1919.] 19 



-HORTICTILTUEE. 



BEDDING PLANTS FOR TRINIDAD.d) 

 By R. 0. Williams, 

 Acting Supt., Royal Botanic Gardens, and St. Clair Experiment Station. 



This subject is a very wide one, and I know as individual members 

 we hold different opinions as to whether certain plants should or should 

 not be included in a list of plants suitable for bedding purposes in 

 Trinidad. 



Some plants I shall mention would scarcely be termed bedders, but 

 I have included them because bedding planis are somewhat few here, 

 and those mentioned make good flower-garden subjects. 



There are manj' plants which under careful culture and suitable 

 weather conditions can occasionally be grown. Amongst these should 

 be included Double Daisies, Mignonette, Ageratum, Lobelia, Sunflower, 

 Geraniums, Michaelmas Daisies, Hollyhocks and Gladiolus. AYhere 

 masses of flowers in beds, &c., are i-equired it is no use to rely on these. 

 I have therefore confined mj'self as far as pis.Hible to the best plants 

 which are most suitable to our conditions. 



Annuals are a feature of summer bedding in English gardens, 

 but the list of those which thrive here is a very limited one, attributable 

 to several causes. Some of them of course will not thrive at all ; others 

 .are not grov/n because of the great difficulty in raising them from seed, 

 or because if raised from seed successfully, insect life is so abundant that 

 many are destroj-ed. 



Although the growth of veg2bition is so rapid in the tropics, the 

 laying out of a flower garden and the keeping a constant supply of 

 plants in flower is not such an easy matter as it at first appeal's, as we 

 have not the well marked seasons of Europe. If hero one relies on 

 annuals for a constant supply of flowers, disappointment is sure to Le 

 occasionally met for various reasons, such as weather, and lack of supply 

 of good seed from abroad. "We h ive however the advantage of possess- 

 ing many small shrubbj" fl.oweriug plants which can be utilized in the 

 beds in such a manner that never at any time will the whole set of beds 

 be entirely bare of flowers. 



I will deal With the plants under four headings: (1| Small shrubs, 

 and perennial bedd(!rs. (2) BuUjous and Tuberous rooted plants. 

 (B) Annuals. (4) Plants suitable for edging purposes. 



SMALL SHRUBS AND PERENNL\LS. 



The shrubby and perennial plants will ensure the garden being well 

 stocked with flowers at all times ; they are al&o useful v.here quantities 

 of cut flowers are required. 



Angelonla salicaruefolia is a lev/ shrub with erect spikes of violet 

 coloured flowers. The white variety is also very pretty, and both can 

 be used separately or in conibination with good effect. Althoui^h this 



(1.) A jiapftr read before a meeting of the Horticultural C'hib. 



