Gardening for Amateurs 



441 



pleasing for beds and groups in the borders 

 and are also valuable for cutting. Few 

 annuals produce a succession of flowers more 

 freely. Sow the seeds outside in April 

 where the plants are to bloom. 



Limnanthes Douglasii. One of the 

 hardy annuals one associates with the old- 

 fashioned garden ; it is equally at, home in 

 the town border and the 

 country cottage plot. It 

 grows 6 inches high, and 

 the fragrant yellow and white 

 flowers are much sought 

 after by bees. Sow seeds 

 late in March or early in 

 April out of doors. Limnan- 

 thes Douglasii makes a very 

 pretty edging, and is also 

 pretty in small patches along 

 the front of the mixed flower 

 border. 



Linaria (Toadflax). The 

 annual Toadflaxes are showy, 

 slender-growing plants, giving 

 a touch of daintiness to the 

 front of the flower borders, 

 where they should be grown 

 in clumps. Sow the seeds in 

 April, preferably where the 

 plants are to flower. Seeds 

 are sold in separate colours 

 and in mixture. Linaria 

 maroccana Excelsior (special 

 mixture), 1 foot high, con- 

 tains numerous rich colours. 

 L. reticulata aureocarminea 

 (crimson and gold), 9 inches 

 high, is very effective in a 

 mass, so also is White Pearl 

 or Snow White, 12 inches 

 high, the small pure white 

 flowers suggest miniature 

 Snapdragons ; there are also pink, man vi- 

 and yellow-flowered sorts. I,, bipartite. 

 lilac-purple and yellow, vars. alba and 

 splendida, deep purple, all 12 inches high, 

 are other showy soils. 



Linum grandiflorum rubrum (Scarlet 

 Flax). One of the most brilliant of all 

 hardy annuals. The rich red flowers on 

 slender stems find hosts of admirers. This 

 is one of the annuals that benefit by being 

 sown rather thickly ; it grows from 12 to 



18 inches high. Sow the seeds preferably 

 where the plants are to flower. 



Lobelia ramosa. A delightful blue- 

 flowered half-hardy annual suitable for 

 beds, and particularly useful for window 

 boxes or hanging baskets for verandas and 

 porches. Sow the seeds in a heated green- 

 house during February or March. The 



The Rose Mallow (Lavatera rosea). 



plants should be set fairly close together, 

 about thirty being none too many for a 

 hanging basket of moderate >!/.<>. The 

 average height is 1 foot. To make the 

 plants bushy it is worth while taking out 

 the tips of the young shoots when 3 inches 

 or so high. In addition to the popular sort 

 with large blue flowers there are varieties with 

 white, pale blue and rose-coloured blooms, 



Lupinus (Lupine). These plants are 

 happy in the soil of most garden beds and 



