RETORT OF MR. 8. A. BEDFORD 

 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



449 



The flower garden was very satisfactory, and a continuous mass of bloom through- 

 out the season. The weather during the early spring months, was favourable for 

 hot-bed work, and a very fine stock of bedding plants were ready for transplanting 

 to the open at the end of May. The first sowing was made on April 2, and concluded 

 on the 25th, transplanting being brought to a conclusion on May 10. Bedding out 

 commenced on June 3, and was well under way, when we were visited by the cool 

 wave on June 5 and 6, previously referred to, and which caused much damage in this 

 department. Many of the newly bedded annual flowers were frozen, and necessitated 

 a replanting, which fortunately we were able to accomplish by reason of having surplus 

 stock reserved for contingencies. Zinnias and Dahlias were the most seriously injured, 

 and were cut to the ground, while all varieties were more or less affected. On the return 

 of fine weather, however, many of the plants recovered, and very soon all trace of the 

 damage was obliterated ; and the long open fall compensated in a great measure for the 

 check sustained at this period. Tbe Herbaceous perennials were much admired, and the 

 number of varieties of this class now growing here constitute a very comprehensive 

 collection. 



Variety. 



How Sown. 



Date 

 Sown. 



Date 



Transplanted. 



Flowering Period. 



Boxes, hotbed.; April 



Asters (10 types) 



Amarantus suporbus 



ii bicolor 



Ageratum Mexicanum 



Antinhinum inajus ■■ « 



,, ii nanum n m 



Abronia umbellata Outside 



Brachycome iberidifolia Boxes, hotbed. 



Cosmos hybrida « « 



Celosia (3 varieties) ■> " 



Chrysanthemum coronarium « « 



n frutescens ■■ n 



,i carinatumhybridum 



Burridgeanum . . . . ■■ m 



Dahlias, single 



Gaillardia pieta 



ii Lorenziana 



Godetia nana 



Helichrysum braeteatum 



Nicotiana affinis 



Nigella damascena 



Portulaca double . . . 



Phlox Druinmondii 



Petunias, single mixed 



,, double ii 



Salpiglossis variabilis 



Stocks, double German 10 weeks 

 „ n large flowering . 



Scabiosa major 



i, ■ minor 



"Verbena hybrida auriculaeflora . 

 Zinnia elegans 



Outside 



Boxes, hotbed. 



Outside 



Boxes*, hotbed. 



8. 

 8. 

 8. 



May 25. 



April 17 . 



8. 



.1 10. 



„ 10. 



i. 10. 



., 10. 

 8. 



,. 15. 



„ 15. 

 May 25. 

 April 10. 



„ 10 



„ 12. 

 May 25 . 

 April 8. 



.. 30. 



„ 30. 



„ 15. 



,, 17. 



i, 17. 



n 10. 



„ 10. 



„ 17. 



i. 25. 



June 3 to June 15. 



July 5 to frost. 

 Ornamental leaved. 



ii it 



July 3 to frost. 

 June 30 to severe frost. 



Not July 1 to frost. 



June 3 to June 15. June 25 to frost. 

 Did not flower. 

 July 10 to frost 

 „ 1 

 ,. 10 



ii 10 



June 25 to frost. 



ii 25 



„ 20 

 July 15. Everlasting. 

 June 20 to frost. 



ii 15 to July 5. 



1 1 25 to frost. 



ii 10 to severe frost. 

 July 3 



ii 3 to frost. 



„ 1 



it 5 ti 



it 5 it 

 June 20 ■■ 



,. 20 

 July 10 to severe frost. 



n 10 to frost. 



Not 



June 3 to June 15. 



Not 



June 3 to June 15. 



The delay in the sowing of Petunias was due to the late arrival of seed, but as 

 pains wero taken to push tbe plants along, very little time was lost, and the results 

 were particularly fine. The double flowers included the finest we have ever grown here, 

 being very large, compact and beautifully fringed. Special attention is called to the 

 Scabiosa (Sweet Scabious), an annual not generally cultivated here, but which is 

 worthy of more attention. It is very hardy, and its varied coloured flowers of rich 



1G— 29 



