334 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



Newport's Model. Blue with white eye. 



Miss Hope. White. 



Kathleen Mallard. Double blue. 



In these days of herbaceous plants the tall perennial Lobelias 

 are largely used for beds and borders, but we can hardly include 

 them in a chapter on tender bedders, as they are hardy. The 

 species cardinalis and fulgens (scarlet flowers), and syphilitica (blue), 

 and the numerous varieties of them, are very popular. 



These pretty, dwarf plants are old favourites for bedding, and 

 are still used a good deal. They are generally classed as half- 



hardy annuals, and as such are raised 

 from seed every year ; but varieties of 

 special merit may be perpetuated by 

 means of cuttings, so long as they are 

 not allowed to ripen seeds. 



If the plants have to be raised from 

 seed in the first place, owing to the 

 absence of plants from which to take 

 cuttings, the seed may be sown in 



shallow boXCS of light Soil in Spring, 



d th see dlingS pricked off a few 

 or 



inches apart in other boxes when they 

 begin to get crowded. This will result in dwarf, sturdy plants, 

 which will soon show bloom, and which will be quite ready for 

 planting out by mid-May. They enjoy a well-dug, moist, fertile 

 soil, and in such a medium will remain in bloom during the 

 whole of the summer. 



To perpetuate a variety by means of cuttings, pinch off the 

 flower heads as they fade, and insert growing shoots in sandy 

 soil, preferably over bottom heat, but certainly in a heated house. 



CUTTINGS OF AGERATUM 



A shows a good cutting prepared for in- 

 sertion ; B, coarse soil and drainage in 



the pot ; c, fine soil and sand. 



