our 

 other perennials and annuals are long past their "beauty time," and gone 

 to seed, and when one has to look carefully about the garden to find a fresh 

 flower, a flower that as yet shows no sign of the withering effects of the 

 scorching sun, such a flower cannot but be welcome, old-fashioned or not. 



Of all the annuals planted, I really believe that the nigella requires the 

 least looking after, and, certainly, very little water. One might almost 

 say that it is capable of taking care of itself, so well does it seem to get 

 along neglected. 



Sow your seeds in open ground in the richest soil you have in your 

 garden, choosing a location, either a sunny stretch behind the rockery or a 

 bed that does not need to be kept immaculately tidy. You cannot have 

 any neat or tidy beds where "love-in-a-mist" is growing. The wealth of 

 foliage, although the leaves are nothing more than threads, weighs down 

 the plant, which has the slenderest of stalks, so that the plant itself will 

 sprawl all over the place, do what you may. To tie up the stems spoils the 

 whole effect. 



Bloom lasts for four or five weeks from August on. 



CARE OF THE LAWN 



From early spring onward the lawn will need careful attention. Spots 

 will appear where the heavy rains have made uneven surfaces, little hollows 

 here and little humps over there, all marring the smooth sweep of green. 

 These bad places will appear in the most carefully wintered lawns, showing 

 up as soon as the straw and manure has been raked off. 



This top dressing, by the way, should never be allowed to remain on 

 too long, else considerable harm will be done. A few good rains will have 

 carried down plenty of nitrogenous material from this top mulching. But 

 enough is enough. If the sun should warm up unduly, the amount of heat 

 generated beneath this dressing is simply amazing, and spells ruin to the 

 turf. Large patches of yellowish-green will apepar, showing where the 

 steaming took place. As the first grass is always very bright and green, 

 the contrast formed by the discolored spots is not inviting. 



Prevention is better than cure, so take warning. 



To mend the hollows, the best plan is to lift the sod above, level up the 

 hollow with some loamy sand, and perhaps a spadeful of manure, pound all 

 down well with the back of, the spade, or by m^ans of a flat board nailed 

 to the end of a short beam, making the whole surface of the earth smooth 

 and level and firm, then replace the sod. Keep these spots well watered, 

 giving them an occasional good soaking through the hot spells; by this plan 

 the mended spaces will not look patchy, a thing which often takes placs. 

 especially if new sod had to be added. By using the old sod it will be of th« 

 same texture as the rest of the lawn, a thing not possible when fresh sods 

 have to be brought from the fields, and often requiring a whole season's 



