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ST. CATHERINE'S COURT, BATH. 



ANNUAL FLOWERS— HARDY KINDS. 



A NNUAL flowers are those that bloom in the year in which the seed is sown. Some are 

 i\ hardy, others half-hardy, but all form a brilliant race, which attains greater 

 perfection in the cool, bracing air of the North than in the milder climate of the 

 .X South. The hardy varieties require the seed to be sown in spring between 



March and late April, except in the case of some kinds, for which the autumn is 

 more suitable, especially in the South of England. Break up the surface soil well, and sow 

 thinly — an important point in their culture — and cover the seed lightly with tine soil. If the 

 seeds are very small, a mere dusting suffices. Never overcrowd the seedlings, but thin 

 out vigorously, as each plant must have a space of about 6in. ; otherwise it becomes 

 weakly and the flowers are poor. Avoid sowing too early in spring, for, when cold wet 

 weather follows, the seeds frequently perish. Annuals must not be regarded as plants that 

 will live anywhere and anyhow. Strong growth and abundance of flowers must be the 

 object. Give them, therefore, well-prepared soil, but not too rich, thin out freely, and keep 

 seed-pods picked off. When seed is allowed to mature the powers of the plant are lessened. 

 The annual flower, whether hardy or half-hardy, well deserves to increase in popularity. 

 Our gardens are less interesting and beautiful when the annuals, so easily raised and often 

 so brilliant in colour for months together, are absent. They are flowers that seem adapted 

 in a special way for those who cannot always command tender exotics, or winter gardens 

 and similar charming attributes of many an English home. The seed, moreover, is reasonable 

 in price, and of recent years beautiful novelties have been raised, not, indeed, always 

 improvements upon existing types, but generally sufficiently distinct and effective to be used 

 liberally. All will enjoy annual flowers in bold breadths, the more fragrant kinds especially, 

 such as the Mignonette, growing near the house, into which, in the warm summer evening? 



