100 THE FLOEAL WORLD AXD GARDEN GUIDE. 



ing, and the entertainment to be derived from the view of tlie 

 planting will be hip^her and more acceptable to a reflective mind. 

 IVe cannot very well be losers by the introduction to our gardens 

 of more noble forms of vegetation than we have been accustomed to 

 heretofore. Another important point for consideration is, that very 

 few of these subjects will produce an effect early in the season ; they 

 are mostly autumnal plants, requiring time for the development of 

 their characters. This consideration is of more importance to the 

 rough and ready gardener than to those who have m.eans of propa- 

 gating and growing the plants from an early period of the year, and 

 who therefore can plant them out in a forward state at the very 

 same time, or very soon after the time, when the rough and ready 

 practitioner makes a beginning. But we shall recommend nothing, 

 either in the way of selection or practice, that may not be relied 

 upon to give full remuneration for the attention bestowed. "We 

 shall first take Messrs. Barr and Sugden's catalogue, and make out 

 a list of seeds that should be purchased at once, and be sown where 

 the plants are to remain. 



Artemisia Japonica, A. nova species, from St. Petersburg, A. 

 annua, three fine species of ornamental foliage plants, suitable 

 to form large clumps, or for conspicuous places in the raised border. 

 Sow in April, an inch deep, and thin the plants when up, as they 

 require it, allowing plenty of room for development. 



Beet. — At page 59 of the catalogue, a crimson-leaved heet is 

 oftered as " selected purposely for the flower-garden," It has a close, 

 neat habit, producing abundance of small deep crimson leaves. If 

 required to form a ribbon row on a bed or circle, have the ground - 

 dug deeply at once, and left quite rough, but not manured. About 

 the 20th of April level the ground, make the surface fine, and sow 

 the seeds three inches apart. When the plants are fairly up and 

 advancing, thin them to six inches apart, and they will soon after- 

 wards cover the ground, and have a rich appearance. In the 

 autum,n take them up, select the best roots, and store them in sand 

 to cook for salads ; give the wiry and ill-shaped roots to somebody's 

 pig or cow. If 3'ou want another beet suitable for ornamental pur- 

 poses, obtain the Suffolk Bed Beet from Messrs. Wheeler and Son, 

 of Gloucester. 



Beta chiUensis is the grandest plant of the kind known. . It is, in 

 fact, wonderful, the leaves rising two or three feet high, and the 

 colours brilliant beyond conception, varying from fiery orange to 

 glowing carmine, and thence deepening to a blackish crimson. This 

 can only be obtained of Mr. Salter, Hammersmith, at 2s. Gd. a packet. 

 It would make a gorgeous bed, and a few plants in conspicuous places 

 in a sunny border would have a glorious appearance. 



Canna. — We recommend the rough and ready gardener not to 

 buy seed of these ; for unless they are grown in heat and got forward 

 to a good size by the end of May, they will not flower the first 

 season. But there is another mode of procedure. Prepare a large 

 bed in a position where a mass of gorgeous leafage crowned with 

 scarlet flowers would be appropriate, and let the position be well 

 drained and sheltered from the north. Have the ground broken up 



