28 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



housed in a frame all the Winter, and it is best sown under 

 cover in the Spring and duly planted out in a sunny position. 



CENTAUREA 



" Corn Floivcr" and " Sweet Sultan " 



The somewhat large family of Ceiitaureas {CoinpositcE) con- 

 tains a number of good garden subjects, and a few of these 

 are popular Hardy Annuals. I suppose every one knows the 

 Cornflower of the grain-fields, and most people with an 

 interest in gardening know the elegant Sweet Sultans. For 

 their value as cut flowers these two kinds of Annuals are 

 worthy of wide popularity. 



Centaurca Cyanus, the Common Cornflower, Bluet, or 

 Blue-bottle, is a native plant, about 3 feet high, with pretty, 

 bright blue flowers. This has been taken in hand by the 

 seedsmen and improved in habit and size of flower, and 

 altered in colour. Pure white, deep blue, light blue, rose, 

 and also double varieties are now offered and come quite 

 true, consequently they are dependable for certain colour 

 effects. C. Cyanus minor is a low-growing type, about a 

 foot high, and there are blue and rose coloured varieties 

 of it known respectively as Victoria Blue and Victoria 

 Rose. 



Tiie Cornflowers are largely grown for market, and for 

 this purpose are usually sown in Autumn in drills, and 

 lightly thinned in due course. The flowers are picked early 

 the following Summer, with long stems, and sold in close 

 bunches, and few flowers are sold so cheaply. For garden 

 purposes two or more sowings may be necessary, and in 

 any good, well-worked garden soil they may be sown in 

 September, and thinned out a foot or so apart when the 

 seedlings are of fair size. Another sowing in March or 



