SUMMER BEDDING 45 



The above mentioned are particularly effective. The fol- 

 lowing are good varieties : Canary Bird, Golden Fleece 

 (yellow), Boule de Neige (white), Sanglant (red), King of 

 Roses (pink). Abutilons are best propagated by taking cut- 

 tings in the spring, inserting several in a six-inch pot, filled 

 with sandy soil, and placed in a warm house near the glass. 

 When rooted, gradually inure them to a cooler temperature. 



Acacia (Albizzia lopkantha). This plant has beautiful, 

 deeply-divided leaves, and specimens two feet or so high, add 

 considerably to the attractiveness of a bed of small plants. 

 Sow seeds early in the year in a warm temperature, and 

 gradually harden off the plants. Alonsoa W arscewiczii and A* 

 incisifolia are dwarf plants, twelve inches or so high, bearing 

 small orange-red flowers. Sow seeds, or take cuttings early in 

 the year, and treat as above advised for Abutilons. 



Solanums. These have an effective and uncommon ap- 

 pearance, and are eminently suited for mixed beds. 5. 

 Warscewiczii (small white flowers, spiny stems), 5. pyra- 

 canthum (having lovely deep yellow spines wherein lies its 

 chief beauty), 5. Balbisii (flowers light blue), and 5. ciliatum, 

 var. macrocarpum (with striking, rather large, red fruits), are 

 some of the best for mixed summer bedding. Raised from 

 seed sown in early spring. 



Begonias. Amongst the most useful of these for the pur- 

 pose in question are B. castanasfolia (with pink drooping 

 flowers), B. worthiana (large orange-scarlet drooping flowers), 

 B. knowsleyana (white flowers). Propagated by the insertion 

 of cuttings in spring. 



Other plants suitable are Agathxa cwlestis (dwarf, blue 

 daisy-like flowers), Sanvitalia procumbens (dwarf, small yellow 

 flowers), Cuphea ignea, and C. platycentra (dwarf, with small 

 tube-shaped red and yellow flowers), Lobelia cardinalis and 

 L.fulgens (scarlet flowers, growing two feet high or more). 



EXAMPLES 



DWARF-GROWING PLANTS FOR SMALL BEDS 



1. Ground work of Cineraria maritima (dwarf, with hand- 

 some silvery leaves). Begonia worthiana planted irregularly 

 about eighteen inches to twenty-four inches apart. Yellow 

 Celosias dotted here and there. 



2. Cover the surface of the bed with Mesembryanthemum 

 cordifolium variegatum, and plant at intervals Begonia Lafayette 

 (bright red), and Solanum pyracanthum alternately. 



