Round the Year in the Garden 



Valerian are among the border perennials that blossom 

 well the first summer from seed sown now in warmth. 



Dahlias are quite easily grown from seed sown now, 

 and various kinds may be tried, Single, Cactus, Pompon, 

 Decorative, Paeony -flowered, Collarette, etc. The Single, 

 Decorative, Collarette and Paeony-flowered sorts are 

 most satisfactory in the garden, for they yield an 

 abundance of flowers. The seeds of the double var- 

 ieties will produce a proportion of single flowers, and 

 among the single and semi-double sorts there will be 

 blossoms of faulty and unattractive colouring ; but, if 

 good seed is obtained, disappointing flowers will be few. 

 Chrysanthemums come excellently from seed, and the 

 plants produce an astonishing display of blossom in 

 autumn ; they may be grown in pots throughout the 

 summer, a method that necessitates much labour in 

 watering, or, in May, they can be planted out of doors, 

 repotting to take place in September. Verbenas are 

 charming plants to grow from seed, and there are now 

 varieties of distinct and pleasing colouring, packets of 

 which can be obtained separately. Pansies and Violas 

 for summer show may be raised from seed now. Espe- 

 cial attention should be directed to Viola cornuta and its 

 variety papilio ; they yield a profusion of flowers through- 

 out a long season, providing the spent ones are picked off 

 to prevent the formation of seeds. The blooms have not 

 that rounded form characteristic of the tufted bedding 

 Pansies ; they are narrower and more deeply cleft. Petu- 

 nias are not favourites with every garden lover, yet the 

 plants are useful owing to their long season of bloom, and, 

 if seeds of a good strain are obtained, the colours are very 

 showy. 



The "Winter Cherry (Solanum capsicastrum) is a bright 

 little plant for the greenhouse or room during winter, 

 when laden with its brilliant orange-red berries. Seeds 

 sown now will provide decorative plants by the end of 

 the year. Those already possessing plants should cut 



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