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TJie Horticulturist and Journal 



they are required for bedding. We have a very 

 numerous list of these plants to select from, but 

 there are but few which are thoroughly satis- 

 factory for planting outside ; some of the va- 

 rieties will not stand sun satisfactory, and 

 others are not decided enough in color. The 

 old Verschaffeltii is good under all circum- 

 stances and is yet the most telling of all ; and 

 We have not seen any of the golden edged va- 

 rieties surpass Princess Royal. Of course 

 there are many other golden edged varieties 

 which may be as good, but this we have tried 

 with others in all positions and it was satis- 

 factory. In positions where the various shades 

 of black and brown are desirable, we have 

 plenty to select from, all more or less satis- 

 factory, but it is generally preferable to neu- 

 tralize with shades of green when possible, than 

 to introduce mourning into such a lively spot as 

 the flower garden. The Coleus being such a 

 fast growing and easily propagated plant, it 

 is well to try any new varieties when they 

 appear, for nearly all are worth growing as 

 pot plants, to fill up a gap inside at any time 

 during the summer ; they require but little 

 attention besides abundance of water, and are 

 also useful to make a show at the autumn 

 State fair. 



Ornamental FoUaged Plants. — Sow 



at once a few seeds of Castor oil plant, and the 

 desirable varieties of Amaranthus ; Salic ifolius 

 is not satisfactory in all cases, but grand when 

 it does well; it should certainly be tried. 

 Huttoni was not at all satisfactory with us as a 

 pot plant, not being showy enough, but it might 

 be useful as a border plant, the color being 

 better than many dark shades among Coleus 

 and Perilla. The above mentioned seeds 

 should be sown in heat, potted and hardened 

 in a cool house before planting outside, at the 

 end of May. 



Gloxinias.— liixoi already done. Gloxinias 

 should be taken out from old soil and potted 

 in smaller pots and placed in a good heat. When 

 in growth these plants require shade from bright 

 sun and must not be wet over the foliage, also 

 require careful watering ; if allowed to get very 

 dry and kept in a dry atmosphere, a small 



species of thrip is troublesome and spoils 

 the foliage ; it is very difficult to destroy, the 

 woolly foliage being a capital hiding place and 

 the plant cannot be syringed. Heavy fumi- 

 gation also injures the plants ; the only way to 

 prevent its appearance is by careful culti- 

 vation. 



Achinienes will be already started into 

 growth and should be potted, several plants in 

 small pots or large numbers into shallow 

 pans. If large masses are required, a light 

 open soil of peat, leaf soil and sand placed 

 lightly into pots or pans suit these plants 

 best, with same treatment as Gloxinias. The 

 Achimenes are capital summer basket plants ; 

 in fact, while they last, make more show than 

 any other plant I am acquainted with, but to 

 realize their full beauty the basket must be 

 large and suspended high enough to walk un- 

 der it ; for this purpose any wire basket will 

 do ; even a common ox muzzle for a small 

 basket. The only preparation the plants re- 

 quire is to sow the tubers in shallow boxes of 

 light soil, and when the shoots are about 

 three inches high they are ready for filling 

 the baskets, which is a very simple afi"air. 

 Have a heap of soil and a quantity of moss in 

 readiness ; commence by covering the bottom 

 of the basket with moss, to prevent the soil 

 falling through ; place a portion of soil at the 

 bottom and lay a row of plants all round 

 quite thick together ; commence building moss 

 around sides, fill in with soil, place another 

 row of plants, and so on until the basket is 

 filled with soil and the shoots surround the 

 outside ; fill the top with plants as if filling a 

 pan, give it a good watering and it is com- 

 plete. Keep in shade for a few days and 

 then suspend in full sun. The plants will 

 grow and commence to flower in a few weeks, 

 and last in full beauty for a long time if kept 

 well watered, and when in full growth will be 

 grand. We had a number of these baskets 

 in the Victoria House, and also in the large 

 conservatory at Chatsworth, which were finer 

 than any seen elsewhere ; these were a ball of 

 flowers about six feet in diameter, and were 

 replaced by baskets of Epiphyllum and other 

 plants in the winter. 



