AGERATUM 5 



^thio'nema — continued. 



Sow in March in boxes in greenhouse about 65°, 

 and plant out in May ; or outdoors in May. 



Agera'tum — Floss Flower (from Gr. ageratos, not 

 growing old, having reference to the long time the 

 flowers keep their colour). Nat. Ord. Compositce. 



These half-hardy annuals make good plants for 

 bedding out and are generally used for margins, 

 as they flower profusely all summer and late into 

 the autumn, till frost destroys them. They are 

 compact, rarely injured by heavy rains, and seldom 

 exceed 1^ ft. in height, if as much. At the 

 same time they are sometimes made too much 

 use of, the fluffy flowers being rather monotonous 

 in their sameness and regularity. Ageratums, 

 however, are very satisfactory plants to grow and 

 never disappoint. 



A. Mexica'num is the one best known. It stands 

 about 1 ft., or little more, the terminals 

 being covered with a mass of lavender-blue 

 flowers. From Mexico in 1822. 



A. Mexica'num alhiflo'rum nalnum is a dwarf white 

 variety. 



A. Mexico! num lu'teum, is 1 ft. high, with yellow 

 flowers. There is a dwarf variety of this 

 called na'num. 



The garden varieties of Ageratum are 

 called Imperial Dwarf, blue, 6 ins. ; Cupid, 

 6 ins., deep blue ; Blue Perfection, 9 ins., dark 

 blue ; Swanley Blue, 9 ins., very deep blue ; 



