iSyi.] NOTES ON FLOWER- GARDENING. 517 



borders it is first - class, Tliis and A. grandiflorum are plants not 

 nearly so well known and grown as they deserve. Tliey do with the 

 same treatment as yellow Calceolarias. 



Alternantheras, especially A. amabilis and A. magnifica, have taken 

 a very prominent place about London and the south, and from their 

 behaviour in the midland counties of Scotland, have established a claim 

 to a fair trial in Scotland generally. They are very easily propagated, 

 and admirably suited for carpeting and small beds and edgings. 



Centaurea ragusina and its varieties are, generally speaking, the best 

 of the more robust-growing silver-leaved plants, although, strange to 

 say, with us they are scarcely worth growing as compared to Cineraria 

 maritima, an old plant which deserves more attention than it now re- 

 ceives. The influence of soil and climate is very marked in a case of 

 this sort, and shows how necessary it is to select ]3lants according to 

 such influences. 



Calceolaria Princess Louisa w^e regard as the best of all dwarf yellow 

 Calceolarias ; it blooms most freely and continuously, and from its 

 dense twiggy habit withstands storm and rain the best of any Calceo- 

 laria we have ever grown. Veronica Andersonii variegata and Euonymus 

 radicans variegata are two silvery variegated and almost hardy plants 

 that deserve extensive culture, they are so effective and fine in habit. 

 The same may be said of the variegated Periwinkle, which, when kept 

 well and regularly trimmed, makes a most lovely permanent edging. A 

 large circular bed of this Periwinkle, thinly planted with Yucca recurva 

 pendula and edged with a massive row of Sedum fabarium (spectabilis), 

 is one of the most effective beds we have met with this season. 



Sedum spectabilis is a most effective autumn hardy border-plant, and 

 makes a fine pot-plant. 



Lonicera aurea reticulata is not nearly so much used as its merits de- 

 serve. It makes one of the prettiest edgings that can be grown. True, 

 the frost will in hard winters cut it down, but it springs up with 

 increased brightness and beauty; and we would recommend it to be hard 

 cut down every spring, as it springs up with increased and more 

 beautiful variegation. The same applies to the variegated Periwinkle. 

 These are two plants which, with the Euonymus and Veronica already 

 named, we would strongly recommend, esj)ecially to those who are short 

 of accommodation for growing variegated Geraniums and other more 

 tender light edging-plants. 



Gazania splendens appears to be more a locality plant than most other 

 bedding plants. In the south it is not nearly so welldoing as in the 

 north, and we may say that until we saw it in full bloom here we never 

 saw its wonderful powers of bloom. When the blooms are open they 

 nearly meet in the bed. 



