of Rural Art and Taste. 



73 



pots until May, even in this district. We 

 have as fine a display of Verbenas as any- 

 one and the plants are planted in the open 

 ground in April ; although the tops make 

 little progress at first, the plants are root- 

 ing and get well established before the hot 

 vpeather commences, and then grow much 

 stronger and better than later planted ones, 

 which often dry up before the new roots take 

 hold of the ground. 



Zonale Geraniuvis are best propagated in 

 the Autumn, and grown through the winter 

 in boxes or pots, according to the space to 

 spare ; if in boxes these should be now pot- 

 ted singly in three inch pots and receive a 

 little heat until established, after which the 

 less heat they receive, except just to ex- 

 clude frost, the stronger and healthier are 

 the plants ; any varieties of which the stock 

 is short should receive extra heat and the 

 cuttings rooted as soon as possible if good 

 plants are expected for planting, but it is 

 best to select those varieties which are 

 known to flower well in our tropical sum- 

 mer, and only try a limited number of the 

 novelties to prove their value, for some 

 varieties which are fine at one place may be 

 very unsatisfactory at a neighbor's, and com- 

 paratively few of the standard bedding 

 varieties grown in Europe are useful here, 

 and, unfortunately, many of the best are no 

 use at all ; several of the double varieties 

 stand the climate and flower beautifully, but 

 with us none of the Tom Thumb strain has 

 been of any use whatever. 



A.ltcrnniittierfv. 



Prepare at once a good stock of cuttings 

 of AlternanthercB ; this is a most useful plant 

 for ribbon borders, edgings, or for carpet 

 bedding, of which we will speak in due season; 

 the AlternantherjB require keeping in a 

 warm house through the winter, and also keep 

 the young plants in a warm place or they 

 will be very small at planting time, but it is 

 surprising how fast these plants grow when 

 hot weather commences. We have had plants 

 grow more than a yard in diameter in the 

 open ground, while in England they seldom 



grow more then six inches. If dwarf Lo- 

 belia are grown from seed, it should be 

 sown at once in a warm place, and picked off" 

 as soon as large enough to handle, but we 

 prefer taking up a few late planted old plants; 

 in fact one healthy old plant will grow 

 hundreds of cuttings, which root very free 

 in heat and shade. Seedlings are seldom 

 to be depended on. At one time the plants 

 will come true, and at another there will be 

 a variety of size and colors. These plants 

 are not so satisfactory in all cases as in 

 England, where Golden Chain Geranium, 

 and blue Lobelia edging is perfection, but 

 the frosted silver plants are at home with us, 

 and Cineraria maritina and Centaurea Can- 

 dedissima are quite indispensable ; these 

 propagate freely from young side shoots, and 

 will make good plants by planting time. Sev- 

 eral other varieties can be grown if desired, 

 such as Trenum and Achgrocline, etc. 

 These, from their dwarf and compact growth, 

 are useful for miniature beds and delicate 

 edgings, and to be eff"eetive must be planted 

 very thick together ; we must not forget the 

 old fashioned variegated Alyssum ; this is 

 yet one of the best white leaved edging plants 

 we have. A few old plants taken from open 

 ground in October will give plenty of cut- 

 tings which thicken freely now, and will 

 make nice plants by planting time. 



Ladies generally like a bed of Petunias ; 

 they make a fine show, but usually grow be- 

 yond all bounds. A plant or two in a rustic 

 bed on a lawn is most satisfactory; in this case 

 they seldom grow so rampant and will flower 

 well through the season. Of course we must 

 remember a few Heliotropes ; young shoots 

 of these root freely and make nice plants if 

 propagated at the end of month. These plants 

 being very tender should not be planted un- 

 til it is fit to plant tomatoes. The Heliotrope 

 is a plant not well suited for a display of 

 color, and is best planted with scented 

 Geranium, Lemon Verbena and Mignonette 

 in near proximity to the dwelling, both for 

 enjoying the perfume from the plants and 

 also convenient for cutting sprays when re- 

 quired, for self and friends. 



