46 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



3. Use Agath&a cselestis as a groundwork, and above have 

 Abutilon Thompsoni and a few plants of Acacia lophantha. 



4. Undergrowth of Pelargonium Surprise (salmon-coloured 

 flowers), with small plants of the variegated Maple placed at 

 irregular intervals of 2^ feet. In between these latter, plant 

 Verbena venosa (violet-coloured flowers), and make an edging 

 with Abutilon vexillarium variegatum. 



LARGE BEDS 



Plumbago capensis (lovely pale blue flowers, shrubby 

 climber ; cuttings) ; Streptosolen Jamesoni (brilliant orange red 

 flowers ; cuttings), Cannas in variety (propagated from seed, 

 or by division of the roots), Campanulas pyramidalis, and its 

 white variety C. p. alba (raised from seed). This plant is a 

 biennial, flowers the year after the seed is sown ; sow in July. 

 Ricinus communis (handsome foliage ; seed), Nicotiana sylvestris 

 and N. affinis (both bearing beautiful white flowers ; seed). 

 The Plantain Lilies (Funkias ; handsome foliage and flowers ; 

 division). All the above are of great value in the composition 

 of large flower-beds. It must, however, be understood that 

 good-sized plants are necessary to make a satisfactory display ; 

 in most cases the plants must therefore be a year or more old. 



By the use of such as the following a sub-tropical appear- 

 ance is given to the garden, and these plants are termed sub- 

 tropical : Yuccas, Dracaenas, Funkias, Ficus, Aralias, Chamse- 

 rops excelsa (a hardy palm), Ailantus glandulosa (the Tree of 

 Heaven), Arundo Donax (the New Zealand Flax), Gynerium 

 argenteum (Pampas Grass), Acanthus spinosissimus, A. mollis, 

 and A. lusitanicus. 



EXAMPLES OF LARGE BEDS WITH BOLD 

 MIXED PLANTING 



1. A group of Dracxna indivisa in the centre, surrounded 

 by Araucaria excelsa and Ficus elastica ; then a display of 

 variously-coloured Cannas, Asclepia curassavica (with showy 

 orange - coloured flowers), Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora 

 (white), these plants being placed in small groups by them- 

 selves ; nearer to the edge of the bed put red and yellow 

 Celosias, and finish with a margin of dwarf Begonias and 

 Chlorophytum elatum variegatum. 



2. Cannas in the centre, with Campanula pyramidalis and 

 C. p. alba and Nicotiana affinis planted between ; edged with 

 variegated Pelargonium. 



