ON ANNUALS AND BIENNIALS. 



253 



useful subject for general bedding; the plants are branching and 

 of robust growth, whilst the flowers are large, of various colours, 

 and are produced in great profusion. The Dwarf Bouquet Stock, 

 9in. high, forms a dwarf, compact plant, smothered in flower, 

 and is suitable for small beds and edgings. The Giant Globe 

 Pyramidal Stock is lift, high, with long pyramidal flower-spikes 

 covered with large globular flowers 2 in. in diameter. It may be 

 had in various colours, and is an effective plant in large beds and 

 borders. 



,The Intermediate is a valuable section largely used by market 

 growers. If sown in March or early in April in heat, it 

 flowers in autumn and keeps on until cut down by frost. It 

 may also be treated as a 

 half-hardy biennial by sowing 

 in July and August, winter- 

 ing in a cold frame, and 

 transplanting in early spring 

 for May and June flowering. 

 This group . is also used 

 largely for growing in pots. 

 There are several sub- 

 divisions, such as the East 

 Lothian, a branching Stock, 

 i8in. high, with hand- 

 some trusses of flowers, 

 in various colours, and 

 the Covent Garden, a 

 dwarfer kind, growing 

 about 1 ft. in height. 

 The biennial group . 

 will be treated under 

 "Biennials." 



Tagetes signata, 

 i^ft. high, is a profuse- 

 blossoming branched 

 Marigold, with yellow 

 flowers. T. signata 

 pumila is much dwarfer 

 than the type, and more 



compact in habit ; the form known as Golden Ring grows 

 into a sturdy little bush, ift. high, and for bedding pur- 

 poses is superior to - the yellow Calceolaria, being literally 

 smothered in golden-yellow flowers during summer and late 

 autumn. 



Trop^eoltjms (Nasturtiums) are exceedingly showy plants, and 

 very popular. Tropaolum canariense (Canary Creeper) is a 

 half-hardy annual, with bright yellow flowers and elegant foliage ; 



Fig. 143. — Trop^eolum majus. 



