HARDY AND HALF-HARDY ANNUALS. 



Specularia (Venus' s Looking-glass). — There are six 

 annual species in this genus, which is closely allied to 

 Campanula, the best -known being S. Speculum and its 

 several varieties. The seeds should be sown in early- 



Fig. 504.— Marigolds. 



spring in a sunny position. The star-shaped, purplish 

 flowers are borne in June. 



Statice (Sea-Lavender). — The annual species of this 

 genus are S. Bondaelli, golden - yellow, a foot high; S. 

 spicata, rose-purple; and S. Suworowi, rose. These are 

 worth growing in borders, as they flower freely, and all 

 through the summer if raised under glass in early spring 

 and planted in a sunny position outside in May. The 

 flowers may be cut and dried to be used as Everlastings. 

 Some pretty forms of S. sinuata have been originated by 

 the German florists. 



Tagetes (French and African Marigolds) (fig. 504). — 

 These are represented by two distinct types, viz. the 

 strong- growing tall African T. ereeta, and the dwarf Mexi- 

 can T. patula (French Marigold). T. patula has yellow 

 flowerets, striped with bright maroon. High character in 

 both sections is maintained only by persistent selection 

 and good cultivation. The seeds are sown in heat, and 

 the plants hardened off and planted out in the open at 

 the end of May or early in June. A dwarf form of the 

 Mexican T. signata, named purnila, is one of the most per- 

 sistent of the summer annuals. A pretty single form of 

 T. patula, named Legion of Honour, has dark florets broadly 

 edged with yellow. A double garden dwarf form, known 

 as aurea floribunda, is useful as a summer bedding plant. 

 Seeds saved from the largest double varieties yield a varied 

 percentage of single-flowered forms. 



Thunbergia. — The annual species of this genus are not 

 now so pojjular as they were. T. alata and its varieties, 

 with white or yellow dark-eyed flowers, are charming 

 summer climbers and trailers. The seeds should be sown 

 in pots under glass, and the seedlings planted out in the 

 open in warm sunny spots. They are also useful for fur- 

 nishing vases. 



Trop.eolum (Nasturtium or Winter- Cress). — The many 

 forms of T. rnajus are among the most free -flowering of 



annuals, whether the plants be of a dwarf, compact, bush 

 habit, or trailers. In rich soil they make vigorous growth, 

 and continue in bloom till late in the year. Grown in 

 poorer ground they flower with greater freedom, but 

 the floral display is not so prolonged. The dwarf or 

 Tom-Thumb section is a sport from T. majug, and by 

 means of selection some most useful bedding varieties 

 have been obtained. Some of the forms are found useful 

 for winter effect in greenhouses. The seeds may be sown 

 in the open in late spring, or in warmth, and transplanted. 

 To keep any type or variety true to character, rigid selec- 

 tion is necessary. 



Ursinea pulchra. — A pretty little annual composite 

 from Mexico, also known as Sphenogyne speciosa. It forms 

 Daisy-like tufts of short stems from which spring the 

 slender, erect flower -stems, a foot high, bearing single 

 heads of yellow, dark -eyed flowers. There are several 

 colour-forms of it, viz. aurea, purpurea,, &c. The seeds may 

 be sown in the border in autumn, where the plants grow 

 and mature through the winter, to flower in April and May. 



Venidium calendulaceum is a somewhat prostrate-^ ow- 

 ing annual, having bright, clear, yellow flowers greatly 

 resembling those of a single Pot-Marigold. It is very 

 attractive, but is not so much grown as it deserves to be. 

 It does best on a warm, sunny border, in light soil. 



Verbena. — There is reason to believe that several 

 species were utilized many years ago for the production 

 of our garden Verbenas. They are now mainly employed 

 as bedding plants, being raised from seeds sown in heat 

 in early spring, as they quickly germinate in light, rich 

 soil. They are potted off or transplanted into boxes, 

 hardened off to be placed in beds and borders, where 

 they grow very rapidly and soon flower, continuing in 

 bloom until quite late in the summer. Although not now 

 so much valued as a florist's flower, a few named varieties 

 are still cultivated, and increased by means of cuttings. 



Xeranthemum annuum and its varieties, single and 

 double flowered, form a group of useful and interesting 

 Everlastings, the seeds of which can be sown in the open 

 ground, in light, rich soil, where the plants are to bloom. 



505.— Zinnia. 



The colours are purple, white, rose. &c For preserving, 

 the flowers should be cut with stems when about half 

 expanded, and allowed to dry in a cool place. 



Zinnia (fig. 505). — There was a time not very remote 



