i8g6. 



GARDENING. 



259 



BEDDING IN HUMBOLDT PARK CHICAGO 



not a single truss oi flowers has appeared 

 on anj' of them." 



Wistarias, especially when grown in 

 deep, rich ground and making luxuriant 

 growth, often make much wood and live 

 through a good many years before they 

 begin to bloom, but after they do start 

 to flower they are likely to continue to 

 blossom year after year uninterruptedly. 

 Wistarias should thrive well enough with 

 you so far as exposure goes; if .they are 

 over luxuriant stint the supplies and 

 pack the ground firm; if of slow growth 

 rather unfasten the ground and keep it 

 heavily watered in summer. It olten 

 happens, too, that seedlings — that is. 

 young plants raised from seed — are far 

 more slow to bloom than are those raised 

 from lavers. 



The Flower Garden. 



BEDDING FLflNTS. 



The varieties of bedding plants outside 

 of geraniums are as great as could be de- 

 sired. The parks, of course, are an excep- 

 tion and people often come here and call 

 for plants "because we have hunted over 

 the whole city and can't get them no- 

 where." 



Next after geraniums, sweet alyssum 

 is most seen, and especially the double 

 lorm of it, which does equally well on the 

 heavy clay soil as on sandy ground ; this 

 is more than can be said about the single 

 varieties, they don't give satisfaction on 

 our heavy soil. Heliotropes as bedders 

 do not seem to be quite showy enough, 

 but they are splendid for mixing with 

 other plants in the flower stands or bas- 

 kets. 



Lantanas, especially the dwarf grow- 

 ing forms, are good bedders, blooming 

 profusely the whole season. For yellow, 

 ('.olden IJall is one of the best, with Queen 

 Victoria as pure white and Perfection for 

 mixed colors (yellow and lilac). Agera- 

 tum is certainly the best blue flower we 

 have for continuous bloom, and is suita- 



ble both as a border plant and for beds of 

 mixed colors. The dwarf forms of late 

 years' introduction are quite an improve- 

 ment on the old variety ,4. Mexicainim. 

 If a profusion of flowers is wanted, please 

 note that excessive watering means few 

 flowers and much foliage. Another blue 

 flower that is used considerablv for bed- 

 ding in a larger degree than the ageratum 

 is the lobelia. Certainly it is beautiful, 

 but its flowering period is rather too 

 short for use in great masses. Those 

 most in use are Crystal Palace and Em- 

 peror William, and of the trailing speciosa 

 for vases and baskets. 



Torenia Fournieri. a very beautiful 

 border plant with blue and white flow- 

 ers, deserves to be more popular than it is. 



IVnca rosea and its variety alba are 

 other varieties that one seldom meets 

 with. On account of their continuous 

 blooming and easy culture they should 

 not be missed in general bedding. 



Salvia sphndens makes a beautiful 

 bed, but is more desirable in the perennial 

 border or among the shrubbery, as they 

 do not come into flower before the latter 

 part of the season. The variety Clara 

 Bedman, that some of our seedsmen were 

 booming last year is certainlv not as 

 good as sphndens. 



Fuchsias are a failure for outdoor bed- 

 ding in this climate. The only place I 

 have seen them grown successfully is in a 

 border along the north wall. If such a 

 situation can be had they are well worth 

 trying. One of the best double white 

 ones is Mrs. E. G. Hill. Phenomenal, 

 a double purple, M. Alphand, single, vio- 

 let and scarlet, speciosa, single, red and 

 white, and Beauty of Exeter, double blue 

 and pink, are fine sorts. 



Xierembergia frutescens, useful for bor- 

 ders and mixed beds, is also very desira- 

 ble in baskets and stands. The flowers 

 are pale blue shaded to white and densely 

 produced all summer. Erythrina crista- 

 galli is fine for the perennial border and 

 the shrubberj', it makes also a beautiful 

 bed when massed, 3 to 4- feet high and is a 

 vigorous grower. 



The feverfew (Matricaria inodora ffore 

 plena) is very fine for bedding when re- 

 placed with other plants after it is 

 through flowering. Verbenas in all col- 

 ors are undoubtedly fine bedders; they 

 like to close up the season rather early. 



Marguerite carnations have of "late 

 years become quite an acquisition to our 

 general list of bedding plants, and as 

 they will flower from seed sown in early 

 spring, the garden should never be with- 

 out them. They are ver3- pretty in the 

 mixed border as well as in massing. 



Petunias are splendid bedders, both the 

 single and double forms. It is surprising 

 to see what an improvement has recently 

 been efi'ected in this plant. It is equally 

 good for beds or flower stands. 



.\nother plant useful in the planting of 

 flower stands is Mahernia odorata with 

 small, golden, bell-shaped flowers. 



Gazania splendens, whose flowers are 

 bright orange with a black and white 

 spot at the base of each ray-floret is also 

 good. This plant is likewise at home in 

 the rockery. 



Ahronia umbellata. whose flowers are 

 rosy pink, is fine for vases and rockery. 



Ivy-leaved geraniums are some of our 

 best plants for the filling of vases and 

 hanging baskets, and quite a number of 

 varieties of merit are grown. Those 

 mostly used are Count H. de Choiseul, 

 (pale blush); Souvenir de Charles Turner, 

 deep pink, almost scarlet, probably the 

 best in cultivation; Garden's Glorj', bright 

 scarlef, and Jeanne d' Arc, white." 



VINES SUITABLE FOR STANDS. 



German ivy— (Senecio mikanioides) is a 

 very rapid grower Thanbergia alata has 

 yellow flowers with dark purple center. 

 Maurandya Barclayana with flowers of 

 violet color is a strong believer in "the 

 survival of the fittest." Cohxa scandens 

 is a rapid grower with dark purple cam- 

 panula flowers, and is a splendid climber 

 for the porch. Lophospermum scandens 

 is a vigorous vine with rose purple flowers. 

 Viiica raa/'or(peri winkle) and its varieties 

 elegantissima and Harrison! are the 

 best vines for large flower stands. 



