Gardening for Amateurs 



form are frequently the most effective. A 

 bold mass of some particular flower is in- 

 finitely more attractive than a mixture of 

 several kinds, that may not harmonise per- 

 fectly unless great care is taken in their 

 arrangement. It is scarcely possible in this 

 chapter to do more than make suggestions 

 for planting, for so much depends upon 

 individual taste ; but it is hoped that the 

 schemes given will prove of service to those 

 seeking help on this subject. 



FLOWERS TO GROUP TOGETHER 

 Geraniums in Variety. Few plants 

 make such a brilliant display of colour as 

 scarlet Geraniums when seen in a mass, 

 although some people dislike them owing 

 to the monotony of their display and to the 

 fact that they are so commonly planted. 

 Paul Crampel is the best for bedding ; it 

 has unusually large trusses of deep scarlet 

 flowers. F. V. Raspail is a favourite, and 

 Achievement, with semi-double pink blooms, 

 is a good variety. The silver variegated 

 Geraniums are very attractive with their 

 green-and-white foliage ; Flower of Spring, 

 having deep pink blossoms, is the best of 

 these. Crystal Palace Gem has yellow 

 leaves and pale red flowers ; while Mrs. 

 Pollock is a well-known golden tricolour- 

 leaved variety with red flowers. All the 

 Geraniums are propagated from cuttings 

 taken during August or September. They 

 will root readily in boxes filled with ordinary 

 soil, and should be placed in a cool house 

 for the winter. 



Beds of Fuchsias. Fuchsias are delight- 

 ful plants for summer bedding, specimens 

 or standards being used. The surface of 

 the bed requires to be carpeted with some 

 low-growing plant to give a neat finish. 

 Fuchsia Lye's Own, with white calyx and 

 red corolla, looks well above a groundwork 

 of Iresine Herbstii, which has dark, maroon- 

 coloured foliage. Mrs. E. G. Hill is a beau- 

 tiful semi-double Fuchsia, and may be used 

 with the red-leaved Iresine Lindeni. Fuchsia 

 Mrs. Marshall, white and pale red, asso- 

 ciates very well with Veronica Andersonii. 

 The plants need to be securely staked and 

 tied; they are easily increased by cuttings 

 taken in September or in the spring ; but 

 the old plants may be saved and repotted 



every autumn, as they can be used for a 

 number of years. Keep them dry and cool 

 in winter, and start them into growth in 

 February in a warm greenhouse, pruning 

 back the long growths. Iresines require a 

 good deal of attention during the summer, 

 as they must be regularly pegged down and 

 pinched back. Beds containing these plants 

 look very well if raised 6 or 8 inches above 

 the level, with a double row of Echeveria 

 glauca all round. The Echeverias may be 

 placed in boxes in a cold frame for the 

 winter. The Iresines should be potted up 

 for stock, and kept in a warm house for the 

 winter, they will then provide cuttings 

 in spring. A most attractive bed can be 

 formed with standard specimens of Iresine 

 Herbstii, carpeted with Mesembryanthe- 

 mum variegatum. 



Heliotrope and Ivy-leaved Geranium. 

 Heliotrope is very popular, largely on 

 account of its delicious perfume. President 

 Garfield is a strong-growing and popular 

 sort ; the variety Lord Roberts, though 

 having unusually large flower bunches, does 

 not grow so freely. Beds of Heliotrope are 

 delightful with a groundwork of Ivy-leaved 

 Pelargonium Madame Grouse, the bright 

 pink blooms of the latter assisting to form 

 a brilliant display. The variegated Mesem- 

 bryanthemum is also a suitable plant to 

 use for carpeting the soil beneath Helio- 

 trope. It is increased in the same way as 

 the Iresines. The best show results when 

 Heliotrope plants twelve months old are 

 used, as in that time really fine standards 

 can be grown. Those rooted from cuttings 

 early in the year, and grown on, make 

 useful plants for small beds and narrow 

 borders. 



Red Verbena and Grey Cerastium. 

 Verbenas are attractive flowers for a summer 

 display, and they may be obtained in several 

 colours. Miss Wilmott, a beautiful rich 

 pink, and King of Scarlets are two of the 

 best. They root readily from cuttings in 

 the autumn or spring, and can also be 

 easily raised from seed early in the year, 

 many of the seedlings being especially pretty. 

 Cerastium tomentosum makes a good edging 

 for scarlet Verbenas, and is equally suit- 

 able for use with Geraniums, its silvery 

 foliage and white flowers being very attrac- 



