\6 THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



before they are in any w ay spoilt by heavy rains, and 

 choose a bright afternoon for the purpose. Tie them in 

 small bundles and place in a dry room, away from the 

 window, and in an upright position. 

 HumulllS japoniCUS (Annual Hop).—K pretty light 

 green a n n u a 1 

 climber of won- 

 derfully quick 

 growth. It will 

 soon cover a 

 pillar, or run 

 over an arbour 

 or pergola. Its 

 variegated 

 varietv is not 

 very attractive, 

 though somemav 

 like the creamy 

 white markings. 

 Sow in spring. 



I be r i s . — The 



annual Candy- 

 tuft is an Iberis, 

 called I. um- 

 bellata, and 

 has given rise to 

 many pretty gar- 

 den flowers of 

 various colours, 

 the white forms 

 lieing pure and 

 h a n d s o in e . 

 There are also 

 rose, lilac, crimson, and other shades, but many like the 

 clear whites best. Some forms are dwarfer than others, 

 the Tom Thumb strain being not more than 6in. in 

 height, but the taller and Rocket kinds are about 

 1 2111. or 1 5111. The Candytufts are extremely hardy. 

 -Seed should be sown in autumn in rich soil. Thin out 

 freely, as Candytufts look poor if at all drawn. 



Immortelles. .SVr ■• Everlasting f lowers." 



KaillfUSSia amelloides. — A pretty annual for edging, 

 only 6in. in height, and represented by several colours, 

 of which white, crimson, and blue are the chief. 



Larkspurs, Annual. — These are graceful flowers ; so 

 much so, that the taller kinds are effective amongst 

 dwarf shrubs, or by the margins of shrubberies. Not only 

 is the colouring of the flowers pleasingly diversified, but 

 the growth of the plants also — some tall, others branching ; 

 hence such names as candelabra or rocket-flowered, which 

 have resulted from the crossing of such species as Del- 

 phinium Ajacis and D. consolida. The dwarf rocket 

 forms are about I Sin. in height, but the tall branching 

 forms are as much as 3ft. The colours are very 

 varied, ranging from white to purple, but the deeper 

 shades are the most effective. Seed may be had in separate 

 colours, and is easily raised in spring out of doors. It 

 would be well if flower gardeners were to seek out all the 

 more beautiful forms in this race and grow them strongly, 

 as under these conditions (ew annuals are more interesting 

 or pleasing in colour than these Larkspurs. By shrubbery 

 margins, or in single beds, with a dwarfer plant as a foil, 

 the plants will be effective, and there are sufficient pure 

 colours to obtain bright groups. The Larkspurs are 

 amongst the most graceful of their class, very easily 

 grown, and as varied in growth as in colour. 



Lavatera trimestris (Tree Mallow). — Few annuals 

 are gayer than this ; the type is rose, and the variety 

 alba white. A group of this in some rough spot in the 

 garden, or in the border, is delightful : the plant is free 

 in growth and bloom. Both grow to a height of 3ft. 

 Rosea splendens, rose, and alba splendens, white, are very 

 beautiful. The plants are about the same height as 

 trimestris, and smothered with flowers for many weeks. 

 Such flowers are precious for cutting, and those of this 

 Mallow remain in beauty from July to September. Sow the 

 seed in spring (late March or early April) where the plants 

 are to grow, and thin out freely. The soil should be rich. 



Layia elegans is a charming annual, rarelv, however, 

 seen, and makes a neat little edging ift. high. Its 

 flowers are yellow, with a distinct, even white edge. In 

 alba they are quite white. This may be used for edging. 

 LeptOSiphon.— A charming group, dwarf, and for that 



reason suitable 

 for edgings or 

 the rock garden. 

 Sow the seed in 

 autumn in dry 

 soils. It is im- 

 portant not to 

 delay sowing 

 until too late for 

 the seedlings to 

 develop into 

 sturdy little 

 plants before 

 winter. When 

 this cannot be 

 done, delay sow- 

 ing until spring, 

 sowing in the 

 usual way. 

 When the soil 

 is very light, 

 autumn sowings 

 always give the 

 best results. 

 Roseus is a very 

 charming kind, 

 bright and fresh 

 in colour. 

 Aureus, golden colour, roseus, rose, and the snow-white 

 forms are very distinct and fresh in colour. 

 Leptosyne Stillmani. — Fortunately from time to time 

 new annual flowers are introduced, and this is a 

 novelty which we think will lie grown considerably in 

 the future. It flowers very early, so much so that within 

 five weeks of sowing the seed the golden yellow blossoms 

 appear, and continue to do so, if seed-pods are picked 

 oft regularly, for several weeks. This is also a good kind 

 for cutting, as it grows l8in. in height, and the flowers 

 have a considerable length of stem. L. maritima is 

 really a half-hardy annual, and therefore the seed of this 

 must be sown early in iieat, but as soon as possible 

 inured to the air to prevent the growth becoming drawn. 

 This is no less than 3ft. high, and its pale yellow, 

 daisy-like flowers are very charming when cut. But 

 always remember that when an annual is recommended 

 for cutting it is rendered valueless unless the plant is 

 prevented from seeding. One can, of course, understand 

 this, the double burden being too great, and the plant 

 collapses. 



LimnanthesDouglaSi.— A well-known kind, w ith yellow 

 and white flowers, which bees appreciate. Sow in autumn 

 for an early display in the spring. It is only 6in. high. 



Linaria [ Toadflax). — A brilliant group of annual flowers, 

 seeds of which should be sown in March, and successive 

 sowings made to prolong the season of blossom. As 

 a rule, a good sowing in early April suffices, unless 

 the garden is large. Where the climate is unusually 

 favourable, as in the South of lingland, autumn 

 sowing may be practised. Sow in ordinary garden soil 

 in a sunny place, thinning out the seedlings well, so that 

 about 34111. is the distance between the plants. Thin out 

 freely, as Linarias are spoilt utterly when crowded ; yet 

 remember that it is only in free colonies that the plants 

 are effective. They grow about I ft. high, as a rule, 

 and are amongst the most beautiful of annual flowers. L. 

 bipartita is violet, with white and yellow spots (its varieties 

 numbering a white one and the rich purple-coloured 

 splendida), L. multipunctata, the violet-coloured L. 

 Maroccana, and L. reticulata. The variety of the last- 

 named called aureo-purpurea is one of the richest in 

 colour of all annual flowers — purple with yellow spots, 

 an effective colour. Broad patches of this bright kind 

 are very effective. 



1BKRIS ( Annual Candytuft). 



