88 LITTLE GARDENS 
America, red and white; Jeannie Gordon, distinct rose and white ; 
Helen Pierce, marbled blue and white; Gracie Greenwood, Queen 
of Spain, and Sybil Eckford, various soft shades of buff and rose ; 
Phenomenal, Lottie Eckford, and Evelyn Hemus, picotee edged : 
Princess of Wales and Marbled Blue, striped and flaked. 
Many new varieties are exhibited and put into commerce every 
year ; the above list may be taken as consisting of those of proved 
merit. 
HARDY AND HALF HARDY ANNUALS 
Hardy annuals are most useful flowers for the little garden, for they 
come into bloom in about three months from seed sown out of doors. 
Common examples of hardy annuals are Candytuft, Mignonette, and 
Shirley Poppies. Seed is sown from the middle of March to the 
end of April if a succession of bloom is wanted. If one wishes to 
have a brilliant display, at one time, rather than a less gorgeous 
show over a longer period, seed may be sown in the middle of 
March to have the plants in bloom by the middle of July. From 
seed put in towards the end of April, the plants would not be at 
their best until late July and early August. Thus it is a simple 
matter to have the plants in bloom at a given date. Most people 
fail to grow annuals well because the seeds are sown far too thickly 
and the seedlings are not thinned out properly. 
Most annuals would be seen at their best some 6 or 9 inches from 
each other, yet how seldom do they get half this space in which to 
grow! The reward would be found in more vigorous plants that 
would give finer flowers throughout a longer period! With many 
hardy annuals I have obtained the best results by sowing the seed 
in acold framein March, thinning out the seedlings and growing them 
on until between 1 inch and 2 inches tall. Then they are carefully 
taken up without damaging the roots to any appreciable extent, and 
put out in the border where they are to bloom. Thus they make 
rapid progress. Naturally in replanting them one gives each plenty 
of room in which to develop. It is astonishing how most annuals 
will spread out and make bushy little plants if only they have room 
enough. When this is the case they grow sturdy and strong, and 
give far greater satisfaction than twice the number of plants on the 
same area would do. It is as well to know that a few hardy annuals 
resent disturbance at the root, and to attempt to transplant them is 
to court failure in their cultivation. Perhaps the two most notable 
examples are 
Mignonette and Poppies.—Both should be sown wherethey are 
to Hower. In fact, this plan isadopted with most hardy annuals. 
simply recommend the alternative scheme of raising them in a frame 
or on a reserve border as practicable in a little garden, and likely to 
prevent overcrowding. A little care in transplanting the seedlings 
is all that is necessary to ensure success. On more than one 
occasion, when, having taken possession of a new garden so late in 
