The Garden. Autumn-sown Annuals.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Garden. Autumn-sown Annuals.

Is it not strange that in the climate of New Zealand eo few make a practice oi sowing liardy annuals in the autumn? Moat of the hardy ones will stand our winters splendidly, the frost here not being severe enough even to check their growth. What » grand display they would make in the bardere in the early spring, long before the usually spring-sown ones even atart to make strong growth. Many object to sow annuals in the borders because they create blanks in the border just when bare, flowerlees places are most to be dreaded. This aoay be the cage with early spring-BOwn annuals, but the objection cannot hold good in the case of euch kinds ae may be. sown in the autumn and brought safely through the winter in the open air. About the middle of March choose a piece of good, rich, open floil, give a heavy soaking of water, lettiDg it lie for about a fortnight, so as to get it thoroughly ewestened. Afterwards break it up finely so as to bring it into a good atate for the reception of the seeds. Spw in rows 6 inches apart, and as eoon as the young plants are well np thin ouu to 3 or 4 inches apart. If slugs make their appearance give a few doses of lime in the evenings, which will make it hot for them. In our nice, genial, autumn weather, these annuals will soon make a Btrong eturdy growth, and gain sufhcient growth eo as to be planted out in their permanant quarters about the middle of May, as then they will get a firm hold of the soil bafore the worst of the wet cold winter eete in These plants during the winter will steadily gain in vigour, and by the spring will have attained consider able dimensions by the time it is con aidered safe to make the usual spriug rowings. Then as the eeaeon advances they rapidly gain in strength and begin to ebow Signs of flowering just as the uraal spring -sown ones are starting into growth, thus getting a good show about two months earlier, and as their mission is fulfilled their place can be filled up with the lees bardy late summer flowering annuals. - Those who may never have tried to grow hardy annuals in this manner can hardly form a true idea of their value, for ■oven with the best of treatment spring sown annuals never rival in vigour or profusion of bloom those that have been occupied during a period of some six months in getting a firm hold of the soil.