116 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
PREPARATION OF BEDDING PLANTS. 
BY JOHN WALSH. 
=a=rq iH DDING plants require, during the month of April, 
1223 fi special care and attention, for unless they are encou- 
raged to make a vigorous growth until the time of their 
being transferred to the beds, and are also well har- 
dened, before planting out, they will fai] in producing a 
really satisfactory effect until the summer is partly past. Therefore 
a few remarks descriptive of the attention required now by plants 
intended for the decoration of the flower garden during the summer, 
will probably possess some degree of interest and usefulaess. 
The hardy bedders, such as the Achilleas, Cerastium, and Cen- 
taureas that have been wintered in a cold frame, may, if convenient, 
be planted out at once; but as a rule, it is found better to fill each 
bed with the different plants required for working out the design, 
whatever it might be, at the same time. If they are not to be 
planted out, remove them to a sheltered position out of doors, or to 
eradles provided for them. The cradles are so useful for hardening 
off bedders that a brief description of them will be of considerable 
service to many readers. They are formed by fixing on edge boards 
one inch thick by nine inches broad, parallel tc each other, at a 
distance of four feet apart. The boards can be securely fixed by 
means of stout pegs driven into the ground on each side of them. 
In the cradles intended for plants in pots, place a layer of coal 
ashes about four inches in thickness, to prevent the worms entering 
the pots. If, however, it is intended to plant them out to strengthen, 
form a bed, consisting of good loamy soil, to which a small addition 
of leaf-mould or manure has been made. The exhausted soil from 
the potting-shed is often employed for bedding plants; but it is 
altogether unsuitable, for the plants now require soil containing 
sufficient nourishment to support a vigorous growth. Cuttings 
still occupying the pots in which they were struck, and seedlings 
in pans and boxes, should be at once either potted off separately, 
or planted out in a bed of soil prepared as here advised. 
They require less attention when planted out, and as they may 
be bedded out at the usual time without suffering materially, 
planting out can be recommended in preference to putting them 
into pots. All the small-growing subjects should be put three 
inches apart; those of large growth—the centaurea, for example 
—six inches. To guard against unnecessary injury to the roots, 
separate them as carefully as possible, in removing them from 
the pans or boxes, and to place them under the best possible 
conditions for becoming established quickly, piant firmly, and water 
them wellin. Shade by means of canvas or mats during the first 
ten days or so, if the weather is at all bright. Also during a like 
period sprinkle them overhead once a-day, preferably in the after- 
noon, and afterwards they must be supplied with water, according 
to their requirements ; and it may be well to say that they should 
