ON ANNUALS AND BIENNIALS. 255 



and finally transferring to their flowering quarters in June. They 

 like a deep rich soil and a sunny position. Zinnia elegans is 

 the one from which most of our garden forms . have originated. 

 The typical plant grows 2ft. high, and produces its scarlet 

 flowers in July. There are now numerous double and single 

 forms in various shades of colour, all of which are well worth 

 growing. The Zebrinas, or striped Zinnias, grow from ift. to 

 i^ft, high; they have beautifully-striped double flowers, and 

 about half of them come true from seed. 



Biennials. 



These are plants very closely allied to annuals, the distinction 

 lying in the fact that they do not flower the same year as 

 sown, but must have two years to come to maturity, whilst 

 annuals, both hardy and half-hardy, may be had in flower 

 the same year. Biennials are grown from seed one year, 

 and flower, fruit, and die the next ; or if they do manage to 

 live over the second year they are of little use afterwards. 

 From June till August is the usual time to sow — the earlier the 

 better, as they then stand a good chance of making nice plants 

 before winter sets in. For sowing, a border should be chosen, 

 with an aspect other than a south one, so that the seedlings do 

 not receive the full rays of the scorching summer sun ; the soil 

 should be moderately rich, deeply dug, and free from weeds. 

 The seeds are best sown in drills, as the hoe can then be used 

 for keeping down weeds, and also for keeping the surface open 

 — a point which is often greatly overlooked in the cultivation of 

 plants of all kinds. After sowing, a good watering should be 

 given them — through a fine rose, so as not to disturb the seeds — 

 and a thin shading of tiffany or other light material should be 

 thrown over, to keep the soil from drying up too quickly ; great 

 care, however, must be taken to remove this as soon as the seed- 

 lings break through the soil. When large enough, they should be 

 transplanted into rows a few inches apart ; this must be done 

 before they get overcrowded in the seed-bed, and they will then 

 i make strong sturdy plants, and will lift with good balls of soil 

 mh. when removed to their permanent quarters. 



The time for permanent planting varies from the end of 

 ,,,,, September to March, some preferring to plant in the autumn, 

 mn because then the weather is usually much milder than in early 

 !i[i[i[i[ii spring, and if carefully planted they get a good hold of the new 

 nuh soil before winter sets in. On the other hand, those who wait 

 ijiMW until spring before planting, have this advantage, viz., that the 



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