Maroh 8, 1877. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND OOTTAGB GARDENER. 



179 



rapid as in Petunias, and it is a question if they are cultivated 

 60 extensively as tlioir merits deserve, either as decorative 

 plants for the flower garden or as specimen plants for the 

 conservatory. Only a very few years ago the large flabby 

 single pnrple Petunia phLtnicea, and a ilimsy-petalled dirty 

 white flower (P. uyctagiuiflora) were the sole representatives of 

 bedding Petunias, but from these two species varieties increased 

 rapidly after the ardent and indefatigable Donald Beaton first 

 " broke the ice." 



P. pho'niceawaa the first plant that Mr. Beaton took in hand 

 for the purpose of solving a botanical problem and determining 

 to what genus the plant really belonged. At that time doctors 



differed on the point ; one regarding the plant as a Salpiglossls, 

 another a Nierembergia, and a third a Nicotiana. I3ut with 

 none of the representatives of these genera could the experi- 

 mentalist obtnin ft cros?, while with the old Petunia nyctagini- 

 flora the typical purple Petania crossed most readily, and the 

 true genus of the plant was determined. New varieties now 

 increased apace, Shrubland White and Shrublaud Rose proving 

 lastingly useful for bedding purposes ; and it is a question if 

 the latter has ever been (in its colour) superseded for massing, 

 although Countess of EUesmere is deeper in colour, and both 

 come tolerably true from seed. 

 About twenty years ago a little "stir" was made in the 



rig.'23.— Double fimbeiated petunia. 



horticultural world by the announcement of a double white 

 Petunia (Imperialis), sent out, I believe, by Mr. E. G. Hender- 

 son. This was expected to prove a valuable bedding plant, a 

 character which it failed to sustain ; but it was largely culti- 

 vated for conservatory decoration. Other double varieties 

 now followed in rapid succession, and a batch of English-raised 

 seedlings (by Mr. Scott), which flowered in Mr. Beaton's ex- 

 perimental garden at Surbiton in 1858, were designated by 

 their owner as the " royal family of bedding plants," from the 

 fact that the varieties were named after the different members 

 of the Royal Familv, and had the high honour of a special visit 

 from the Qaeen, Prince Albert, and the whole of the royal 

 children, who called on Mr. Beaton at his house at Surbiton 

 to see the new plants. That was sofllcient to render Petunias 

 fashionable, and there was " quite a rage " for thorn at the 

 time, the rage— as rages often do— ultimately tubaiding, and 

 Petunias again fall into abeyance. 



Petunias, however, have always been more or less cultivated, 

 although they have been for a length of time quite over- 

 shadowed by the ever-inoreasingly popular Geraniums, The 



Geranium fever, in tarn, appears now to have reached its 

 height, and Petunias once more have an increased measure of 

 attention accorded to them ; and well are they worthy of that 

 attention, for few plants are more beautiful — bold without 

 being gaudy, delicately perfumed, and easily cultivated. 



A great advantage pertaining to Petunias is that they are 

 readily raised from seed, and flower profusely when treated as 

 half-hardy annuals. Double as well as single varieties are 

 grown in this manner ; the seed of the former being saved 

 from semi-double flowers (the same as Balsams), and from 

 this seed a certain number of plants are raiced with flowers as 

 double as Camellias — some with smooth petals, some serrated, 

 some margined with a second colour, others veintd, and the 

 rest selfs. These are not adapted for bedding, but they are 

 admirable for greenhouse and conservatory decoration during 

 the summfr months. They can, of course, be also increased 

 by cuttings, and the beat varieties should bo thus perpetuated, 

 at least uutil they are superseded by improved forms. 



One of the finest collections of Petunias which I have seen 

 is pojeessed by Mr. Cannell at Swanley, to whom I am in- 



