2 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



not visited the great seed-growing districts of our own 

 country, not to mention those of France, Germany and the 

 United States, or who have not had opportunities of inspect- 

 ing a seed warehouse at the busiest time of the seedsmen's 

 year. The cultivation of Annual Flowers for seed purposes 

 is a great and increasing business, and if it were possible tn 

 obtain figures showing the capital invested, the area under 

 cultivation, and the amount of labour employed, these in- 

 formative details would be very interesting. 



Ever since the publication of the first seed catalogue, the 

 cleverest horticulturists have devoted their attention to the 

 improvement of Annuals, and in modern times, with the 

 whole world laid under tribute, and with rapid communica- 

 tion between all parts, the advance is systematic and striking. 

 Selection and cross-fertilisation have improved some species 

 well-nigh out of knowledge, whilst hybridisation has given 

 us new races of great beauty. Sweet Peas alone afford a 

 remarkable instance of what can be done by selection and 

 cross-fertilisation even in a quarter of a century. 



Patient work has not only given us Annuals very distinct 

 from the type species, but it has secured a high percentage 

 of fixity in the colour of the flowers and habit of growth. 

 These qualities are great boons, as they enable the owner of 

 a garden to produce the colour effects he or she desires, and 

 to avoid colours that are undesirable for the scheme in view. 

 It is usual to place great confidence in the seedsmen in these 

 matters, and the trust is but rarely misplaced. We may 

 choose tall, intermediate, or dwarf strains of many of the 

 popular Hardy and Half-hardy Annuals, and be quite certain 

 that when we plant out our seedlings it will not be the fault 

 of the seedsman if, where we wished for a s^-ain suitable for 

 either edging or carpeting a bed or border, .e have plants of 

 tall or intermediate habit. The fault will be most likely due 

 to our own carelessness. 



