26 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



really perennial, hut those named are generally placed under the present heading. Many 

 bedding plants are tender annuals, and these are described in the chapter upon " Tender Plants 

 for the Summer Garden." 



Alonsoa. — These delightful flowers are becoming more 

 popular, and they are welcome also for pots as well as 

 the open garden. They can be used with other things, 

 or in small beds by themselves even. A. Warscewiczi 

 is very bright in colour, the flowers of quite a crimson- 

 scarlet shade, and those of A. linifolia and its variety 

 gracilis are scarlet, the growth very slender and graceful. 

 In both cases the plants are about i8in. in height. 



AmaranthllS (Love-lies-bleeding). — These are quaint 

 but somewhat melancholy-looking plants. Always use them 

 with extreme discretion and moderation, as if too freely 

 planted the garden would have a very spotted appearance. 

 A. caudatus, the true Love-lies-bleeding, is really a hardy 

 annual, and easily known by its long, drooping, deep 

 crimson flower spikes, which have a strange appearance 

 in the border or in front of the shrubbery. The 

 following have distinctive foliage: In the well-known 

 A. melancholicus the leaves are of a rich red colour; 

 in A. salicifolius, touched with an orange shade ; 

 and in A. tricolor splendens, usually called [oseph's 

 Coal, crimson, green, and yello comb'ne to make an 

 effective group. Let the 

 plants always be fully Sin. 

 apart. 



AnagalliS (Pimpernel). — 

 The pretty A. linifolia and 

 its varieties ceerulea, blue, 

 and sanguinea, deep red, are 

 very dwarf, only 6in. high, 

 and maybe used as edgings, 

 or in the rock garden and 

 pots. 



Arctotis. —A. calendulacea 

 is a brilliant flower of an 

 orange colour, reminding 

 one of the gazania, and 

 dwarf, useful, therefore, for 

 the margin of the border. 

 The growth is spreading. 

 In sulphurea the flowers 

 are more of a lemon colour. 



Argemone (Prickly 



Poppy). — This is a very 

 tender race, and may be 

 regarded as a n n u a 1, 

 as seed sown in heat 

 early in the year will give seedlings that will flower in 

 the ensuing summer. Select for them a warm, sunny 

 place, rather dry soil, and let each plant stand apart from 

 its neighbour to display its poppy-like character. The 

 flowers are large and white, relieved by golden-coloured 

 stamens. A. Mexicana is as pleasing as any, but a 

 strong family likeness is conspicuous, so that one scarcely 

 desires other kinds. 

 Asters, China. — These are not Asters, but belong to 

 the family called Callistephus ; but whatever their name, 

 they constitute a brilliant race of garden flowers, making 

 strong masses of colour in the early autumn, and being 

 raised with ease in the spring from seed. Flower 

 gardeners, however, are puzzled generally to know the 

 types to select from the bewildering lists in catalogues. 

 Many of the kinds are much alike, and all are tender, as 

 might be supposed, from the native country of the species — 

 China. Callistephus chinensis is the botanical name of 

 this useful flower. The seed is very reasonable in price, 

 but it should be good. Poor seed will produce poor 

 flowers. Sow in the middle of April, in frame or green- 

 house, using a shallow box, pan, or pot, and give 

 a little heat. The seed quickly germinates, and in less 

 than a month the seedlings are ready to prick off either 

 into other boxes, or into a frame, preparatory to their 

 removal to the open air. They may even be put out 

 into a warm border at once — indeed, in about six weeks 



CHINA ASTER, PYRAMIDAL. 



from the time of sowing the seed the plants, it well 

 grown, are fit for the open ground, and before they come 

 into flower, or even when in bloom, they may be potted 

 up lor the greenhouse and conservatory. If no artificial 

 heat is available, sow the seed earlier in the month of 

 April, as, of course, the progress of the seedlings will not 

 be so rapid. Seed may also be sown in shallow boxes, 

 over which a sheet of glass should be put, and placed under 

 a sunny fence out of doors. When the seedlings appear, 

 remove the glass covering, and transplant the Asters tc 

 the positions they are to adorn. Plant in groups 01 

 clumps of one distinct colour, and the effect will be 

 richer than when several colours are mixed together. It 

 is wise, where space is available, to sow seed to give 

 flowers merely for cutting, setting apart a bit of I he 

 kitchen garden, or a bed in the reserve garden, for this 

 purpose. China Asters are useful flowers to cut for the 

 house. A rich soil is necessary, and plenty of water 

 whilst growth is I icing made, not afterwards, as the 

 flowers are apt to damp when the ground is unduly wet. 

 The flowers are of wonderful colours, and display great 

 diversity of form, some 

 quilled, reminding one of 

 a Chrysanthemum, others 

 with flat florets, whilst of 

 most of the types there are 

 tall and dwarf kinds. 

 There are the reflexed 

 Victoria, Chrysanthemum- 

 flowered, Comet, Mignon, 

 Paeony-flowered, Truftauts, 

 Hedgehog, Pompon, 

 Bedding, Bouquet, and 

 others ; but for cutting, 

 the taller branching kinds 

 are the most suitable, 

 reserving the dwarf, large- 

 flowered, and stiffer kinds 

 for massing. 

 CelOSiaS are useful for 

 bedding or for pots. They 

 belong to the same race 

 as the Cockscomh, and 

 bear tall, feathery 

 plumes, so to say, of 

 effective colours. Sow 

 seed thinly in a pan or shallow box about the end of 

 February. Cover with a square of glass, and place in a 

 warm greenhouse or upon a gentle hot-bed. When the 

 seedlings appear, remove the glass and place the pan or 

 whatever the receptacle may be close to the light, otherwise 

 the seedlings will become drawn. When a few rough 

 leaves have been made, pot the seedlings into 3m. or 4m. 

 pots, using for soil a compost made up of loam three parts 

 mixed with about two parts leaf-mould. Add sharp 

 silver sand to lighten it. For future repottings use rougher 

 soil, adding also well-decayed manure. Always keep the 

 plants near the light, and when young a temperature of 

 about 5_sdeg. will suffice. Before they get root-bound 

 shift into 5m. pots. Cease giving artificial warmth as 

 soon as possible. The plants will flower well in the 51'n. 

 pots, but liquid manure is necessary to sustain growth. 

 In I une they may be planted out in the flower garden 

 and used as relief plants in beds filled with dwarf bedders. 

 Cockscomb. See Celosia for culture. 



Cosmos bipinnatUS. — This is a very graceful and 

 beautiful annual, which, like many other annuals, may 

 be treated as half-hardy or hardy, this depending upon 

 the time the seed is sown. In quite the South of 

 England, sowing in April will suffice as a rule, but the 

 better plan is to sow under glass in .March, and treat the 

 plants in the usual way, namely, planting out in late 

 May when frosts are over. Always harden them off 



