26 THE FLORIST. 



round, outside. Another bed of Alma Geranium and Verbena venosa, 

 mixed. Another of Mangles' Geranium and Verbena venosa, mixed. 

 Another of Flower of the Day Geranium and Verbena venosa, 

 mixed. Another of Buchnera biflora and Verbena venosa, mixed. 

 This has a pleasing effect, and for small beds nothing can surpass it in 

 point of beauty. Respecting the Buchnera it should not be planted in 

 very rich soil, otherwise it will grow too freely, and not flower so well ; 

 but if planted in poor gravelly soil it will flower abundantly, and its 

 little Jasmine-like white flowers, with the Verbena venosa planted 

 regularly over the bed, produce a charming appearance. The next bed 

 is equally good ; the white Alyssum (Koniga) and Verbena venosa, 

 mixed ; those who have not seen this cannot imagine what a striking 

 thing it is. Another bed, (Enothera macrocarpa and Verbena venosa, 

 was very good. An easy way of propagating the CEnothera, in spring, 

 is to take the young shoots when about three inches long ; slip them 

 off and plant them in the bed where they are to flower, and in the 

 course of three weeks they will be rooted and will flower freely all the 

 autumn. Another bed with Lee's old scarlet and a purplish one of the 

 same class (variegated Geraniums), with Verbena venosa, was very 

 good. Another of Cineraria maritima and Venbena venosa, mixed, 

 made a greyish looking bed. A good one contained Verbena venosa 

 edged with a broad band of Mangles's Geranium. 



There is another little plant I cannot omit mentioning, the Lobelia 

 Erinus speciosa, the best of all the Lobelias I have seen, which comes 

 as true as from seed Mignonette. This spring I purchased a small 

 packet of seed, which was sown in March. I then placed it in a gentle 

 heat, and in the course of three or four weeks the plants were strong 

 enough to prick out. I then collected a few shallow pans, and filled 

 them with light sandy loam, dibbled them in thickly, and placed them 

 on a shelf near the glass in the greenhouse, and in the month of May 

 I had a host of little gems in full flower, anxiously waiting to be 

 separated and planted where they were to remain during the summer. 

 I have above 2000 plants grown from seed in great beauty at this 

 moment (Oct. 1*2). I find they are much better from seed than 

 cuttings, as I have proved them both ways ; from cuttings they will 

 flower a little sooner, but they do not continue so long in bloom in the 

 autumn. I shall now mention a few beds planted with Lobelia 

 speciosa and other plants, mixed. For small beds nothing can surpass 

 Golden Chain Geranium and Lobelia (a bed of Lobelia speciosa with 

 the Golden Chain Geranium dotted down the centre is very rich). 

 Another bed, centre Golden Chain Geranium, next a broad band of 

 Lobelia speciosa, with an edging of Lady Plymouth Geranium ; this is 

 very effective, as is also a bed of Lobelia speciosa, with the pink 

 Latereps variegated Geranium, regularly mixed over the bed, with an 

 edging of Cerastium tomentosum. Another good bed was made with 

 Mountain of Snow Geranium and Lobelia speciosa mixed. Another 

 had, centre Lobelia speciosa, next Etoile de Vaise Geranium edged with 

 Golden Chain. A very pretty border may be made by planting Ceras- 

 tium tomentosum and Lobelia speciosa mixed together. I beg to say 

 that there is no plant more worthy of cultivation than this little gem 



