HARDY PLANTS. 
Ill 
annuals and perennials, belonging to the Daisy order (Compo- 
site). The annual species, which are hardy, are the Corn- 
flower (C. cyanus) ; and the Purple, Yellow, and White Sweet 
Sultans (C. moschata). The cornflower exists in many varie- 
ties, blue, red, white, purple, etc., and with single and double 
flowers. These are reared from seeds sown in the open ground 
in September to flower early the following season, also in April 
to flower in summer. The seedlings may easily be transplanted 
in a young state. The plants may be grown in patches or 
lines. The Yellow Sweet Sultan grows i8in. high and bears 
citron-yellow flowers, which are deliciously fragrant, in summer. 
The Purple and the White Sweet Sultan are of similar height, 
and bear musk-scented flowers. The Sweet Sultans require a 
well-drained light soil and a sunny position to do well. Sow 
the seeds in patches or rows outdoors in April and May. 
C. odorata alba (Syn. C. Margarita) is a fragrant white annual 
of great value for cutting. Requires similar culture to the 
Sweet Sultans. The ornamental-leaved species are : C. cineraria 
(Syn. C. candidissima), with finely-cut silvery foliage; C. 
Clementei, silvery foliage ; and C. ragusina, also with silvery 
foliage. These are attractive plants in a young state for 
summer bedding, being much used for edgings and for 
ensuring contrasts in association with dark-leaved plants. 
They may be reared from seeds sown in heat in early spring, 
planting out the seedlings late in May; or increased by cuttings 
of side shoots inserted in sandy soil in a cold frame in August. 
When rooted lift and place in small pots and winter in a heated 
greenhouse. Old plants will often survive the winter outdoors 
where the soil is not too heavy or damp. The flowering 
species (perennials) worthy of culture in sunny borders in 
good ordinary soil are: C. babylonica, 6 to ioft., native of 
the Levant, leaves lance-shaped and silvery, flowers yellow, 
July ; C. dealbata, i to aft., Caucasus, leaves pinnate and 
clothed with white hairs beneath, flowers rose, summer ; C. 
gymnocarpa, 2ft., S. Europe, leaves elegantly cut and covered 
with satiny down, flowers purple, summer; C. macrocephala, 
4 to 5ft., Armenia, robust foliage, flowers golden-yellow, July; 
C. montana, blue ; C. montana alba, white ; C. montana rosea, 
rose; C. montana rubra, red; and C. montana purpurea, 
purple ; are useful kinds for yielding flowers for cutting. 
Height, 1 to 2ft. ; native, Pyrenees. C. ruthenica has fern-like 
foliage and straw-yellow flowers, height 2ft. ; September. The 
perennial species should be planted in autumn or spring in 
groups or masses. Increased by seeds sown outdoors in April, 
also by division of the root stock in autumn or spring. The 
biennial species may be reared from seed sown outdoors in 
September or April. 
