BEDDING PLANTS. 237 



The Verbena (fig. 467) is now much neglected, perhaps on account 

 of a difficulty which has arisen of late years in its cultivation, as aphides, 

 fungi, and unknown causes make it die during the summer. A well- 

 broken bed of verbena flowers, such as was annually grown *at Hampton 

 Court Gardens, is one of the finest sights in floriculture ; and at my 

 garden a bed of seedlings which the gardener raised, and which occu- 

 pied a vine border of about two hundred square feet, was the most 

 exquisite floral production in the whole garden for a period of at least 

 three months. When planted round the base of any of my pyramid 

 rose-trees, they are very beautiful. Florists dignify every appreciable 

 variety by giving a fancy name to it, which is not worth any person's 

 while to learn, so long as he obtains a variety of colour in his 

 different plants, which should be white, tinted, scarlet, or lavender. 



FIG. 467. Verbena FIG. 468. Heliotrope FIG. 469. Salvia patens. 



(Jenny Lind). 



Some species are scented. Varieties may be raised from seed, and 

 are subsequently propagated by cuttings taken in August, which are 

 kept from frost in a glass-house all the winter, and planted out the 

 last week in May. 



The Heliotrope, another good bedding plant, is much neglected. 

 A dark old-fashioned variety called Jenny Lind (fig. 468) is par- 

 ticularly desirable, but any other good kind may take its place. It 

 is easily propagated by cuttings. 



Salvias are not much cultivated at the present time. The blue 

 Salvia (Salvia patens, fig. 469) is a fine plant, but it is somewhat 

 difficult to keep through the winter. 



