234 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GriDE. 



bright, having the most brilliant creamy variegation, in the midst of 

 which sit the pretty rose-coloured flowers. The poorest soil wms used 

 — we keep a heap of old stuff shaken out of pots, on purpose tor any 

 special work of this kind ; rich soil would spoil the variegation of 

 this plant. The particular purpose to which this plant has been 

 adapted may be worth explaining. Wishing to go through the 

 geraniums carefully, to make notes, write new labels, etc., etc., 1 

 have had the whole collection arranged in groups in another garden, 

 away from home, where I can spend a few days amongst them, free 

 from risk of disturbance. In the meanwhile, as we have been 

 excessively gay with flowers since the end of February last, when 

 we began with crocuses, snowdrops, and hyacinths, I determined to 

 have a display of leaves. Accordingly, we prepared a sufiicient 

 quantity of the following, having long foreseen that we should want 

 them : Coleus nigricans, Coleus Verschaff'elti, Iresene Herbstii, and 

 all the new Alternantheras and Teleiautheras, for though these are 

 here on trial as plants, we could not dream of allowing them to 

 waste their sweetness on the desert air. 



The manner in which the willow herb is used is this — a circular 

 bed, consit^ting of a large block of the willow herb and Tresene 

 Herbstii, plant and plant all through, then a bright circle of Mrs. 

 Pollock geranium, and an edging of Alternant hera spathulata. 

 However, this particular plant is invaluable, and, if any trouble 

 about obtaining it, send an order to Mr. Salter for the varieuated 

 Epilobium, and you will obtain it true. We could make a thousand 

 plants easily from our clump on the rockery, and I fancy the way 

 we have managed it is the best possible. 



Sedum spectabile. — This is the plant frequently described in 

 these pages as Sedum f ah avium, but spectabile is its proper name. 

 It is the easiest plant to grow for plunging ever heard of. Now 

 that we have a good stock we no longer take cuttings, but divide 

 •the plants every spring as soon as they begin to grow. We get 

 heads fifteen inches over in five- inch pots, and they never have any 

 shelter; it is, in fact, one of the hardiest plants in cultivation. Our 

 whole stock, which is a large one, has been used three times already 

 in grouping, for the sake of its folinge ; but its proper season will be 

 September, when the flowers appear, and are extremely welcome for 

 their carious shade of creamy pink. 



Tall Lobelias. — Having for several years given up the cultiva- 

 tion of Lobelia cardinalis, and others of that section, I was amused 

 to find that Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, had taken them in baud for im- 

 provement, and I took in hand a dozen new varieties sent ©ut by 

 him, the price of the set of twelve being fifty shillings. They have 

 proved marvels of beauty for fine habits of growth and brilliant 

 flowers. Here they will take the place of gladioli, and give less 

 trouble. The way to manage these is to grow them in rich soil, 

 and with ample pot room, and give abundance of water, keeping the 

 plants in a cool house from October to April, and out of doors all 

 other times. Those who are not disposed to buy Mr. Bull's 

 new varieties at fi.ve shillings per plant, may do very well with 

 the old varieties at sixpence each, for they are all good ; the 



