Plate 189 . 
GODETIA BOSEA ALBA, var. TOM THUMB. 
The varieties of Godetia , closely allied to Oenothera, are well 
known in our flower gardens, and many of them are used as 
hardy annuals for the purpose of filling up herbaceous borders, 
especially in those smaller ones where the bedding-out system 
has not been extensively used,—-a system much more applicable 
to large gardens, and where large means are at command, than 
to small ones. 
It has been well observed by the Messrs. Carter, to whom we 
are indebted for the opportunity of figuring this new variety, 
that “ the original Godetia rosea alba is well known as one of 
the prettiest of the so-called Californian annuals, its only de¬ 
merit consisting in its not being sufficiently dwarf; this objection 
is overcome by the Tom Thumb variety now offered. The colour 
of the flower is pure white, with a brilliant rose blotch towards 
the base of each petal; its height of growth is not more than 
twelve inches; and the blooms are produced in great profusion .’ 5 
There is but little to be said as to the cultivation of this, or 
indeed of any of these hardy annuals, which, it is well known, 
is of the very simplest character; so simple, indeed, that they 
are oftentimes treated on this account with much neglect. A 
little trouble is not thrown away on them, and we know from 
experience that where they can be sown in seed-pans, and then 
pricked out, the trouble is amply repaid by the great bushiness 
of the plant and the profusion of bloom ; and where so much 
of this branch of gardening is practised by ladies, they can 
easily manage to bestow this additional trouble, which, we can 
assure them, will be amply rewarded. 
We may take this opportunity of mentioning that several 
novelties amongst annuals are announced this season. Mr. 
