196 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



once more its leaves acquire their proper beauty ; and if amply sup- 

 plied with water during the growing season, will acquire their proper 

 size as well as their proper colouring. Mr. Salter, of Hammersmith, 

 who is tbe greatest collector of plants with variegated foliage, hears 

 frequently from his customers that the plants they have had of him 

 lost their variegation, and are not better than hedge weeds ; but the 

 growers are at fault through giving these choice subjects too much 

 food. If they would pot them in turfy loam and peat, with an ad- 

 mixture of about a fourth part chalk or broken bricks, they would 

 secure vigour without sacrificing: character ; but setting a high value 

 on the exquisitely-marked varieties they have obtained, they go a 

 step too far in the use of stimulating manures. 



LEAVES NATURALLY OF A SILVEBX HUE. 



Antennaria margaritacea, a hardy herbaceous everlasting, common 

 in cottage gardens, grows two to three feet high, forming large 

 masses of silvery foliage, and in July produces unattractive yellow 

 blossoms. This is a capital ribbon plant, and if propagated any 

 time from March to May, or taken up and divided in April, may be 

 kept to a close line by nipping out the points of the shoot3. 



Centaurea candidissima, the whitest-leaved plant we have, requires 

 protection in the greenhouse during winter. Is propagated by off- 

 sets, in the same way as daisies and auriculas. It will take some 

 time to get up a stock of this for extensive use ; but it is well worth 

 the waiting for, as there is nothing more striking for a brilliant 

 white line or margin, and single plants are useful for tree stumps, 

 borders, and rockeries ; and it is an attractive pot plant for the 

 conservatory. Some fine plants of this superb species lived 

 through the winter in a bed out of doors, at Mr. Salter's nursery, 

 Hammersmith. 



Cineraria maritima. — A beautiful shrub for rockeries ; old plants 

 make fine centres to beds of scarlet or crimson. Cuttings will strike 

 without heat at any season of the year, but are a long time forming 

 roots. It likes a dry chalky soil, and, though quite hardy, should 

 be taken up for the winter, unless the position is dry and sheltered ; 

 damp is death to it. To use this as a bedder, let it flower, save the 

 seed, and sow in February; it is then admirable for a first or second 

 row, kept to the required height by nipping. 



Cerastium tomentosum and B iebersteinii. — The first has been 

 extensively used for some years past, and is best known about 

 London as forming the silvery edgings to beds of blue lobelia and 

 scarlet geranium at the Crystal Palace. They are both quite hardy, 

 and thrive in any soil or situation, and if left in the ground over 

 winter, produce beautiful masses of white flowers early in spring 

 time. But for strictly bedding purposes it should be propagated 

 from cuttings at the end of March or early in April, as a vigorous 

 growth is not required. When planted out in May, place the plants 

 four inches apart, and as they grow nip out the points all through 

 the season, which will keep it regular and dense in growth. Of the 

 two, C. tomentosum is the best. 



Artemisia glacialis and argentea. — These silvery-leaved worm- 



