MARCH 25 



gether a good many tubers of the fine blue com- 

 melina called celestis, and all around and between 

 it I shall have plants of the dwarfest and palest 

 ageratum, and thus attempt a harmony in these two 

 shades. The commelina is not very well known in 

 gardens, and some who have it despise it because 

 its blossoms are sparse, and mostly at the top of 

 the stalk. But if it is planted closely and guarded 

 round by plants a little shorter than itself, its 

 gentian blue is admirable in beds and borders. I 



o 



find that seed sown afresh every year is the easiest 

 method of growing ; but the plant forms slim tubers 

 which may be dug up in autumn and kept through 

 the winter in pots of sand in a cool greenhouse, 

 and this is the plan generally adopted for its repro- 

 duction. 



Petunias are being sown for greenhouse decora- 

 tion in summer. The seed is procured from the 

 best dealers, as cheap petunia seed is one of the 

 many snares of the penny-packet salesman. For 

 tubs and boxes out of doors we generally grow the 

 old pink variety despised of Sterculus. Its flower 

 is small, and not quite of the best shade of colour, 

 but its persistence in blooming makes it welcome 

 in my garden. It begins to unfold early in June, 

 and until November frosts come it is a great sphere 

 of colour in tubs under a verandah. Its trailing 

 habit soon ensures the complete hiding of the tubs, 

 and above and around and below hang the bright, 

 rosy blossoms, never shy, never exhausted, never 

 complaining, howsoever they may be neglected. 

 They are far better worth growing than many 

 better things. 



