250 
The Garden Magazine, January, 1921 
Phlox, Sweet Tobacco, and Carnations in a Tuxedo garden 
proper classifications of their offerings which makes it easy to 
settle the manner of handling any untried plant. 
The Hardy Annuals are the simplest to use as they will flower 
from sowing in the open where they are to grow, which is well 
for Poppy, and Lupin and similar things that dislike being 
transplanted. Better to sow them where wanted and thin 
out the stand to give room to the individual plants. Just as is 
done with the Radishes in the vegetable garden, thin con- 
tinuously and successionally as the plants develop, till the 
flowering stage is reached. And they may even be sown in 
the fall. 
Half-hardy Annuals are those that naturally inhabit a 
warmer region than the one where they are being grown as 
cultured plants. The term, like many others used by the 
gardener, is relative only, but is generally true over the greater 
part of the country. These we sow indoors in February and 
March (or perhaps in a coldframe outdoors in the fall) and 
many of these may be sown outdoors later in the spring, after 
the weather is settled, to give bloom in late summer. 
TheTender Annualswill not endurefrostand have a long season 
of growth and must be started indoors from January to March 
to be really worth while; except in the South where they become 
in fact half-hardy. All such are best grown in pots for ultimate 
transplanting into the open about Memorial Day. We are 
speaking as gardeners here for in fact most of these tender 
Annuals are really longer lived than one year, but their growth 
is checked by the approach of cold so they die while yet young; 
Verbena in mixed colors on the rockery edge 
for examples Scented Tobacco, and Scarlet Sage, and Ageratum. 
A true Annual matures seed and dies because of that fact, 
like the Sweet-pea and Poppy. 
For filling gaps in the hardy garden before the late things come 
into growth and after the early bulbs etc., have served their 
mission Annuals may be sown just where wanted, or they may 
be grown elsewhere in frames, flats or pots and transplanted 
as occasion needs. The latter way is the best so far as the 
general finish of the flower garden and borders is considered, but 
it involves a little more woik which, however, is not necessarily a 
drawback. The results and effects are certain. It is all wrong 
to banish the Annuals from the border on the mere fact that 
they are Annuals. The quality of fragrance which should surely 
belong in any garden may be lent by a generous sprinkling of 
Annuals — the Sweet-pea has this quality in addition to other 
merits of high order — color, and form, and size; Mignonette is 
justified for its perfume alone, though it transplants badly; 
and the Sweet-scented Stock, as inconspicuous as it is fragrant, 
a wonder plant in a hidden corner whence its odor may be wafted 
on the breezes. 
From the purely practical standard of utility for the decora- 
tion of the house and porch there are Annuals that will serve — 
not everyone will answer however and a selection of actual 
named varieties and strains is worth while if the house needs 
are to be seriously considered, for pure color, large size, good form, 
and lasting quality are essential. A selected list, based on 
experience, appears on another page. 
ANNUALS FOR THE GREENHOUSE 
BENJAMIN GOODRICH 
S S TH E usefulness of Annuals as fully realized as it ought 
to be? Their value as a ready means to fill the gap of 
mid-summer in the greenhouse? One thing that 
struck me very forcibly in England was the great extent 
to which the usefulness of Annuals is increased by potting many 
kinds for greenhouse display. This display, of course, is 
rather transitory; but it provides, at the expense of little money 
and little pains, welcome dashes of color. As a matter of fact, 
though this is seldom appreciated here, Annuals are indispensa- 
ble fillers for the greenhouse as well as for the summer garden. 
To me Clarkia was the greatest revelation. Though a very 
old annual, it is scarcely known in American gardens and 1 have 
seldom seen it indoors here. In England, on the other hand, it 
has been fostered until it has developed into a flower that is 
nothing short of superb. There are two kinds, C. elegans and 
C. pulchella, the one being normally about two feet high and 
the other only half as tall. The former is the better for green- 
house culture, as under favorable conditions the plants can be 
developed into wonderful wide-branching specimens four feet or 
so high. Such specimens of the best double varieties, like 
