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OARDMiS 
GENERAL REMARKS, 
AND 
DIRECTIONS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF ANNUAL, BIENNIAL, 
AND PERENNIAL FLOWERS. 
♦ 
OT WITH STANDING the hardy and permanent character of perennial plants 
and flowering shrubs, and their peculiar fitness for gardens and pleasure- 
grounds, where little is needed, which will always make them favorites in every 
ornamental plantation, the Hardy Annuals still have a beauty of their own, 
and possess qualities and merits which few other plants can claim. However 
so much we may admire the gorgeous display of the various bedding-plants, 
now so popular, yet a continuous and uninterrupted show of flowers from 
June to October cannot be obtained without the aid of the annuals; and if to 
this we add the claim of novelty and variety of color, we may well claim for 
the annuals a place second to no other garden-flowers. 
The ease with which they are raised from seed, — the little expense com¬ 
pared with bedding-plants, — their adaptation to all kinds of soils, — the little 
trouble they give the amateur, the rapidity with which they come into bloom 
(some of them in a month’s time), and the infinite number of forms as well as 
varieties of foliage, — all combine to render these hitherto somewhat neglected 
plants the greatest treasures of the garden, — “ The flowers for the million.” 
Who does not admire the glowing colors and rich mottling of the favorite 
Double Balsam, or the magnificent Double Aster? the Larkspurs, with their 
stately spikes of blue or white or crimson blossoms? the massiveness and 
splendor of the Double Zinnias? the feathery spikes of the crimson 
Celosia, which sparkle in the sun ? the flaunting colors of the Double Poppies or the Double Por- 
tulacas, now resembling miniature roses ? And where shall we find flowers that surpass in tbeir de¬ 
lightful fragrance the Stock Gillies and Mignounette ? « 
Annuals, in fact, are the flowers. Not long ago, this, perhaps, could not be said; but,since the 
treasures of California, of Texas, of Japan, and New Holland have been opened to us, a new 
order of things lias begun. The florists, too, with fresh material, have worked with a will; and the 
Double Zinnia, Double Portulaca, Double Aster, Double Ileddewigii Pink, and a host of others, 
are the results of their labors devoted to a class of plants destined by their diversity of colors and 
continuous bloom to hold a prominent place in the affections of all lovers of beautiful plants. 
We therefore make no apology for giving a few brief hints on the cultivation of the favorite 
annuals, as well as some of the showy biennials and perennials, equally important in the decoration 
of the flower-border. 
ANNUALS. 
Among florists and gardeners, the term “ annual ” is given to those plants which are sown in 
the spring, bloom and seed in the summer, and soon afterwards perish. A few are included among 
annuals, like the Marvel of Peru, &c., because they flower the first year; but they are only annual as 
regards treatment. By cultivators they have been divided into three classes; viz., Hardy, Half- 
hardy , and Tender Annuals , — a very convenient classificstion; and as such we shall treat of them 
here. 
HARDY ANNUALS. 
These are so called because they do not require any artificial heat at any period of their growth, 
and are capable of enduring any ordinary weather from April to November; a frosty morning, not 
unusual in the former month, or even in May, doing them no injury, if advanced beyond the seed- 
leaf. Many of them may be sown in autumn ; and the young plants will make their appearance early 
in spring, and flower stronger than when it is deferred till April. 
Tli© Soil and its Preparation. — The best soil for annuals, arid, indeed, for most flowering 
plants, whether biennials or perennials, is a light, rich loam, neither too sandy nor too stiff. In such 
they grow readily, and attain to great perfection of bloom, with but little care; but it is hardly neces¬ 
sary to say that few persons have just such a soil; nor is it possible often for the cultivator to have 
much choice. lie must take such soil as he has, and make the most of it; and, by the application 
of proper manures, or sand or clay, he can.bring it to such a condition as to answer all the purposes 
of a flower-garden. Moving large masses of soil is very expensive; and writers who advise the ad¬ 
dition of rich loam seem not to be aware of the difficulty of procuring it, or the expense and labor 
