282 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
have refrained from giving a long list, because I would much rather 
name only such as I know to be first-class, and I would advise the 
amateur to grow several bulbs of each of the really good kinds, 
rather than to have a long list of varieties, which must of necessity 
include some that are not so good as could be wished. 
SELECT BEDDING PLANTS. 
BY JOHN WALSH. 
ay, X PERIENCED cultivators usually commence the work 
§ of propagating the stock of bedding plants required 
for the following season’s display about the middle of 
August, and in so doing they act wisely. By making 
a beginning thus early they have a longer period in 
which to complete the work, and consequently it is not necessary to 
take such a large number of cuttings at ary one time to disfigure 
the beds. They have, moreover, less difficulty in striking the 
cuttings of some of the things; and if a failure occurs with any of 
the batches inserted early, it is practicable to put in a second lot. 
Nevertheless, it must be said that all the plants employed in the 
embellishment of the flower garden during the summer season may 
be most successfully propagated during September. In proof of 
this assertion, it will suffice to point to the fact that, in many 
gardens in which the annual display is most satisfactory, not a 
single cutting is taken until after the first of the month last- 
mentioned. Certainly, those who have not yet commenced may 
now make a beginning with the full assurance of success, and there 
is plenty of time to procure and strike cuttings of any of the bedders 
that will be mentioned in the course of this communication. 
Without further preface, I will now proceed to make a few 
remarks upon the bedders grown for their flowers now most popular 
in gardens, and in so doing shall point out a few of the very best in 
the several classes. There are but few novelties to report upon; 
but some of the zonal pelargoniums, which areas yet but little 
known, are so thoroughly good that they must have special atten- 
tion directed to them. 
ZonaL PrELARGONIUMS well deserve to have first place, 
for they undoubtedly form the most thoroughly useful class of 
bedders we have. They are easy to propagate, not difficult to keep 
through the winter, and they can be invariably depended upon for 
producing a satisfactory display. For gardens of moderate extent, 
I should recommend from twelve to fifteen varieties, because with a 
number less than twelve it is impossible to have all the finest 
shades of colour represented. If, however, one-third of that number 
is sufficient, I should recommend :—Anna Pfitzer, orange scarlet ; 
Vesuvius, brilliant scarlet, well-known for its dwart habit and flori- 
ferous character; Bonfire, crimson nosegay—the best of all the 
Stella type; and Mis. Holden, rose-pink—a rather strong growing 
