34 BOOK OF THE COTTAGE GARDEN 



consider chiefly their value for spring and autumn 

 gardens. In summer the company of herbaceous 

 perennials are at their best, and with the Roses in full 

 bloom there is no lack of colour and variety. The good 

 gardener laments most of all the "off seasons," and 

 would gladly make the pageant of flowers continuous if 

 he could find plants capable of bridging the intervals 

 between the chief periods of bloom. That is precisely 

 what annuals may be used for, and whether as successors 

 to the departing brilliance of the spring bulbs, or as 

 forerunners to the Dahlias, Torch Lilies, and other true 

 autumn flowers, we may employ them as connecting 

 links in the great chain of floral beauty. But to get the 

 best results we must break away from the old, stereo- 

 typed ways, and, in the spring garden, group bold 

 masses of autumn-sown annuals without regard to 

 symmetrical outline. Forget-me-Nots, which are best 

 treated as annuals, are among the most badly used of 

 spring flowers, and yet assuredly they are as delightful 

 as any. Contrast the stilf, compact lines of Myosotis 

 surrounding beds of yellow Auriculas or Pansies in the 

 way practised by the orthodox lawn bedder, with the 

 same flower giving tesselated sheets of azure on the 

 ground between shrubs or in cool, half-shady places. 

 The annual Candytufts (I. umbellata) are invaluable for 

 the early flower border, and in rich soil spread and 

 flower abundantly. Both they and the Rocket Candy- 

 tufts (I. coronaria) should be sown in autumn, and from 

 April until July the bold masses ot white, crimson, 

 purple, carmine, and pink are among the showiest 

 things in the garden. Godetias, in many colours, are 

 adapted for the same purpose, and succeed with similar 

 treatment. On warm soils nothing can be better than 

 the Intermediate Stocks, which, sown in July or 

 August, flower during spring ; they may also be sown 

 in March for autumn display. The Brompton and 



