PETUNIA PHLOX DRUMMOtfDIl 255 



8- or even the lo-inch size. The growth should not be hurried at any 

 stage, and if the foliage has a dark healthy green colour, free from 

 blight, there will be magnificent flowers four or five inches across. 

 The final shift should be into a sound compost, consisting, if possi- 

 ble, of good loam and leaf-mould in equal parts, with sufficient sand 

 added to insure drainage. About a fortnight later commence giving 

 weak manure water once a week instead of the ordinary watering, and 

 as the buds appear it may be increased in strength, and be adminis- 

 tered twice a week until the flowers expand. 



Petunias are accommodating in their growth, and may be trained 

 into various forms. The pyramid and fan-shape are most common, 

 and the least objectionable. We confess, however, to a feeling of 

 antipathy to the creation of fanciful shapes by means of plants, no 

 matter what they may be. It is a necessity of our artificial conditions 

 of culture that many of them should be trained and tied to produce 

 shapely specimens, but the more nearly the gardener's art approaches 

 nature, the greater pleasure we derive from his labours. 



PHLOX DRUMMONDII 



Half-hardy annual 



THOSE who are acquainted with the older forms of this annual 

 might fail to recognise a friend under its new and improved ap- 

 pearance. There are now several beautiful types, each possessing 

 characteristics of its own, and all producing flowers that are perfect 

 in form and brilliant in colour. The grandiflora sections make 

 splendid bedding plants, but the compact varieties are highly prized 

 for effective massing and general usefulness. The latter range in 

 height from six to nine inches, and are therefore eminently suitable 

 for edgings and borders as well as for bedding. They bloom pro- 

 fusely for a long period, not only in the open ground, but also as pot 

 plants in the greenhouse or conservatory, where they are conspicuous 

 for the richness of their display. 



Sow seed of all the varieties in February or March in well-drained 

 pans or shallow boxes. Any good sifted soil made firm will suit 

 them, and every seed should be separately pressed into it, allowing 

 about an inch between each ; then cover with fine soil. This will 

 generally give sufficient space between the plants to save pricking off ; 

 but if the growth becomes so strong as to render a transfer necessary, 



