130 ON BEDDING TLANTS. 



The following are particulars in cultivation wiiich Mr. James Fairbairn 

 recommends, and considered essential to a successful raising of tliis 

 lovely tribe of plants : — 



Soil. — Obtain it from a locality where the common wild Heath 

 grows luxuriantly. Take the turfy portion, but do not go deeper than 

 four inches. Obtain it during the summer season, and lay it up in a 

 piled heap, and it will be fit for use the following year. 



Potting. — Cut the pile down similar to what is done with a hay- 

 stack ; an old hay-knife is suitable, as it does not disarrange the other 

 part of the heap. Chop it well together, and rub it with the hands, 

 which is far preferable to sifting, as it leaves the fibrous vegetable 

 portion in it. To tl:is add one-fifth part of fine white sand. In re- 

 potting he recommends such a remove at once, as a plant from a four- 

 inch diameter pot to a nine-inch one, using plenty of broken potsherds, 

 and with larger plants pieces of sandstone, pebbles, &c. In potting, 

 care is taken that the fresh soil is well pressed down around the ball to 

 fix the plant securely. In watering particular care is taken that at 

 each time a sufficiency is given, not merely to moisten an inch or two 

 at tlie top, and all the lower portion of the ball be quite dry, but to 

 moisten all the ball. There are some kinds which have a tendency to 

 become long legged, and have scarce any side shoots. To have these 

 form bushy plants, the leading shoots require to be stopped once every 

 season, doing it just before the plant pushes in the spring. By a little 

 attention at the proper time nice bushy plants are obtained. 



ON BEDDIxNG PLANTS, 



BY A nobleman's FI-OWEK GARDENER, NEAR LONDON. 



May being the proper time for putting out into beds what are usually 

 termed beddinff plants, I forward a few remarks upon some of the best 

 for that purpose. 



Pekirgo7iiums (Geraniums, generally termed Scarlets, but which 

 now include scarlet, rose, pink, crimson, salmon, cherry, and other 

 varying colours). — Compactum, Punch, Judy, Tom Tiiunib, Frogmore, 

 Slnubland, Vivid, Surpass, Tom Tliumb, Huntsman, Victoria, Ingram's 

 Dwarf, King, Prospect or Pre-eminent, Pink Nosegay, New Globe, 

 Cooperii, Lucia rosea, Venus Blush, Royal Dwarf, and Queen. All 

 the above are of dwarf habit, free bloomers, and comprise all the shades 

 of the colours above enumerated ; and persons not possessing them 

 may safely leave a selection to a nurserjman if required. Nothing 

 exceeds these fine flowers for bedding. 



Faiiey Pelurcjoniums. — Several of these have lately been mentioned 

 in the March Number of this Magazine by a correspondent ; I, there- 

 fore, omit the names in this place. They are very beautiful in beds, 

 having a good sandy soilj peat, loam, and vegetable mould suit. 



Bouvardias. — These are a lovely tribe of trumpet-shaped flowers, 

 red, scarlet, and yellow. They are very handsome ; when planted 

 closely have a charming appearance, growing a foot high. 



Alstrcemerias. — These comprise plants which grow from half a-foot 



