24 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BULLETIN. [XVIII. I. 



division, but the latter method is recommended where plants of the 

 same variety are required. The separate colours such as red, yellow, 

 or pink, massed in beds look very pretty and with attention to the 

 heights of different varieties excellent effects can be obtained with 

 mixed beds. 



Occasionally during very wet weather the leaves are attacked 

 with a fungus which somewhat detracts from the appearance of the 

 plants. This can be remedied by spraying with Bordeaux mixture, 

 and keeping the shoots thinned so that air and light can get amongst 

 them. 



Dahlias are now coming much into prominence and appear to 

 thrive well under Trinidad conditions. 



The best strains are of course from imported tubers, although good 

 varieties can also be raised from seed. I have had good singles flowering 

 recently at six weeks from seed. They deteriorate in this climate 

 after being under cultiration a short time. 



Tuberose. — This is a Mexican plant and quite one of our best bulbous 

 plants for bedding out. The single variety is most commonly seen, 

 although a few people have plants of the double. It is most useful 

 in beds which are also planted with permanent shrubby plants such as 

 Ixoi'as, Hibiscus, Begonia coccinea, &c. The spikes of pure white flowers 

 grow from two to three feet high and are very sweetly scented. 



Zephyranthes, are small native bulbous plants of several colours, 

 white, pink, or yellow. They are very abundant, and the pink and 

 white can be used as edgings for beds. Their only drawback is that 

 they only flower for a few days at a time, and the foliage looks some- 

 what shabby when they are drying down, or when as is frequently the 

 case they become attacked by caterpillars. Whilst in flower however a 

 prettier plant could not be desired. The j^ellow although it thrives in 

 drains, sides of roads, &c., is very difficult to establish in a garden bed. 



ANNUALS. 



The list of annuals one can grow with success here is not a long 

 one. I have however dealt with those which from experience have 

 proved to thrive well. 



Amaranthus. — A.caiidnttis is the well known Love-lies-bleeding with 

 drooping spikes of reddish purple flowers. The plant grows 2 to 3 feet 

 high and makes a good show in the flower garden. It is especially 

 suited for large beds. 



There are several other species of Amaranthus which are fine 



ornamental foliage plants, the heads being of a variety of colours 



Ai'^^ crimson, green, purple, orange, bronze, yellow, and various shades of 



''^■' red. The flowers in these species are inconspicuous, but the foliage 



makes up for this. A bed in the Botanic Gardens last year could be 



seen as a bright spot of colour from the opposite side of the Savannah. 



Good plants of Amaranthuses can be grown from locally raised 

 seed. Mole crickets are troublesome to the young plants. 



