These are generally known to every one, and many of them are so common
as hardly to need notice, a few of the most usual are however mentioned,
rather to recal the scattered thoughts of the many, than as a list of
annuals.
The MIGNIONETTE, Resoda odorata, is too great a favorite both on account
of its fragrance and delicate flowers not to be well known, and by
repeated sowings it may be made under care to give flowers throughout
the year but it is advisable to renew the seed occasionally by fresh
importations from Europe, the Cape, or Hobarton.
The PROLIFIC PINK, Dianthus prolifer _Kurumful_, is a pretty variety;
that blossoms freely throughout the year, sowing to keep up succession,
the shades and net work marks on them are much varied, and they make a
very pretty group together.
The LUPINE, Lupinus, is a very handsome class of annuals, many of which
grow well in India, all of them flowering in the cold season.
The _Small blue Lupine_, L. varius, was introduced from the Cape and is
the only one noticed by Roxburgh.
The _Rose, and great blue Lupine_, L. pilosus and hirsutus, are both
good sized handsome flowers.
The _Egyptian, or African Lupins_, L. thermis, _Turmus_, is the only one
named in the native language, and has a white flower.
The _Tree Lupine_, L. arboreus, is a shrubby plant with a profusion of
yellow flowers which has been successfully cultivated from Hobarton
seed.
The CATCHFLY, Silene, the only one known here is the small red, S.
rubella, having a very pretty pink flower appearing in the cold weather.
The LARKSPUR, Delphinum, has not yet received any native name, and
deserves to be much more extensively cultivated, especially the
Neapolitan and variegated sorts. The common purple, D. Bhinensis, being
the one usually met with; it should be sown in succession from September
to December, but the rarer kinds must not be put in sooner than the
middle of November, as these do not blossom well before February, March,
or April.
The SWEET PEA, Lathyrus odoralus, is not usually cultivated with
success, because it has been generally sown too late in the season, to
give a sufficient advance to secure blossoming. The seeds should be put
in about the middle of the rains in pots and afterwards planted out when
these cease, and carefully cultivated to obtain blossoms in February or
March.
The ZINNIA, has only of late years been introduced, but by a mistake it
has generally been sown too late in the year to produce good flowers,
whereas if the seed is put into the ground about June, fine handsome
flowers will be the result, in the cold weather.
The CENTAURY, Centaurea, is a very pretty class of annuals which grows,
and blossoms freely in this country.
The _Woolly Centaury_, C. lanata, is mentioned by Roxburgh as indigenous
to the country, but the flowers are very small, of a purple color,
blossoming in December.
The _Blue bottle_ O. cyanus, _Azeez_, flowers in December and January,
of pink and blue.
The _Sweet Sultan_, C. moschata, _Shah pusund_ is known by its fragrant
and delicate lilac blossoms in January and February.
The BALSAM, Impatiens, _Gulmu'hudee, doopatee_ is not cultivated, or
encouraged as it should be in India, where some of the varieties are
indigenous. A very rich soil should be used.
Dr. R. Wight observes, that Balsams of the colder Hymalayas, like those
of Europe, split from the base, rolling the segment towards the apex,
whilst those of the hotter regions do the reverse.
All annuals require the same, or nearly the same treatment, of which the
following may be considered a fair sketch.
_Propagation_.--These plants are all raised from seed put in the earth
generally on the close of the rains, although some plants, such as
nasturtium, sweet pea, scabious, wall-flower, and stock, are better to
be sown in pots about June or July, and then put out into the border as
soon as the rains cease. The seed must be sown in patches, rings, or
small beds according to taste, the ground being previously stirred, and
made quite fine, the earth sifted over them to a depth proportioned to
the size of the seed, and then gently pressed down, so as closely to
embrace every part of the seed. When the plants are an inch high they
must be thinned out to a distance of two, three, five, seven, or more
inches apart, according to their kind, whether spreading, or upright,
having reference also to their size; the plants thinned out, if
carefully taken up, may generally be transplanted to fill up any parts
of the border where the seed may have failed.
_Culture_. Weeding and occasionally stirring the soil, and sticking such
as require support, is all the cultivation necessary for annuals. If it
be desired to save seed, some of the earliest and most perfect blossoms
should be preserved for this purpose, so as to secure the best possible
seed for the ensuing year, not leaving it to chance to gather seed from
such plants as may remain after the flowers have been taken, as is
generally the case with native gardeners, if left to themselves.
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