i8 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



sowing, so as to secuie a succession. Let the soil be 

 moderately fine for the seed, and the drills 3m. deep, 

 previously coating the seeds wilh red lead to keep mice 

 and birds at bay, or soak them in paraffin oil for 20min. 

 Do not make the row quite level with the surrounding 

 soil, as the Sweet Pea likes moisture, and a little hollow 

 helps to retain the water given. Make the soil fairly 

 firm, and put stakes to the plants when an inch or so in 

 height, otherwise the results will be unsatisfactory. Never 

 wait until the growths sprawl over the ground. In early 

 summer give a light mulch, such as well-decayed horse 

 manure, or leaf-mould, or spent hops, and when this is done 

 the growth is twice as strong as when no mulch is given, 

 as it acts as a protection agrnst dryness at the roo's. 

 Never allow the flowers to decay until seed-pods are 

 formed, or an end will quickly come to the production of 

 bloom ; the plants cannot withstand this two-fold burden. 

 If one desires to save seed, sei apart a row, or part of 

 one, according to the quantity required, for this purpose. 

 Of varieties, the following maybe selected, but the list of 

 Sweet Peas is of great length. Many kinds are much like 

 one another, too, but those named are quitedistinct : Apple 

 Blossom, soft rose ; Blanche Burpee, white ; Boreattoti, 

 maroon ; Captain of the hhies, Captivation, rose and 

 purple ; Cardinal, crimson sc.irlet ; Creole, purple ; 

 Countess of hadnor, softest mauve, or heliotrope, a 

 lovely flower for decoration ; Duke of Clarence, deep 

 purple ; Emily Eckford, mauve and blue ; Emily 

 Henderson, white ; Jgnea, crimson scarlet ; Lady 

 Penzance, bright rose ; Meteor, brilliant carmine rose 

 and buff; Mrs. Eckford, primrose; Orange Prince, 

 scarlet and orange ; Ovid, light rose ; Peach Blossom, 

 salmon pink ; Primrose, primrose tint ; Stanley, deep 

 self maroon ; and Venus, rosy buff. It is always wise to 

 see a collection of Sweet Peas in flower, as considerable 

 diversity of taste exists in the matter of colour. 



Phaeelia eampanularia. — A delightful annual flower, 



bright blue in colour, and shaped like a little bell. It 

 grows scarcely I ft. in height, and is very charming when 

 used as a groundwork plant, but it must have a fairly 

 light, warm soil and sunny position. It is one of the 

 most decided blue flowers we have. P. tanacetifolia is 

 also blue, the flowers being borne in compact heads, but 

 it is not so valuable as the other. 



Platystemon ealifornieilS.— This is a dwarf annual 

 flower, bright lemon in colour. 



Poppies. These are 

 described, both annual and 

 perennial, in the chapter 

 about perennials in general. 



Sanvitalia procumbens. 



— This is a preity yellow- 

 flowered annual, 6in. high, 

 and therefore suitable for 

 edgings. There is a doub'e 

 form of it, S. Mexicana. 



Saponaria ealabriea.— A 



pretty pink-flowered kind, 

 suitable for autumn sowing. 

 Six inches high. Alba has 

 white flowers. Many prefer 

 the pink form, as this is 

 more effective in colour. 

 Masses of it are wonderlully 

 rich through the summer. 

 ScabiOUS. — There are annual 

 and perennial Scabious, and 

 the former comprise flowers 

 of varied and pretty colours, 

 fiom pure white to black. 

 We know of few classes 

 in which so many shades 

 are present, and the 

 plants are very easily raised 

 Irom seed by sowing it 

 in gentle heat in March, 

 and transplanting 

 the seedlings to the open 



ground in M.iy. Another method is to sow seed in April 

 in the open ground, but the earlier sowing in heat is 

 better. The flowers are preity when cut for the house, 

 and the plants are grown frequently in winter in 

 pots for this purpose. Seed must be sown in summer if 

 winter flowers aie desired, keeping ihe plants strong. 

 Silene (( atchfly). — The annual members of this family are 

 very brilliant garden flowers, and the compacta forms 

 are useiul as edgings. Sow seed both in spring and 

 au'umn. The flowers are of many colours, and the 

 group called compacta shows many variations. S. 

 pendula, white and rose-coloured, is ift. high, and the 

 same colours are produced in S. p. compacta, only the 

 plants are not more than 6in. high. There are double 

 forms of both white and rose colours. 

 Sphenogyne speeiOSa. — This is a very bright and 

 useful annual, about ift. high, wilh flowers not unlike 

 those of the Marguerite, and of a yellow colour, varying 

 in shade in individuals. A good group of this is distinctly 

 attractive. This pretty kind was formerly called Ursinia 

 pulchra, but Sphenogyne speciosa is the name under 

 which it is now usually known. There is another 

 Sphenogyne, S. anthemoides, but this is not so attractive 

 as the other, hence it is seldom seen in English gardens. 

 Sunflowers, Annual. — These are invaluable for creating 

 rich effects, and very easily raised, either by sowing in a 

 close frame or upon a hotbed in April, using pans for 

 the purpose, or in early May in the open. Put the seeds 

 about i in. deep, and in both cases the seedlings will 

 quickly appear, making thinning-out essential. Never 

 overcrowd Sunflowers, and let the soil be rich. There 

 are many forms, some dwarf, others very tall, and with 

 big double flowers, which differ, too, in colouring. A 

 good kind is named Primrose Perfection, in which the 

 flower is primrose-coloured, and the centre black. Sun- 

 flowers are excellent plants to grow in gardens newly- 

 made, where striking colour is required at once to help 

 through the summer months, or indeed in any rough, wild 

 spot, these vigorous plants are well placed. Use the 

 smaller forms for gardens of medium size, not those giant 

 types which require a woodland or wild garden to tone 

 down their oppressi\e colour. It is not always wise to 

 grow the largest type of Sunflower, unless one wishes to 

 obtain huge heads, more interesting for their dimen- 

 sions than for colour or form. Regard the Sunflower as a 

 plant of some sterling value in the garden, and, well used, 

 it should play an important 

 part in adorning the pleasure 

 grounds. Many fine effects 

 are obtained by associating 

 it with evergreen shrubs, by 

 woodland walks, and hiding 

 unsightly corners. Of course, 

 the daintier varieties, Prim- 

 rose Perfection or example, 

 mav be sown in the mixed 

 border, as they are as 

 welcome there as any other 

 annual. Too many Sun- 

 flowers means that a strong 

 colour is overdone, so be 

 modei ale in their use. 

 Cucumerifolius, a species 

 from Texas, is very pretty, 

 with yellow flowers and 

 dark centre. 



Sweet Sultan. — This 



charming annual, dear to 

 our ancestors, deserves to 

 become more popular. The 

 variety in the flower colour- 

 ing is pleasing, some being 

 white, others yellow, and 

 there are even shades of 

 blue and purple. This race 

 has been much improved of 

 late years, the flowers being 

 larger, and their fragrance 



SAPONARIA CALABRICA 



