;38 JACQUES CARTIER SQUARE, MONTREAL. 
41 
Strictly speaking "annuals" are plants which live but for one 
season, or general purposes however many other plants usually grown 
from seeds sown each yeai- are placed under the same heading, being 
classed as hardy, half-hardy, and tender annuals. While annuals are 
valuable to all who have outside planting to do, to the amateur gar- 
dener they are absolutely indispensable. Being almost endless in var- 
iet,v. moderate in price, and easily grown from seeds, they will, if a 
judicious selection is made, give a gorgeous display of flowers in the 
garden, from early summer till late in the fall. 
ANNUALS 
The usual season for sowing Annuals is from 1st of March to the first weeic of June. On account 
of the shortness of the season, it is advisable to sow a good many varieties as early in the season 
as possible. Including- Pansies, Phlox Drummondi, Verbenas. Petunias. Stocks, Dianthus, and others 
of a comparatively slow growing character. Failing a greenhouse, for this purpose there is noth- 
ing to beat a good hot-bed. Or if it is out of the question very good success can be had by sowing 
them in the house, in boxes filled with light sandy soil, giving all the light and air possible until 
such time as they can be placed out in the open air. 
Almost any kind of light soil will do for sowing annuals, and as the majority of them germin- 
ate freely, the seed should not be sowed too thick. Neither should the plants in the beds or boxes 
be allowed to get over crowded it is better to pull some of them out and throw them away, unless 
all are required; in which case they may be transplanted into other beds or boxes. As to the right 
depth to sow, the sower must be guided by the size of the seed. The smaller the seeds the less 
covering they will require. All plants raised under any form of shelter must be thoroughly hardened, 
by being exposed to the sun and air for at least several days before they are transferred to the 
open ground. 
The proper time for planting varies with the season, but they should never be put out too 
early. There is a popular notion, amounting almost to a superstition with some people, that If 
summer flowering plants are not set out by May 2-lth, it is useless to plant them at all. There never 
was a greater fallacy. Most of the failures in tender crops might be traced to too early sowing 
or planting. In nine seasons out of every ten, plants set out the first week in June will give 
far better results than those planted a week or ten days earlier. 
If annuals are to be sown in the open ground, no time should be lost in getting in the seeds, 
once the soil is warm enough to receive them. Among the varieties which do best sown this way 
are Sweet Peas, portulaoa. tall and dwarf Nasturtiums, Convolvulus, Alyssum, Candytuft, Mignon- 
ette, and any other which from their nature are difficult to transplant successfully. These should 
all be sown in the places where they are to remain to flower, thinning the plants to the required 
distance apart, as soon as they are large enough to handle. 
Annuals as a class delight in an open, well enriched soil. Still no one need be deterred from at- 
tempting their cultivation, because he fancies his soil will fail to meet their exact requirements. 
.Many varieties will grow and flower under the most adverse conditions, and many a plot of 
ground both in town and country, which up to the present has grown little else but weeds, might be 
made beautiful with this class of plants for trifling amount of labour and expense. 
Biennials and Perennials may be sown at the same time as Annuals of the same degree of hard- 
ness and treated similarly, except such of the hardy kinds as do not liloom the first year. These 
last may be thinned out or removed from tlie seed beds as soon as they are well rooted and 
planted either in different parts of the garden, or into a nursery bed in rows a foot or more 
apart. Some Biennials and Perennials may be sown In July and August or as soon as the seeds 
are ripe if the plants get strong enough before the setting in of winter, most of them will flower 
the next summer. 
