The Most Fragrant Annual Flowers— By Florence Beckwith s 



INCONSPICUOUS-FLOWERED PLANTS THAT SHOULD BE SOWN IN OBSCURE CORNERS OF THE GARDEN, 

 TO EXHALE THEIR ODORS UNSEEN— SUGGESTIONS FOR A SUBTLE AND CHARMING FEATURE 



THE night-scented stock (Matthiola 

 bicornis) is a hardy annual with a 

 small unpretentious pink flower which gives 

 off a delicious odor at night. It was one 

 of the pleasant surprises of last year's gar- 

 dening. 



The seeds were sown in the open ground 

 in the early spring, just as soon as the soil 

 was in a fit condition to work. The plants 

 came up thickly; and later they were thinned 

 somewhat, though not so much but that they 

 grew in a rather compact mass. They are 

 naturally rather weak stemmed and need 

 support, so this did not prove to be a dis- 

 advantage. Up to the time of blooming, 

 the plants, with their inconspicuous, grayish- 

 green foliage, gave little promise of the pleas- 

 ure they held in store, so, when the earliest 

 blossoms opened, a slight feeling of dis- 

 appointment was experienced; for they were 

 not, at first sight, very attractive, being 

 single and of an unobtrusive pinkish-lilac 

 color. One of the family expressed the 

 opinion that the flowers were no prettier than 

 radish blossoms, to which, it must be con- 



Photograph by the author 



fessed, they do bear some resemblance, only 

 they are larger. But when evening ap- 

 proached, the rather sprawling plants 

 seeemed to stiffen and straighten, and the 

 flowers, which until then had been utterly 

 without fragrance, suddenly exhaled a 

 most entrancing odor, as charming as it was 

 unexpected. 



It was particularly interesting to watch 

 the plants as evening approached and wait 

 for the coming of the fragrance. One 

 moment the flowers were scentless, the next 

 a fragrance was distilled that filled the garden 

 with a delicious, spicy odor, not in the least 

 heavy or cloying, but which seemed to 

 overpower that of every other flower in its 

 neighborhood. 



So very modest is this night-scented stock 

 that its merits are not fully appreciated, and it 

 is not listed in some catalogues. It is one 

 of the sweetest, most charming evening 

 bloomers. It will make no show in the 

 garden, and therefore it is best planted in a 

 mass in some retired spot, or, preferably, near 

 the verandah where you are accustomed to 



sit at evening: the delightful fragrance will 

 lend an added charm to the twilight 

 hour. 



The maze flower (Schizopetalon Walkeri) 

 deserves to be better known. It is a hardy 

 annual about a foot high, with white flowers, 

 and makes a welcome addition to the garden 

 because of its delightfully spicy odor, resem- 

 bling that of almonds. The curiously cut 

 petals remind one of the maze occasionally 

 seen in old-fashioned gardens. The seed 

 should be sown where it is to flower, as the 

 plant is very impatient of any meddling with 

 its roots. 



The well-known mignonette {Reseda odo- 

 rata) is a very pretty annual, giving off an 

 odor that reminds one somewhat of the sweet- 

 scented blue violets — penetrating, yet light 

 and agreeable. 



Seeds may be sown out-of-doors at any time 

 after April ist, and successional sowings, made 

 every three weeks, will continue the bloom 

 until frost. Seeds sown in July will make 

 good flowering plants for the window garden 

 next winter. 



There appears to be much confusion about this night-scented stock (Matthiola bicornis). It is an annual with a straggly habit and inconspicuous pink flowers. 

 Scentless by day they suddenly become very fragrant at night. The plants are limp during the daytime, becoming rigid and standing erect at night 



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