BEDDING PLANTS. Y7 



j)lants now in cnltivation, our gardens can be made su- 

 perbly beautiful throughout the summer, even without the 

 aid of flowers, although to dispense with the latter might 

 still leave our creation divine without a divinity. We 

 give in the following list such plants as can be obtained 

 in this country. Some are old and well known, others are 

 new and quite rare. 



AcJiyrantlius aureo reticulata. — A beautiful but rather 

 delicate plant, with a rich variegated foliage. The leaves 

 are light green, marked with bright yellow ; stems are 

 more or less shaded with carmine or purple. This plant 

 should not be planted out until the weather has become 

 quite warm, and tlien it should have a half-protected situ- 

 ation. This and the older and better known Coleus Ver- 

 schaffeltii are somewhat similar in habit, and they are 

 two of the very best ornamental foliage plants. 



Aubretia deltoidea Camphellii. — This plant is probably 

 hardy, as it belongs to a species which succeeds without 

 protection in England. This variety has purplish blue 

 flowers, produced in great abundance. The plant is of a 

 compact and bushy habit, and with very pretty foliage. 

 It may be that our hot, dry summer weather will be too 

 severe upon this species, as it is upon many other alpine 

 plants. 



Bouvardias. — Half shrubby plants, with flowers of 

 various shades of color. They are usually cultivated as 

 house plants, but they are well adapted for bedding pur- 

 poses. The flowers are small but very beautiful, and suit- 

 able for making hand-bouquets. The following are a few 

 of the best : 



