336 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



and trimming, without which the design would have speedily been 

 lost through the intermingling of the various plants. It will be 

 clear that, in proportion to its area, a carpet bed was one of the 

 most expensive forms of gardening. 



With respect to its effect, one cannot deny that a well-designed, 

 well-kept bed possessed a certain interest, and that it was at least 

 calculated to stimulate curiosity; but it was entirely unnatural, 

 and on that account alone it is satisfactory to know that it is 

 moribund. 



With the decline of carpet bedding there was a decline in the cul- 

 tivation of such plants as the Alternantheras, which are of little use 

 in mixed borders, or for ordinary bedding. The method of culture 

 was to pot stock plants in autumn the same as Lobelias, and keep 

 them in a warm house throughout the winter, then to take cuttings 

 and insert them in sandy soil over bottom heat, potting singly in 

 due course, and planting out in early summer. The two species 

 which, with their varieties, were most used were amabilis and 

 paronychioides. A popular variety of the former was amoena, and 

 two varieties of the other that were largely employed were major 

 and aurea. 



IRESINES 



These plants share with Alternantheras a decline due to the fall 

 of carpet bedding. Larger in growth (although dwarf) and less 

 tender than the latter, they are still worthy of attention where 

 coloured foliage is required. They are not very particular as to 

 soil, or susceptible to variable weather conditions. They may be 

 raised from cuttings inserted in sandy soil, preferably over bottom 

 heat, in autumn or spring, and planted towards the end of May. 

 Herbstii (maroon) and Lindeni (blood-red) are the two species 

 grown, and there are several varieties of them, differing somewhat 

 in the colour of the leaves. 



