VALUE OF ANNUALS 



3 



A little consideration will show that the sphere of useful- 

 ness of Annuals is much wider than at first sight appears. 

 So far as the Flower garden is concerned, and the term Flower 

 garden is here used in its widest sense, their value is more 

 recognised every year. The plants exhibit such different 

 heights, habits, and colours that they afford ample scope for 

 providing bold effects and permit the planting of whole 

 borders or large beds. In some of the larger gardens I have 

 seen Annuals used exclusively for decorating a special portion 

 of the Flower garden, and with good effect. In other instances 

 they are used in conjunction with Perennials to complete 

 certain colour effects, and right well do they play their part, 

 for whether it is a red, a blue, a yellow, a purple, or a white 

 border that is desired, it can scarcely be produced over any 

 considerable period without their aid. 



The Herbaceous Border is a great feature in present-day 

 gardening ; of various sizes, it is found in practically every 

 establishment. But in the maintenance of such a border the 

 Annual flowers often play a by no means unimportant part. 

 When the early flowers are over, especially those of bulbous 

 plants, there are gaps not easily filled with anything save 

 Annuals, therefore as fill-ups and stop-gaps they serve a very 

 useful purpose. 



To the fragrance of the garden they contribute their full 

 share, and one has only to think of the sweetness of the 

 Stocks, Mignonette, Candytuft, Sweet Peas, and Nycterinia to 

 appreciate this fact. 



Without the help of Annuals it would be a very difficult 

 matter indeed to beautify a quite new and bare garden, 

 supposing the garden to be one attached to a suburban villa 

 that becomes ready for occupation at the end of March. 

 Summer bedding plants could be used but they would prove 

 costly, and, for the most part^ uninteresting, whereas Annuals 

 can be purchased for a comparatively small sum, and they 



