114 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



As a guide to the inexperienced I will classify the most important 

 genera employed in flower garden decoration according to the posi- 

 tions in which they do best. But it must be borne in mind that a 

 very large proportion of the bedders will do moderately well in 

 almost any position. Amongst those flourishing in a cool and 

 partially shady situation we must include Ageratums, Calceolarias, 

 Variegated Geraniums, Fuchsias, Lobelias, Heliotropiums, Verbenas, 

 and Violas. Amongst those that do well in a dry hot position, are 

 Alternantheras, Bouvardias, Coleus, Centaureas, Zonal Geraniums, 

 Iresines, Lantanas, Petunias,. Tropseolums, Veronicas, and succulent 

 plants of all kinds, and nearly all the Subtropicals. 



KITCHEN GARDEN BOOTS. 



«|HE tap-rooted plants grown in the kitchen garden cannot 

 usually be sown with advantage until the month of 

 April, although in forward seasons parsnips may be 

 sown with safety in the month of March. Important 

 as these crops are, there is really not much to be said 

 about them, though what little should be said is as important as the 

 roots themselves ; for good crops of roots make a great return for 

 the labour bestowed upon them, and to secure good crops we must 

 practise o-ood cultivation. As, in a periodical work, we are bouud 

 to begin somewhere with reference to the passing time, we shall 

 now suppose that those of our readers who grow garden roots have 

 plots of land made ready for them by deep trenching, and that it 

 depends on the weather for a nice friable top-crust on which the 

 seed can be sown. Taking this for granted, we proceed to offer a few 

 practical advices, which we hope will to many prove useful. 



The Caeeot is the most important of all the garden roots, the 

 potato alone excepted. Two supplies of carrots should be arranged 

 for in every garden. A dish of small, tender carrots constitutes 

 one of the elegances of the table during the summer and autumn, 

 and large carrots are in demand all the winter, and, indeed, as long as 

 they can be obtained throughout the year. Fortunately, both sorts 

 can be grown in any garden that will produce a cabbage ; but first- 

 class winter carrots fit for exhibition can only be grown in a deep, 

 well-pulverized loam,, or nourishing sandy soil that has been long 

 in cultivation. In common with all other crops, deep digging some 

 time in advance of sowing is necessary to insure a heavy produc- 

 tion of handsome roots ; and the best plot of ground that can be 

 selected for sowing carrot-seed on is one that was heavily manured 

 last season, and well trenched up before winter. To incorporate 

 fresh manure with the soil in making preparations for the cultiva- 

 tion of the carrot, is bad practice ; but in the case of a worn-out 

 plot being required for this crop, it may be trenched two spits deep, 

 and a good bed of manure may be laid in the trench as the work 

 proceeds. It is of the utmost importance to have the surface soil 

 dry and pulverulent, and it is better to wait for fine weather and a 



