1919.] BEDDING PLANTS FOE TRINIDAD. 27 



Petunias. — These showy annuals have been derived from P. nycta- 

 giniflora an annual, and P. violacea a perennial. That they may bs 

 grown here with success is amply proved by exhibits at the Club's shows, 

 but they require more care than many of the other annuals mentioned. 

 They are best raised from seed, but can also be raised by cuttings. 

 Mole crickets are very troublesome to the young seedlings in the beds. 

 There are many varieties of Petunias, double, single, fringed, &c., but 

 for bedding purposes here the single appears to give the best results. 



Phlox Driunmondii.— This pretty bedder is a generiil favourite and 

 an easily grown plant. There are varieties of a wide range of form and 

 colour, all derived from the red-flowered type found in Texas. 



They are easily grown from seed and once thsy become established 

 self sown seedlings will always be found in close proximity to the 

 old plants. Phlox are most suitable for small beds or planted between 

 roses where they help to brighten the beds. Many rose growers m 

 England make a regular practice of planting Phlox Drummondii in the 

 beds as they ttike little from the soil and lend a bright splash of colour 

 as a ground-work to the roses. 



Tithonia sjieciosa.—X pretty plant growing to a height of several 

 feet with lovely orange coloured heads of composite flowers. It thrives 

 well in Trinidad, reproduces itself readily by seed, and is very suitable 

 for large round beds. 



Torenia asiatica, locally known as Pansies, can be utilised for 

 small beds dming the wet season. Seedlings as a rule are very plentiful 

 as the plant appears to have become naturalised. 



Verbenas.— Bedding Verbenas of hybrid origin are always favourites, 

 owmg to the great variety of colours and the easiness with which they 

 can be cultivated. For 'fancy shaped beds, or as a groundwork to 

 shrubby plants, they are most suitable. Good varieties can be raised 

 from seed, and afterwards propagated by cuttings or layers, as each 

 httle shoot where it touches the ground forms roots and can afterwards 

 be severed to form a new plant. 



When Verbenas become too massed in the beds, they quickly damp 

 off in rainy weather. It is best to renew the beds with young plants or 

 cuttings before thay reach this stage. Verbenas make the best show 

 during the dry season if well watered. 



Zinnias can be reckoned among the best if not the ve:y best 

 annuals for general purposes in Trinidad. They give a brilliant show 

 of colour, are easily raised, flower quickly and very rarely fail. They 

 take two or three weeks from the time of sowing the seeds to the time of 

 transplanting in the beds, are in full flower in from six weeks to two 

 months and over by four months. If double zinnias are required it is 

 best to raise them from introduced seeds which have been especially 

 selected by the nurseryman. If one takes any chance seedUngs which 

 come up in the beds the majority will usually be singles of inferior 

 value. Zinnias are usually grown as mixed colours, as the shades 

 associate so well in a bed that it is not necessary to keep the colours 

 separate unless there is a colour scheme in view. It is a change 



