ON ANNUALS AND BIENNIALS. 



247 



prized for bouquets in both summer and 

 winter. The plant in a young state is 

 quite woolly. 

 Jacob^ea. — See Senecio ehgans. 



Lobelia is a genus containing several 

 half-hardy annuals that are indispensable for 

 bedding purposes. For cultivation, kinds, 

 &c, see " Summer Bedding Plants." 



Marigolds (French and African) are favour- 

 ite half-hardy annuals, and have been for years 

 extensively used for the embellishment of mixed 

 flower-borders, and also for summer-bedding. 

 The seed should be sown during the month of 

 April in a frame (cold or heated), pricking- out 

 the seedlings into another frame before 

 finally transferring to the beds or borders 

 about the end of May. Seed may also be 

 sown in May, in the place where the 

 plants are .intended to flower, thinning 

 the seedlings to 8in. or gin. apart, keep- 

 ing a sharp look-out for slugs," and also 

 keeping them free from weeds. Mari- 

 golds should be 



Fig. 136— Tage- 

 tes eskcta 

 (African Ma- 

 rigold). 



Fig. 137. — Tagetes patula 

 (French Marigold). 



grown in a fairly 

 rich, light soil, and 

 they will produce 

 an abundance of 

 brilliantly coloured 

 flowers from July 

 right on into au- 

 tumn. The African Marigold 

 {Tagetes erectd) (Fig. 136) is very 

 effective for large beds, the fronts 

 of shrubberies, &c. It is of fine, 

 bold aspect, 2ft. in height, and pro- 

 duces large, handsome flowers, chiefly 

 in shades of lemon and orange. 

 There is also a dwarf variety, grow- 

 ing 1 ft. high, and producing large, 

 handsome flowers. The French Mari- 

 gold {Tagetes patula) (Fig. 137) is 

 splendid for bedding, for general 

 mixed borders, and also for cutting. 

 The taller varieties produce the most 

 perfect flowers, but the dwarf ones 

 are the best for beds and for small 

 gardens. The flowers are produced 



