AUGUST 10, 1903. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
Celosia pyramidalis.—Having a good 
strain to start with, nothing can look 
prettier than the plume-like heads of 
flowers which these produce; they are in- 
dispensable to. bouquet makers, as they are 
so graceful in their habit of flowers, It 
requires similar treatment to Celosia 
cristata, and the colors range from yellow 
to dark purple. The tall varieties are 
suitable for back clumps in the borders, 
and the dwarf can be used as_ bedding 
plants on a lawn. Most gardeners have 
very little idea as tc their worth. 
Centaurea,—One of our best annuals, and 
very. suitable for cutting, It thrives best 
in asandy soil, -but will do in heavy in the 
summer, 
Celosia cristata (Cockscomb). —Although 
not useful for cutting, they are fine in the 
borders or in small beds, their colors vary- 
ing from yellow to dark purple. If the 
colors are blended together, placing the 
tall varieties in centre of bed, they make a 
pretty effect. The seedlings require to be 
pricked off three or four inches apart in 
good light loam, and when about four 
inches high should be put out into the garden 
inthesame class of loam. —__ 
Gomphrena (everlasting),—For making a 
display of bloom during our hot months 
nothing is more suitable than these dwarf 
everlastings, though they are not much 
used for decoration work except ina dried 
state. In bedsthe white, purple, and rose 
alternately, using the orange in centre, look 
well. G. aurea superba can be grown as a 
perennial by storing the roots in the winter 
time insome sandy soiljust damp, This is 
worth knowing, as the seeds are very shy 
in germinating, and I consider it the best 
variety. Good to ordinary loam, 
Helianthus.—Noticed in No. 1 paper. 
H, new miniature is perhaps the cream, as 
it will flower continuously three to four 
months, bearing dozens of flowers at a time, 
which are very light and elegant. This 
variety will stand cutting back if done 
lightly. 
Helichrysum (everlasting) —Hardy bien- 
nials, but grown as annuals ; suitable for the 
back borders, 
moisture, 
Leptosyne.—Though this is set down for 
an annual, it is a true perennial here, yet I 
cannot overlook the fact of its free-flowering 
qualities, It is also very useful for cut 
flowers, and can be propagated by cuttings. 
Any soil will do. 
‘Lupinus.—A very. useful border annual, 
and for cut flowers, Sandy loam, 
Marigold (French). —Amongst the many 
annuals we grow this is one of the hardiest 
and best on account of its attractive colors 
and free’ flowering points. When a good 
strain is sown in a bed on a lawn they 
show up to great advantage. They are not 
generally used as cut flowers, as the odor is 
too pungent. Borders may be dotted with 
them or in other ways, Good loam and 
lighter for spring flowering, with plenty of 
moisture, If perfectly striped flowers are 
wanted, gravelly soil and less water is 
needed ; or start them in poor soil, and 
allow them to show their colors, when ‘they 
may be put out in the borders, 
Marigold (African)-—A stronger growing 
yariety than the preceding, with larger 
Stiff soil ‘and plenty of 
5 
flowers of self colors only. Useful for 
lines and clumps. They require stronger 
soil than the French, Some have finely 
quilled flowers, Sow seed in the open 
ground 
Mina lobata (climber).—If a garden only 
contains a rod of ground a plant of this 
should be grown, as I consider it the finest 
introduction we have received for a long 
time. It isa very vigorous-growing plant, 
running up atree quite 15 feet highin a 
season. If seeds are sown in August under 
. glass, three in a three inch pot, and planted 
out as soon as they fill it with roots, 
will come into flower very soon after; 
providing the ground is not rich ; but if this 
is the case, they will make foliage and no 
flowers till late in the season, when they 
make up with a display not easily to be 
forgotten, continuing till frost sets in. 
Phlox  Drummondi — grandiflora.—If 
members will look at paper No. 1 they will 
note I have stated there is no equal to 
Phlox, eitker for spring or summer flower- 
ing. In addition to their striking colors, 
hardiness, and dwarf habit, they continue to 
look gay "for months, and when grown in 
masses they are very striking. They de- 
light in a fairly strong loam enriched with 
rotten cow manure; plenty of water at their 
roots only. 
Portulaca.—Their dwarf habit, hardiness, 
and free-blooming points make them one of 
our best edging: plants along drives and 
beds, They are not suitable for cut bloom, 
but what they lack in this is made up in 
brilliancy and number; especially is this 
the case when the weather is close and - 
overcast. The seed should be sown where 
it is to flower, and in gravelly to sandy soil. 
Salpiglossis.—Another annual which is 
worth a more extensive cultivation than it 
gets ; and, although ofa rather tall nature 
they make a grand show in the back of 
large borders, the colors ranging from 
yellow to dark-blue, beautifully veined, and 
resembling a Petunia, to which it is allied. 
