FLOWER GOSSIP. 



247 



to designate such kinds of greenhouse 

 plants as bloom well when planted out in 

 beds, or have striking foliage whose 

 colors take the place of fiowers. 



The geranium stands at the head of the 

 list. No other " bedder " gives such a 

 brilliant show of color, or keeps up such 

 constant bloom throughout the season. 

 All you have to do to keep a geranium 

 blooming from June to frost is to remove 

 the flowers as they fade and prevent the 

 formation of seed. The double kinds are 

 the most popular for bedding, as the 

 flowers last longer and give a more solid 

 color effect. 



Tuberous begonias are becoming very 

 popular for bedding purposes. They are 

 rich in color and produce a fine effect. 



Heliotrope is an excellent bedder, flow- 

 ering very freely in rich soil. It will be 

 found very useful to cut from. 



The verbena is one of the best of all 

 bedders, being a very free and constant 

 bloomer, and having intensely rich and 

 beautiful colors. 



Among foHage plants, the most popular 

 is the coleus. Very striking results can 

 be brought about by its use. By plant- 

 ing it close together and keeping the 

 plants cut in closely, solid effects of color 

 can be obtained. The colors being so 

 varied and distinct, it is much used in car- 

 pet-bedding in which a set pattern is 

 worked out. 



The achyranthes and alternanthera are 

 brilliant little plants which bear cutting in 

 and trimming well, and are therefore used 

 in producing " pattern " effects. 



The centaurea has a soft grey leaf 

 which contrasts well with the coleus, and 

 is used in connection with i*. Golden 

 feverfew is also used extensively for bed- 

 ding purposes. 



All the plants named, except achyran- 

 thes and alternanthera should be set out 

 one foot ?.pirt. These should be six 



inches apart. Rapid growers must be 

 trimmed frequently to keep them from 

 getting the start of such kinds as are of 

 slower growth, in order to produce satis- 

 factory results. In carpet-bedding you 

 want a smooth, even surface in which all 

 the colors have a chance to equally dis- 

 play themselves. 



In putting out plants, choose a cloudy 

 day, if possible; water them well and 

 shade for a day or two. 



Tropical Effects. 



One of the best plants for producing a 

 strong tropical effect on the lawn, or in 

 the garden is the ricinus. It can be 

 grown from seed. It has immense palm- 

 ate foliage if a rich green, shaded with 

 red, with a metallic luster when looked at 

 in the sun. It grows to be eight or nine 

 feet high, branching freely. It is excel- 

 lent for the center of a circular bed. 



Another plant with large and striking 

 foliage is Caladium esculentum. It has 

 leaves two feet or more across and four 

 in length when grown in very rich soil, 

 each leaf being produced on a stalk sent 

 up from the tnber. Fine for grouping 

 about the ricinus. 



The canna is a noble plant, with large 

 rich foliage ranging through various 

 shades of green and bronzy-red. Some 

 varieties are tall growers, while others 

 are quite dwarf. In addition to its fine 

 foliage it bears very brilliant flowers. 



The Musa ensete, or Banana plant, has 

 very large leaves and is excellent for the 

 center of a circular bed. 



There are many plants such as palms, 

 pandanus or screw pine, ficus and 

 others of similar habit which can be put 

 out of doors in summer with advantage 

 to the plants. These can be used in 

 helping to produce tropical effects. 



The striped maize — a variegated va- 

 riety of corn — can be used with excellent 



