112 



GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



CHAPTEE XXXV. 



ANNUAL FLOWERING PLANTS. 



To make a selection from the bewildering number of 

 varieties now offered in our seed catalogues, is an inter- 

 esting, though it may be sometimes rather a perplexing 

 operation. It is not very easy to give specific advice in 

 the matter, as tastes are so varied. We would say, in 

 general terms though, be shy of "novelties" until you 

 see them recommended in the lists the second year ; you 

 may then know that their merits have been tested and 

 they are given permanent place. We have been import- 

 ers of all such "novelties" for over twenty years, and 

 think ourselves lucky if we get one good thing for every 

 nineteen worthless ones we try. Still, to get the good 

 things, all that are offered must be tried, and subjected 

 to the sifting process — separating the chaff from the 

 wheat. We can only use space to enumerate a few gen- 

 erally favorite kinds, which we give in the list below; this 

 comprises such as are of easiest cultivation, and are 

 most valued for the beauty or fragrance of their flowers. 



Asters, 

 Balsams, 

 Candytufts, 

 Carmas, 



*Canary Bird Flower, 

 Carnations, 

 Clarkias, 

 Cockscombs, 

 Collinsia, 

 ^Convolvulus, 

 *Cypress Vine, 



Escholtzia, 

 Geraniums, 

 Globe Amaranths, 

 Helichrysums, 

 Ice Plant, 

 ^Ipomaea, 

 Lobelia, 

 Lupines, 

 Lychnis, 

 Marigolds,. 

 Mignonnette, 



Delphiniums,(Larkspur) Mimosa, (Sensitive-plant) Zinnias, 

 Dianthus, 



Those Marked * are climbers, 



Nasturtiums, 

 Nemophila, 

 Pansy, 

 Petunia, 



Phlox Drummondii, 

 Poppy, 

 Portulaca, 

 Scabiosa, 

 Schizanthus, 

 *Sweet Peas, 

 Stocks, 



I have used the popular. and scientific names indis- 

 criminately in the way they are given in most seed cata- 



