Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 83 



stitute the chief feature of the plant for bedding purposes. Seeds are 

 sown best in cutting boxes about February, the young plants being after- 

 wards pricked out about 3 in. apart in similar boxes or placed separately 

 in 3-in. pots. A good trade is done in May and June, after which the 

 remnants are generally thrown away. The best varieties are macrophylla 

 compacta, with very large deep-coloured leaves; and atropurpurea lacini- 

 ata, very deep colour with cut margins. 



Phlox. This genus contains annual and perennial varieties. P. Drum- 

 mondi and its numerous varieties are usually grown as half-hardy annuals, 

 but they may also be sown in the open ground in March to flower during 

 the summer months. Florists and seedsmen usually sell large quantities 

 of seed in spring. Growers raise the plants in shallow boxes, and sell 

 them from April to June for bedding purposes. The grandiflora forms 

 are very popular, but there are others, such as alba, white; carnea, flesh; 

 oculata, white with purple eye; Leopoldi, scarlet, white eye; cuspidata, 

 starry petals; nana compacta, with blue and carmine forms. 



HERBACEOUS PHLOXES. These charming border perennials, grown so 

 largely, are known under the names of P. decussata and P. suffruticosa, 

 the first being the tall late-flowering varieties, the second the dwarfer 

 early-flowering ones. The tall kinds are descended from hybrids of P. 

 paniculata and P. maculata both natives of the United States, and both 

 very variable, judging by the many names under which they are known 

 to botanists. 



Garden Phloxes flourish in any good garden soil, but the richer it is the 

 better the results. The clumps should be planted about 2 ft. apart every 

 way, and a cool or partially shaded position will suit them better than one 

 fully exposed to the glare of the midday sun, as the flowers and leaves 

 are very susceptible to strong sunshine. The plants may be increased by 

 dividing the rootstocks in early autumn, and planting out each rooted 

 portion with a dibber. Cuttings of the young shoots about 2 in. long may 

 also be inserted in sandy soil in cold frames in spring, or on a gentle hot- 

 bed. Root cuttings of special varieties may also be employed to increase the 

 stock if necessary, the cut portions being placed about 1 in. deep in sandy 

 soil on a hotbed. Seeds of Phloxes may also be sown in gentle heat in 

 spring, or in the open air in April or May, but they are slow and erratic 

 in germinating. Particularly fine varieties cannot be increased in this 

 way, as they would probably produce a very mixed result (fig. 236). 



Wherever the soil is deeply dug or trenched and well manured, Phloxes 

 will flourish for several years until they become too crowded. Each autumn 

 a top-dressing of well-rotted manure should be given, and in spring the 

 soil between the rows should be lightly pricked up with an old fork. A 

 dressing of basic slag just before this operation will be beneficial at the 

 flowering period. It will also check any acidity due to too much manure, 

 and prevent the disease that often overtakes the plants. Julus worms or 

 millipedes sometimes play havoc with the roots in badly aerated soils. In 

 such cases the plants should be transferred to another spot, where the soil 



