86 Gardening in Egypt. 



to handle, care being taken not to injure the roots, 

 and to have a little soil attached to them, and plenty 

 of water given. The late afternoon is preferable to 

 the morning for placing out the young plants, as they 

 have time to recover before the sun reaches them, but 

 if a showery day can be chosen, so much the better. 



Antirrhinums (Dragons' Mouths) should be sown 

 in August or September if flowers are desired in the 

 early spring, while a later sowing will produce plants 

 that will flower through the summer. 



Petunias, Nicotiana affinis (The Tobacco), Zinnia 

 elegans^ Linaria^ Stocks, Salvias, Perennial Sunflower, 

 and Canna indica are useful for beds for summer 

 flowering. Eschscholtzia californica, Tegates erecta^ 

 Tropceolum majus^ Lobelia, Linum grandiflorurn y 

 Larkspur, Mignonette, Nigella, Silene, Portulaca 

 grandiflora, Shirley Poppies, Verbenas, Helichrysum, 

 Calliopsis, Scabiosa, and many others may be sown 

 in patches in the open ground for spring and 

 early summer. 



Some varieties, such as Gaillardia (which are use- 

 ful for cutting during the winter) Calliopsis, Sca- 

 biosa, &c., become perennials, but the large majority 

 gradually die off as the summer sun gains power. 



Sweet Peas may be sown thinly in pots and 

 afterwards planted out if required for border decoration. 



Ornamental grasses are sometimes difficult to grow 

 by themselves if sown too thickly, but they will often 

 grow well if mixed and sown broadcast with Shirley 

 poppies or any light-growing annual. 



BALCONY GARDENING. 



In town houses, where plants are cultivated on 

 balconies, they will be found to thrive, and flower 

 much better if grown in boxes rather than in pots, 

 for by the latter method the young roots are destroyed 

 by being scorched by the sun as soon as they reach 

 the sides of the pot, and unhealthy plants are conse- 

 quently seen. If, however, boxes are used, their roots 

 can grow unchecked, and a clean and tidy balcony 



