China Or Annual Asters

These beautiful half-hardy annuals have been specialised to such an extent that nearly a dozen distinct types are now sold by seedsmen. They differ in the height to which the plant grows, and in the colour of the flowers. In each section there are several distinct colours which are offered in "assortments" or "collections" of separate colours, but can be bought at a cheaper rate in mixture. The following are the principal sections:

Quilled, which has rolled florets.

Paeony-flowered, which has incurved florets.

Dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered, which has reflexed florets.

Victoria, which also has reflexed florets.

Crown or Cockade, which has flowers with a white centre.

Dwarf Bouquet, which is very low growing, and is suitable for pots or the edges of beds.

Comet, which has broad, flattish, drooping florets, flowers very large.

Ostrich Plume, which has large flowers with loose, feathery central florets, that impart a very graceful appearance to the blooms.

Single

This is the Callistephus sinensis of botanists, and has pretty mauve flowers.

The three most important sections for flower-garden decoration are probably the Victoria, the Comet, and the Ostrich Plume, all of which make beautiful beds, or handsome clumps in borders. They grow about two feet high.

Sweet Peas

The Sweet Pea has progressed so rapidly under the hands of cross-fertilisers that there are now two or three hundred varieties. Much use can be made of Sweet Peas in the flower garden, as we shall presently see, and it is therefore very desirable to have a selection of good sorts. I append a list. Those marked with an asterisk may be chosen if room cannot be found for all the varieties named. They are arranged in their colours.

White

Dorothy Eckford, *Etta.

Dyke Blush

*Mrs. Hardcastle Sykes.

Crimson

Sunproof Crimson.

Scarlet

Queen Alexandra.

Carmine

*John Ingman.

Cream

*Clara Curtis.

Dark Blue

Lord Nelson.

Mauve Blue

*A. J. Cook.

Light Blue

Masterpiece, *Lady G. Hamilton.

Cerise

Chrissie Unwin.

Pink

*Countess Spencer, Constance Oliver.

Orange

Edna Unwin, *Helen Lewis.

Magenta

Menie Christie.

Primrose, Rose Edge

* Evelyn Hemus.

Primrose With Rose Border

Mrs. Henry Bell.

White With Rose Edge

*Elsie Herbert.

Mauve

Tennant Spencer.

Maroon

* Nubian.

Rose Flake

Mrs. W. J. Unwin.

Blue Flake

Suffragette.

Blue-Veined

*Helen Pierce.

Bicolor

Mrs. A. Ireland.

Violet And Purple

Rosie Adams.

Salmon

Earl Spencer.

Greenhouse And Conservatory Plants

At the same time as flower seeds are being ordered for the garden, packets of certain beautiful kinds suitable for adorning the greenhouse and conservatory can be procured. Some of them will be sown in winter, some in spring, and some in summer, as we shall see hereafter. Here is the list in tabular form:

The Crown Anemone (coronaria), a plant of many beautiful colours. The St. Brigid and Alderborough are splendid strains of it.