Dreer's Garden Calendar. 51 



ANNUALS are such that arrive to perfection, bloom, produce seed, 

 and die the first season. 



HARDY ANNUALS can be sown in the borders from April to June. 



HALF-HARDY and TENDER ANNUALS can be sown in March 

 and April in shallow boxes, and placed on a hot-bed ; when large enough 

 plant in a cool frame near the glass to harden. Transplant in the borders 

 in May, or the seed can be sown in the open ground in May and June. 



Many annuals are very desirable for the green-house for winter 

 blooming, and must be sown in July or August. Of these the most iin- 



Eortant are Browallia, Candytuft, German Stocks, Kenilworth Ivy, Lo- 

 elia, Mignonette, Schizanthus, Sweet Alyssum, Tropseolum. Many 

 varieties, as well as the above, may be sown in the fall and winter for 

 blooming early in the spring, such as Acroclinium roseum, Ageratum, 

 Antirrhinum, Apple-scented Geranium, China Pink, Dianthus, Hedde- 

 wegi, Laciniatus and Diadematus, Linum grandiflorum, Mimulus, 

 Myosotis, Pansy, Petunias, Phlox Drummondi, Salpiglossis, Salvia, 

 Verbena, Vinca rosea, and others. 



BIENNIALS are those that last two seasons ; however some of the 

 varieties bloom the first year, and remain over winter, flowering again 

 the second year and then die, having fulfilled their mission ; a slight 

 protection of leaves or coarse manure will be found beneficial. 



For summer and autumn flowering the seed should be sown in March 

 and April, and treated the same as half-hardy annuals for those varie- 

 ties blooming the first season. 



Hardy kinds can be sown from April to September in the open border, 

 and transplanted where they are intended to bloom the following year. 



The following are among the most desirable : Canterbury Bell, 

 Foxglove, Hollyhock, Larkspur, "Pinks, Sweet William, Wall-flower. 



PERENNIALS do not flower until the second year, and the hardy 

 varieties remain in the ground from year to year, and improve by age, 

 in forming large clumps or bushes, which are covered with their attrac- 

 tive flowers. They should be planted in borders or beds where they are 

 intended to remain. 



The seed may be sown early in the spring with Annuals, or later in 

 the summer in a cool and partially shaded situation, and when large 

 enough transplant where wanted. 



All the varieties not mentioned in our list are hardy annuals. 



CLIMBERS, for garden-decoration, should be sown in February and 

 March, the earlier the better, as the display for the after season will be 

 in proportion to their early vigor for planting out ; such as Cobcea, Eccre- 

 mocarpus, Lophospermum, 3faurandia } Thunbergia, and Tropceolum. 



CLEMATIS species amongst hardy shrubs, and PENTSTEMON 

 amongst herbaceous plants, are prominent instances of seeds which re- 

 main long dormant, often a whole year, before they grow. 



The germination of many hard seeds of strong body throughout, 

 either green-house, or hot-house species, which are impervious to mois- 

 ture, is greatly accelerated by pouring hot water over them, in a dish or 

 cup, and remain thus until the following morning, and then sown. Thus 

 treated, the young plants often appear in a few weeks, but without such 

 a preparation they are often many months. The varieties of Acacia, 

 Erythrina and Canna are the most prominent of this class. 



CALCEOLARIA. — As this very desirable flower requires a little 

 special care, the following method should be adopted : The seed should 

 be sown in the latter part of August, or beginning of September, in pots 

 prepared in the following manner: the pot to be half-filled with drain- 

 age, over that the rough sifting of the mould, and the surface covered 



