112 



THE PETUNIA. 



pies, but all the intermediate shades, as well 

 as many beautifully pencilled or variegated, 

 and others with dark tubed or throated co- 

 rollas. 



Among the latest and finest new varieties 

 that are cultivated in this country, are the 

 following : Hebe, Nixenii, Beauts parfait, 

 Competitor, Gem,Timandraand Lady Alice 

 Peel. 



Fig. 17. The Hebe Petunia. 



Among these, Hebe, fig. 17, is, to my own 

 taste, one of the most beautiful. This va- 

 riety is, in its ground, colour delicate pale 

 lilac, superbly pencilled and marked with 

 rich purple, and with a rich dark rosy pur- 

 ple throat. The plant is one of the finest 

 in its habit, making a broad and spreading 

 plant, bearing hundreds of blossoms, every 

 shoot being laden with flowers. It is cer- 

 tainly an ornament to any parterre. 



The others are also fine sorts. Lady Alice 

 Peel is smaller in its flowers than most 

 others, and of a delicate violet purple with 

 a pale centre. 



It is the easiest thing in the world to cul- 

 tiA-^ate a Petunia. The more common sorts 



are propagated from seeds, and once esta- 

 blished in the flower garden, they sow them- 

 selves, and would fill the beds if allowed to 

 do so. The finest sorts are propagated by 

 cuttings, which root freely if taken off" at 

 any time from June tu September, and 

 planted under a hand-glass, or in a shaded 

 hot»bed covered with a light. 



To preserve them for the ensuing spring, 

 cuttings should be taken off" early in Sep- 

 tember, and planted in small pots filled 

 with good rich sandy compost. Here they 

 will soon strike root, when they may be 

 potted off' singly, watered and gradually 

 hardened to the air. During the winter, 

 they may be kept in any common sitting 

 room or greenhouse. They are ready for 

 planting out in the open border again as 

 soon as all danger of frost is over, say about 

 the middle of May. 



The Petunia never produces so striking 

 an efl^ect as when planted in small masses 

 or groups by itself — each mass being com- 

 posed of a single variety. The plants then 

 spread themselves pleasingly over the sur- 

 face of the ground in a manner perfectly 

 natural to the genus, and the whole surface 

 is one mass of rich bloom. 



The criterion of beauty for the Petunia, 

 among the florists, is a flower as nearly 

 round as possible, smooth-edged, free from 

 serratures, and not indented at the divisions; 

 colour bright and distinct ; and if variega- 

 ted, the contrast to be decided, and the veins, 

 stripes or blotches, well defined. 



The name Petunia is derived from the 

 original Brazilian one, Petun. 



To those who have but little space, and 

 wish something always in bloom- — to those 

 who wish to give a gay appearance to the 

 flower garden — to those who wfsh a good 

 deal of effect with as little trouble as pos- 

 sible, we commend the finer varieties of the 

 ' Petunia. Yours, sincerely. An Amateuk. 



