3 MAY 1946, Page 16

In My Garden Most gardening critics seem to ;lave synchronised

in their advice to fill up gaps in the herbaceous border with annuals. One of them, writing on behalf of Women's Institutes, suggests the importance of knowing the height to which th.: several annuals grow. It is, I think, a general truth that tall annuals—such a clarkias, poppies, sweet peas, eschscholtzias. stocks—are general favourites, while the brilliant Phacelia carnpanularia. Portulaca hybrids, Kaulfussia amelloides—all recommended for small gardens in Home and Country—are wholly unknown. Packets of mixed annuals, all of the same height, were at one time sold by Sutton's, and I

found a bed of them most amusing and indeed beautiful. In this advice about studying height, I hold it to be a mistake to pUt all di short things in front and the tall things at the back. The best rough or herbaceous borders are in bays, rather than on a graded slope.

W. BEACH THOMAS.