240 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



known as gloxinioides has deep lavender-blue flowers, with 

 white throats. The species W. grandifiora is now known as 

 Phacelia Whitlavia. 



Xeranthemum annuum is one of the prettiest of hardy 

 everlasting annuals. It grows to a height of 2ft., and flowers 

 in July ; the seed should be sown in April, in a light rich 

 soil. Although the typical plant has purple flowers, there 

 are now white, yellow, and rich rose-coloured forms ; these 

 are not only ornamental as border plants, but the cut flowers 

 are also highly valued when dried for the winter decoration of 

 vases, &c. 



Half=hardy Annuals. 



These are plants that cannot stand our winters outside, and 

 consequently have to be sown in spring. In favoured localities 

 as to soil and climate, nearly all this class of plants may be 

 sown in light rich soil in the open border when all fear of frost 

 is gone, say about the end of April. If wanted in flower early, 

 the assistance of glass and a slight bottom-heat is necessary. 

 Make up a shght hot-bed frame with fresh stable manure in 

 March, and place several inches of light rich soil over ; when 

 the heat is on the decline the seed may be sown thinly, and 

 the frame kept close and shaded until the seedlings appear. 

 As they burst through the soi), they should be gradually 

 inured to light and air, so as to avoid a weak, spindly 

 growth. If time will permit, it is best to transplant into a 

 gentle hotbed for a few weeks before removing to the open 

 border ; if not, they ought to be thinned, and attention 

 paid to weeding and watering during their stay in the seed- 

 bed. 



Raising under Glass. — Another system very often followed 

 in raising half-hardy annuals, is to sow the seed in pans, pots, 

 or boxes in the greenhouse, always using good rich light soil, 

 composed of fine loam and well-decayed leaf-mould, with a fair 

 sprinkling of sand added to keep it open. The pans or boxes 

 should be well drained, the seeds sown broadcast, and covered 

 with the finest soil. It is a recognised rule when sowing seeds 

 of this class of plants, or as a matter of fact any seeds under 

 glass, that they should not be covered with more than their 

 own depth of soil ; for outside sowing, however, they are usually 

 covered a little deeper. The soil should then be kept in a 

 uniform moist condition : a sheet of glass placed over the pan 

 or box will tend to keep it moist by preventing excessive 



