ANNUALS

Southland Times, Issue 16842, 19 September 1911, Page 7

ANNUALS

EKFEBT HINTS TO GROWERS. Following are notes of a paper read before the Horticultural Society by Dir J. H. Kingstaiul. Annuals are so called on account of blooming the season they are sown and that season only. Although the more showy and sweet scented annuals are favourites everywhere, it is questionable if they always receive t lie culture and care they so riehly deserve, and many people who after much illtreatment may have designated them "weedy” would be surprised at the size and splendour that the belter kind develop under more favourable treatment. Annuals may be divided into throe classes, viz., hardy, half hardy, and tender. Again there are many biennials and perennials which can bo treated as annuals, HARDY ’ANNUALS. May be sown in the autumn for early spring blooming and followed on by successive sowings from September to November, thereby ensuring a continual blaze of colour all through the spring, summer, and autumn. The following will conform to the foregoing conditions ; —Sweet peas, Virginia stock, candytuft, oschscholtzia, poppies. clarkia, anchusa, jacobea, linaria, linum, iViignonette, and many others, in sowing, prepare your soil rather fine, or in the case of rough or coarse ground sift some soil fine and cover the soil lightly (the rule is to cover the seed thrice the depth of the seed). Sow thinly and thin the plants to a proper distance, and each plant will develop proportions and an amount of I loorrf to astonish the cultivator. It is*§K .good plan, and the plants can bo better cared for, to sow in a bed ami plant out at convenience. In fact I am Inclined to think that you can get better results this way. Of course it will be imperative in Jhe case of some annuals to sow on the spot, such as esebscholtzin, larkspur, lupins, mignonette, jmpples, etc. These being 1 tap-rooted do not transplant easily. HALF HARDY ANNUALS. These have only one part of a season in which they can be sown, in tliL climate 1 would advise not to make a too early start, but to sow at such a time that the young plants do not get a severe check. To obviate this a safe time for sowing is the second or third week in September. They will, after being hardened, be ready for planting out the first or second week in November. In the majority of seasons I have found this is the best time to got over these gusty and cold storms which often occur at this time of the season. The seed must be sown in pans or boxes , under cover, such as a greenhouse or mild hotbed. The great mistake many make is using too deep boxes ; shallow boxes are the best, say 2%in. or Sin. with drainage material at the bottom, sifting the soil and adding sand, using the siftings to place on the drainage. Remember to use a large quantity of soil means sourness caused by the constant watering. In watering, especially after pricking out, a caution is here necessary. It Is often noticed after watering that' the young plants will damp off. This is caused by the water wetting only the stems at the surface of th£ soil and running down the sides of the boxes, instead of gdlng through the soil and watering the roots. In the event of extreme dryness, if the water will not penetrate the soil it Is better to' dip the boxes until thoroughly soaked. Under the heading of half hardy annuals come asters, • ten weeks’ stock, ageratum, amaranthus, coreopsis, cosmea, godetia, helichrysum, leptosyne, lobelia. French and African marigold, nemesia, phlox drummondi, rhodanthe, sa-lpiglossls, schizantlius, zinnia.- etc. TENDER ANNUALS. These require the same treatment as half hardy annuals and sowing about the same time, but require greater heat to raise and more caution in exposure. They must be kept entirely to the frame or greenhouse. Under the heading will come balsams, coxcomb, lovenia, etc. The following tender perennials can be grown and flowered the same season treating as tender annuals, but will require to be sown the end of July or early hv August ;—Ammobiura, begonia, cobaea, petunias,, etc. Again the following hardy perennials may be sown In August in mild heat) planted out in November and bloomed the sartie season :—Abronea, antirrhinum, dahlia, galllardia, petunia, penstemon, verbenas, dianthus, dianthus climensis, perpetual flowered carnations, etc. In sowing half hardy and tender annuals and all other seeds in boxes let the soil be moderately moist, sow thinly and cover with glass or paper to check too rapid evaporation. Remove the paper and glass as soon as the seedlings are up. don’t hurry with 100 much beat, avoid a cutting draught, harden off gradually, and fit them for thenfinal position. In planting or sowing it is well to bear in mind the relative height of the plants, placing the taller at the back of the border, and on the edge such as ageratum. alonsoa. anazallis. callinsia, collomia, gilia, jacobea, liptosiplion, lobelia, limanlhas, nemophila, Swan River daisy. Tom Thumb nasturtium, venus navel-wort, Virginian stock, etc. For trailing, climbing, or rock work the following are some of the best annuals :—Abronia, eccremocarpus, lophospermum, sweet peas, nasturtiums, convolvulus. etc. Richness in soil is a good element for most annuals, provided you give plenty of room. For a few subjects such as marigold and nasturtium too much richness in the soil is a disadvantage, and for others, such as portulapa, it is not essential. In sowing directly into the border it is usual to sow in a circle, and again I must emphasise the importance of giving plenty of room for each plant in thinning and to sow thinly.