As in most summer plants, they require 
plenty of water, and mulch of manure. The 
soil best suited to them is ofa rich gravelly 
nature, Sow seeds in the open, or prick off 
into boxes till nice plants. 
-Thunbergia (climber).—One of 
prettiest climbing annuals, which.are of 
various colors, Plants may be grown on 
old stumps of trees with some wire attached 
wire baloons, andsuch like, The flowers are 
of no use tocut from, Sandy soil, in full sun. 
Zea (maize),—A fine foliaged plant, and 
the variety Gracillima is suited to small 
borders, 8 to 12 feet through, Good light 
loam. 
Zinnia elegans, fl. pl.—No garden should 
be without these, for they give a return not 
to be equalled by many other annuals. 
Most any soil suits them, and the same 
may be said of position. Two waterings 
per week is sufficient supposing the ground 
is well mulched. ‘On lawns they’ can be 
used to. great advantage, massing thickly, 
say nine inches apart. The seed is best 
sown where it is to flower. 
is a very large variety, but a trifle coarse. 
I will now proceed to give list of varieties 
which may be considered the choicest of 
each particular sort ; and I might say here 
the cheapest way tos start growing annuals 
the 
Zinnia robusta 
isto pay the price asked for superior 
strains, as ane should not expect quality at 
the same price as rubbish ; yet this is often 
the case. 
FLOWERING AND FoLtAGE PLANTS. 
For sowing in August, September and 
October. 
Amaranthus tricolor splendens, 
Splendidissimus, 4 ft. ; 
Henderi, 3 ft. ; erect. 
salicifolious, 4 to 5 ft. ; erect. 
aurea speciosus, 4 ft. ; “erect, 
Aster Victoria, 15 in. ; erect. 
Betteridge’s quilled, 18 in. ; erect. 
Chrysanthemum-flowered dwarf, 1 ft. ; 
erect. 
Pzeony-flowered, Truffant’s, 
erect, 
Comet, 18 in. ;-erect. 
Arnebia cornuta, 2 ft.; erect. 
Balsam Camellia-flowered, improved, 18 in. ; 
compact 
Rose-flowered, 18 in. ; compact. 
Carnation-striped, 18 in. ; compact. 
Browallia elata grandiflora, 18 in. ; spreading. 
Rouzli, 18 im ; spreading 
Cacalia aurea, 2 ft. ; spreading. 
coccinea, 18 in. ; spreading. 
Calliopsis Drummondi, 18 in. ; spreading. 
bicolor, 3 ft. ; spreading. 
marmorata, 3 ft. ; spreading. 
Celosia pyramidalis plumosa, 4 ft. ; spreading. 
plumosa. rama, 2 ft. ; compact. 
cristata (Cockscomb), dwarf, 1 ft. ; 
compact. 
Carter’s Empress, 2 ft. ; compact. 
Celosia cristata (Glasgow prize), 18 in. ;erect. 
President Thiers, 1 ft. ; ereet. 
Cosmos hybrida (various), 5 ft. ; branching. 
Gomphrena (everlasting) alba, 18 in, ; 
compact. 
rosea, 18 in. ; compact. 
aurea superba, 18 in. ; compact. 
rubra nana, 1 ft. ; compact. 
Helianthus, Henry Wilde, 6 ft. erect. 
globosus fistulosus, 6 ft. erect. 
Primrose dame, 6 ft. ; erect. 
argyrophyllus, 7 ft. ; branching. 
new miniature, 4 ft. ; branching. 
Helichrysum monstrosum,-fl. pl., 3 ft. ; erect. 
Leptosyne maritima, 2 ft’ ; spreading. 
Lupinus Cruickshankii, 4 ft. ; erect. 
hybridus, 2 ft. ; spreading. 
subcarnosus, 1 ft. ; spreading. 
alba-coccineus, 3 ft. ; branching. 
President Cleveland, 4 ft.; branching. 
Mensicoi, 18 in. ; erect. 
Marigold (French), dwarf, striped, 1 ft. ; 
compact. 
Scotch prize, 18 in. ; spreading. 
Marigold (African), Lemon Queen, 3 ft.; erect. 
Orange Prince, 3 ft. ; erect. 
Mina lobata (climber), 10 to 15 ft.; 
climbing. 
Phlox Drummondi grandiflora, 15  in.; 
compact, 
Portulaca grandiflora, 6 in. ; spreading. 
fl. pl. '6in.; ; spreading. 
Salpiglossis 3 variables grandiflora, 3 ft. ; erect. 
Thunbergia alata (climber), 5 ft.; climbing. 
Zea (maize), Gracillima aurea, 3 ft. ; erect. 
Zinnia elegans, fl. pl, 3 ft. ; compact. 
robusta, fl. pl., 3 ft. ; ; compact. 
fl. pl., dwarf, 18 in. + compact. 
Pomponicus, 18 in. ; compact, 
Tom Thumb, 1 ft. ; compact 
4 ft. ; erect. 
erect. 
18 in.; 
