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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 89 
as in what are usually termed bedding plants. As this class 
of plants is best adapted to the wants of the people universal, 
I will devote the remainder of the time allotted me to men- 
tioning a few of the most common and easily procured. As 
commonly used, the term “ bedding” is given to such plants 
asin winter require the protection of the green-house, but 
which, if planted in the garden, bloom profusely during the 
summer. Some of them may be raised from the seeds, as an- 
nuals, and will bloom profusely in the autumn ; but generally 
the best results are secured by raising them from cuttings in 
the early spring. . 
First of all, I will mention the Geranium. I love them, the 
name is so sweet, the flowers so bright, the foliage so pleas- 
ing. They are well known, and the old Fish and Rose-scented 
were favorites in the days of our childhood. Great improve- 
ments are yearly being made in the varieties, and they are 
all rapidly growing in popularity. They are brilliant and 
continuous in flowering, and a mixture of varieties form a bed 
of great beauty and elegance ; but perhaps the best results are 
obtained from planting in groups or masses of single colors. 
There are several classes of them, but for our purpose the 
Zonale and Sweet-scented are the best. Of the Zonale, I would 
recommend the President and Gen. Grant for scarlet ; Rival 
and Regalia for rose ; Blue Bell and King of Pinks for pink ; 
Clorie de Carbony and Bridesmaid for salmon ; Emily, Vaucher 
and Snowball for white; the Rose and Lemon-scented for 
fragrance and for leaves to use in the formation of boquets. 
Next in order will come the Verbenas, which give the garden 
a gay and lively appearance. ‘They are probably cultivated 
more than any oiher variety of plants, and they are all that 
can be desired for quantity and variety of bloom. They may 
be grown each year from seed, but are now sold so low by all 
florists that it is more economical to purchase plants of the 
desired colors, as many of the seedlings will prove inferior 
and are later coming into bloom. It is hardly worth while to 
enumerate the names of varieties, as those which are con- 
sidered standard this year will give place to others in the 
next. Many new candidates are brought out each year. 
Heliotropes fill important places among bedding plants. 
They are desirable for their fragrance, as well as for their 
profusion of flowers of various shades of blue and lilac. They 
propagate readily from cuttings, but old plants give the most 
flowers. 
Of the Salvias, the Salvia Splendens is the most gaudy, and 
in fact of all autumn blooming plants the most desirable. 
The small plant purchased of the florist in the spring, becomes 
a beautiful bush by September, three or four feet high, and 
