March Sowing and Planting 



ease. The hotbed ought to be from 2 to 3 feet thick, 

 and a frame be placed upon it. 



In the Greenhouse 



This is a busy month in the greenhouse, and the 

 available space will be taxed to the utmost. There are 

 half-hardy annuals to sow, seedlings of which will be 

 planted out of doors next month. Of these the Summer 

 Cypress (Kochia scoparia) is one of the worthiest; it 

 forms a miniature tree of exquisite green and in late 

 summer turns red and brown. It is best to put the 

 seedlings singly in small pots when they are trans- 

 ferred from the seed box. Stocks and Asters are, of 

 course, invaluable half - hardy annuals, and the pros- 

 pective grower has a wide choice of types and varieties 

 exhibiting a considerable range of colour. The seedlings 

 may be raised in boxes of soil placed in a frame or green- 

 house. When large enough to handle they are best 

 transplanted to a bed of soil made up in a frame, there 

 to remain until planting out time late in April. Phlox 

 Drummondi is another favourite among half - hardy 

 annuals, and a packet of mixed seed gives varied 

 colours. Many gardeners treat Nemesia as a half-hardy 

 annual, though seeds may be sown out of doors early 

 in April. The flowers show considerable range of 

 colour among shades of orange and yellow, but the 

 blue is loveliest of all. The Butterfly Flower (Schizan- 

 thus), Salpiglossis and African and French Marigold are 

 other favourites. 



Annuals for the Greenhouse. There are many 

 charming flowers among annuals suitable for growing 

 in pots in the greenhouse, and as they help to provide 

 blossom when it is likely otherwise to be scarce, some 

 ought certainly to be grown. The Torenia of which 

 there are two kinds, Fournieri, white and violet-coloured, 

 and Bailloni, yellow and purple is very attractive. 



