CHAPTER XL 



BEDDING PLANTS AND PLANTS FOR TROPICAL EFFECT 



Where striking and peculiar effects are desired it 

 has become customary to make use of what florists 

 term bedding plants in summer gardening. The term 

 is used to designate such kinds of greenhouse plants 

 as bloom well when planted out in beds, or have foliage 

 whose colors take the place of flowers. 



The Geranium stands at the head of the list. A 

 garden without at least one bed of Geraniums is seldom 

 seen nowadays. No other "bedder" gives such a bril- 

 liant show of color, or keeps up such constant bloom 

 throughout the season. All you have to do to keep a 

 Geranium blooming from June to frost, is to remove 

 the flowers as they fade and prevent the formation 

 of seed. The double kinds are most popular for bed- 

 ding, as the flowers last longer and give a more solid 

 color effect. The colors are so varied that you might 

 have a dozen beds, each wholly unlike the other in 

 that respect. 



Tuberous Begonias are becoming very popular for 

 bedding purposes. They are rich in color, and produce 

 a fine effect. 



The Bouvardia is good for use in the garden, and 

 will be found especially desirable for cutting from. So 

 will the Carnation. 



The Calceolaria is much used in "ribbon" garden- 

 ing, and in working out patterns in flowers. 



Heliotrope is an excellent bedder, flowering very 

 freely in a rich soil. This, like the Bouvardia, will be 

 found very useful to cut from. 



The Lantana is a profuse and constant bloomer, 

 and is very popular. 



