4G8 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



PETUNIAS AS BEDDING PLANTS. 



I can fully endorse all that has been said by D. E. B. in praise of the 

 Petunia as a bedding plant. I think that seedlings may be confidently 

 depended on to produce good free-blooming varieties, if the strain be 

 a good one. I have had glorious beds of Petunias, the plants having 

 been raised from seed ; and these beds have received the largest share 

 of admiration this season. The seed should be sown in seed-pans, or 

 wide-mouthed 42-sized pots, which ought to be well drained with 

 crocks to about one-third of their depth, over which should be placed 

 about an inch of the coarse siftings of the soil. This keeps the fine 

 soil from being washed down among the drainage. A good drainage 

 should be given to all pots and pans in which fine seeds of this char- 

 acter are to be raised. The finely-sifted soil can be used for sowing 

 the seed in. I sow about the first week in March, and a vinery or 

 cucumber-pit w r ill suit as a temperature in which to raise the plants. 

 As soon as the rough leaves are formed, the pots should be removed 

 to a greenhouse, and placed near the glass to keep the plants from 

 being drawn. When large enough to handle, the plants are pricked 

 off into pans, or shallow boxes, and placed in a little warmth for about 

 a week or ten days ; this gives them a fine start, and by the time 

 they are wanted for planting out, they are of strong robust growth. 



After the temporary sojourn in warmth, they are removed to a green- 

 house or cold frame, and here they are hardened off till required for 

 bedding out by the middle of May. 



As I was passing from the Cambridge Railway Station to the Bot- 

 anic Gardens of the University town on the 15 th of August last, my 

 attention was attracted by the charming appearance of a villa garden, 

 the beds of which were planted on the mixed system, prominent being 

 Petunias, which were bright, gay, and effective. 



William Plester. 



Elsenham Hall Gardens. 



GAKDEN RECORDS. 



NO. X. 



MR FRANCIS N. DANCER'S MARKET-GARDEN", LITTLE SUTTON, 

 TURNHAM GREEN, MIDDLESEX. 



A London market-garden is ever an instructive place to visit, and this being 

 one that has always borne a high reputation, we felt certain to be much 

 interested, and were not disappointed. This market-garden is famous for the 

 production of fruit, and Plums, Apples, Pears, Currants, and Gooseberries are 



