Gardening for Amateurs 



67 



majus or tall varieties, which grow 2\ to 3 

 feet high, and are suitable for beds and 

 borders ; the intermediate or half-dwarf 

 kinds, 1J feet high, the best sorts for summer 

 bedding ; and the dwarf or Tom Thumb 

 varieties, 6 to 9 inches high, popular for 

 small beds and edging. In addition to 

 packets of seeds in mixed colours a very 

 large business is done by seed-growers with 

 seeds of all three sections in separate colours. 

 From a February sowing the plants continue 

 in bloom from early in July until cut by 



named varieties of Michaelmas Daisy, so 

 popular for border decoration and cutting 

 in late summer and autumn. The seed 

 grower has paid particular attention to them, 

 of late years, and seeds are readily obtain- 

 able. Seeds sown in the warm greenhouse in 

 February will produce flowers in autumn that 

 will be equal to some of the named sorts. 

 The first flowers on the dwarf plants open in 

 August, while others continue to open until 

 Christmas, should the weather be favourable. 

 Carnation. The introduction of what is 



A collection of Border Chrysanthemums. 



frosts. Antirrhinums will grow in sun or 

 half-shade, and thrive in most soils. 



Aquilegia. By raising the Columbine 

 or Aquilegia from seeds sown in warmth 

 early in the year, a useful succession of this 

 popular old-fashioned flower is secured. 

 The seedlings commence to bloom in late 

 summer and continue until October. Seeds 

 may 1> purchased in separate shades or in 

 mixture. The long-spurred sorts are very 

 effective in beds and borders, and most 

 useful for cutting. The average height is 

 from 2 to 3 feet. 



Aster. Everyone is familiar with the 



known as an annual strain of border Carna- 

 tions has proved of great value to amateur 

 gardeners. It is easy to have the plants 

 in flower six months after sowing seeds in 

 warmth. Seeds sown in January or Feb- 

 ruary will give plants to flower from July 

 and August on\\anU. As 80 per cent, of 

 the plants produce double flowers, one can 

 have a brilliant display in beds and borders, 

 and quantities of flowers for cutting. Though 

 most growers take up the plants having 

 single flowers, a vase filled with these is by 

 no means unattractive. A point in favour 

 of raising Carnations from seeds and treating 



