196 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



HANGING BASKETS. 



It is only of late years that the taste for hanging bask- 

 ets has become so universal, possibly induced by the 

 beautiful specimens of this kind exhibited in such variety 

 and profusion at the Crystal Palace, of London, a dozen 

 years ago. The taste has extended to every town and 

 hamlet throughout the land. The baskets are made either 

 of wire -work, earthenware, or of rough and gnarled roots 

 or limbs, to form " rustic " work. The wire and rustic 

 baskets are the kinds in most general use. 



Only certain kinds of plants are suitable for hanging 

 baskets ; such as are of low, compact growth, to cover the 

 surface, and such as are of drooping or trailing habit, to 

 hang over the sides. For a basket of one foot in diameter 

 we name the following as suitable : 



Coleus Verschaffeltii, a well-known bronze-foliaged plant. 



Centaurea Candida, a plant with white, downy leaves, 

 of compact growth. 



Geranium, Tom Thumb, scarlet, dwarf and compact, 

 blooming all summer. 



Sedum Sieboldii, a plant with light glaucous leaves and 

 graceful habit, which is not only desirable on account of 

 its foliage alone, but for its purplish rose colored flowers. 



These are suitable for the upper surface of the basket. 

 Those proper to plant near the edge of the basket are: 



Lobelia Erinus Paxtoni, blue, drooping 18 inches. 



Tropffiolum, Ball of Fire, dazzling scarlet, 18 inches. 



Lysimachia nummularia, bright yellow, 18 inches. 



Linaria Cymbalaria, small flowers, graceful foliage. 



For a basket of two feet in diameter the under-named 

 make a fine display. For the center: 



Geranium, Mrs. Pollock, foliage, crimson, yellow, and 

 green ; flowers, bright scarlet. 



