THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 83 
Lobelia speciosa and Lobelia pumila, two of the most useful plants 
we have for edging purposes. Sown in April, in the beds in which 
they are to bloom, and thinned moderately, they will commence to 
bloom freely in July. If required for marginal bands or divisional 
lines it will be an easy matter to mark out the space that will be 
occupied by the other subjects, and then sow the seed in shallow 
drills drawn exactly where the lines or bands are to be. As it is 
desirable to secure an even surface of bloom as early as possible, the 
thinning should not be commenced until the plants begin to touch 
each other. A few only should be drawn out at a time, and at the 
final thinning they should be left rather closer together than would 
be desirable in the case of plants raised from cuttings in the usual 
way. The seedlings of pumila should, as a matter of fact, be two 
inches, and those of speciosa be three inches apart. 
Petwnias raised fromseed sown towards theend of March inthe beds 
where they are to remain, make a wonderfully rich display from 
quite early in the summer until late in the autumn. Sow the seed 
thinly, and eventually thin to a distance of six inches apart each 
way. There must be no hurry in the removal of the young plants, 
for if they are thinned to the full distance at first, and a few are 
afterwards eaten by the snails, blanks will be formed in the beds. 
Verbenas may be raised from seed in precisely the same manner as 
the petunias, excepting that the seed should be sown about the middle 
of March. Seedling verbenas commence to bloom in June, and as they 
possess a greater degree of vigour than plants raised from cuttings, 
they bloom freely until the cold weather puts a stop to the growth. 
Provided the petunia and verbena seeds are saved from first-class 
strains, the mixture of colours will be remarkably beautiful. Now it is 
known that beds of these flowers may be formed with no more trouble 
than a bed of mignonette, they will doubtless be grown extensively 
by amateurs who have no glass in preference to the common things so 
often seen in the gardens of this class of cultivators. 
Phlox Drummondi and its varieties, sown in April, make beautiful 
beds, and continue in bloom until the end of the summer if the soil 
is prepared as advised for the verbenas. The white, purple, and 
scarlet are the best colours for bedding, and the best scarlet variety 
is that known as Phlox Drwmmondi Heynholdi. A good mixture is 
also very effective, and a packet of mixed seeds, costing about six- 
pence, will suffice for one large bed, or for two of medium size. 
African Marigolds and French Marigolds comprise some of 
the most effective of the yellow-flowered bedders that may be 
raised from seed. The African varieties atiain a height of 
about two feet, and the orange and yellow afford the two most 
effective colours. Of the French varieties, there is a variety under 
the name of Awrea floribunda, which is very compact in growth, 
and produces an abundance of large, clear, yellow flowers; its 
average height is twelve inches, and it is perhaps one of the very 
best substitutes for the Calceolaria we have. The Miniature Yellow 
French Marigold attains an average height of six inches, and blooms 
most profusely. Zagetes signatis pumila is of much the same cha- 
racter as the marigolds, but it has single flowers, and these are of a 
March. 
