BEDDING PLANTS 167 



the atmosphere is fairly clear : Alternanthera, 

 Chilian Beet (grown chiefly in the flower garden 

 on account of its beautifully coloured leaves), 

 Coleus in variety, Mesembryanthemums, Ire- 

 sines, tricolor Geraniums, Zinnias, Verbenas, 

 Cannas, Castor Oil Plants (Ricinus Gibsonii), 

 Zea japonica (the striped or variegated 

 Maize) and Acacias. These are all very 

 beautiful plants, and, when grown to perfection, 

 they look charming in a garden ; but where 

 they only just exist, then they make a garden 

 look worse than it would with bare, unfilled 

 borders. 



