20 SEPTEMBER 1935, Page 16

Snapdragon Substitutes Gardeners all over the country—both in England and

yet more in the United States—are asking themselves what is the substitute for the antirrhinum. It . had become almost an essential, when that fungus disease known as rust came over the Atlantic. This rust has appeared this summer in gardens in the West of England that were previously proud of being immune ; and the men of the R.H.S. advise a three years' abstention. The glorious deep red hues are hard to replace. Though this plant has temporarily failed, how many new flowers have increased the gardener's scope. Few newer varieties have enjoyed a more popular vogue than tile Golden Gleam nasturtium ; all can grow the flower now for all have got the seed. The season has fairoured it. The plants have been a cushion of colour for very many weeks. The length of the stems, which are firm, enables the flowers to thrust beyond the leaves, which in many sorts conceal the blossom as completely as a vegetable-marrow. 'Beds of. the newer type of aster, showing a golden centre, have proved both lovely and lasting. As for that prince of annuals, the nemesia, the plants 'have swelled out like the Harrow cricket ball and the range of tint is as satisfactory as the continuing amount of blossom. These with Poulsen roses and an invariable coreopsis or two and a revival of the Iceland poppies make mid-September gay even without the dahlia 'and Michaelmas daisy and other plants proper to the season:

W. BEACH THOMAS.