68 



Gardening for Amateurs 



them as annuals is that they come into flower 

 after the border sorts are past. Although 



y 



Gaillardia, or Blanket Flower. 



the blooms are not good enough to conform 

 to the florist's standard, they are very freely 

 produced, prettily fringed, and fragrant ; 

 the colours are rich and varied. The average 

 height of the plants is 18 

 inches. The best strains of 

 Annual Carnations are Mar- 

 guerite, Grenadin, Vanguard, 

 and Giant Nice. The plants 

 with the best flowers can be 

 selected and grown a second 

 year. 



Chrysanthemum. No 

 hardy perennial has shown 

 greater improvement during 

 recent years at the hands of 

 the florist than the border 

 Chrysanthemum. It is pos- 

 sible now to obtain a delight- 

 ful display of these beautiful 

 autumn flowers in six or 

 seven months from the time 

 of sowing the seeds. The 

 single, semi-double, and double 

 sorts are produced in many 

 rich and varied colours. The 

 height of the plants is from 

 2 to 5 feet. One of the best 

 white flowers for the border 

 and cutting is the Shasta 

 Daisy, Chrysanthemum maxi- 

 mum. It is one of the easiest 

 perennials to raise from seeds 

 in spring, and this is worth 

 doing every year, as the plants 



come into flower in succession to those 

 propagated by division. Seeds of most 

 of the popular named sorts may be pur- 

 chased in separate packets, notably Mrs. C. 

 Lowthian Bell, King Edward VII., and 

 Etoile d'Anvers. 



Commelina coelestis. Growing about 

 18 inches high, this blue Spiderwort is a 

 very attractive hardy perennial. The fleshv 

 roots like a rather warm position and a well- 

 drained soil. It is a plant one often sees 

 doing well in seaside gardens. There is a 

 variety alba with white flowers. From seeds 

 sown in warmth during February flowering 

 commences during July. 



Coreopsis grandiflora. The usual treat- 

 ment is to grow this plant as a biennial, yet 

 plants can be readily raised from seeds and 

 flower in one season by sowing in warmth 

 in February. This Coreopsis is easy to grow, 

 thriving well in town gardens ; it is about 

 2| feet high. Quantities of golden -yellow 



Single Dahlias from seed. 



