336 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Lantana salvifolia, or L. delicatissima, 

 as it is also called, makes a useful plant for 

 large baskets for the cool greenhouse and 

 conservatory, or for use in warm, sheltered 

 balconies in summer. The mauve-pink 

 flowers are constantly and freely produced ; 

 in fact, it is seldom out of bloom. Should 

 the plants become too large and straggling, 

 cutting back or pruning may be practised 

 in spring. Cuttings made of the ends of the 

 young shoots root readily in a frame or 

 under a bell-glass at almost any season of 

 the year. Lantana thrives in ordinary 

 potting mould. 



Lobelias. Several half-hardy Lobelias of 

 spreading habit are admirably adapted for 

 hanging baskets. The best of all is un- 

 doubtedly Lobelia tenuior, or ramosa, as it 

 is sometimes called. The flowers are much 

 larger than those of the ordinary Lobelia, 

 and the growths reach a length of about 9 

 inches. Seeds may be sown in August and 

 September for spring-flowering in the green- 

 house, and during February or March for 

 summer flowering in the greenhouse, porch, 

 01 veranda. Twenty young plants are not 

 too many to place in a basket to furnish 

 it really well. Lobelias delight in light, rich 

 sandy soil, with not too large a bulk unless 

 it is very well drained. The ordinary Lobelia 

 tenuior has rich deep blue flowers. There 

 is a white variety, one with pale blue 

 flowers, and another of rosy-pink shade. 

 These are useful for variety, but it is ques- 

 tionable whether four good baskets of the 

 deep blue form are not more useful and 

 effective than one of each colour. Other 

 spreading Lobelias suitable for baskets are 

 speciosa, dark blue ; Paxtoniana, blue with 

 white centre ; gracilis, blue ; and gracilis 

 alba, white. 



Mimulus moschatus, the Common Musk, 

 is a favourite flower for the outdoor garden. 

 When grown in baskets it is most attrac- 

 tive for the cool or cold greenhouse, the 

 window, balcony, or veranda. The Musks 

 all are moisture-loving plants, and require 

 ample supplies of water. They thrive in 

 most soils, and, being hardy perennials, 

 may be propagated by division of the roots 

 or, of course, by seeds. When the plants 

 are thickly studded with their rich yellow 

 flowers, the baskets are exceedingly orna- 



mental. Musk is often grown in pots, and 

 later, when the trailing growths hang over 

 the sides, wire clips are attached to the 

 rims of the pots so that they may be sus- 

 pended from the roof. A large-flowered 

 variety, named Harrison's Musk, is even 

 more showy than the Common Musk. 



Nasturtium. Some of the many varie- 

 ties of Nasturtium, or Tropaeolum, make a 

 pretty display in baskets. During summer 

 they may be used in the greenhouse or out 

 of doors, and in winter flower freely in a 

 cool, airy greenhouse. The named varieties 

 of Nasturtiums may be increased by cut- 

 tings taken at any time from spring to 

 autumn. Plants may also be raised annu- 

 ally from seeds ; but, as a rule, these do 

 not make such a good show, particularly in 

 winter, as the named sorts. The most suit- 

 able compost is a light, well-drained, sandy 

 soil. To obtain bushy grow r th the tips of 

 the shoots should be removed several times 

 while the plants are young. At least three 

 plants should be placed in a basket. Six of 

 the best-named sorts are : Mrs. William 

 Plant, deep yellow ; Annie Clibran, golden 

 yellow, crimson blotch ; Clibran's Gem, deep 

 crimson ; Fireball, deep scarlet ; Gloire de 

 Bordeaux, double scarlet and yellow ; Phoebe, 

 golden yellow, marked with crimson. 



Oxalis. As greenhouse basket plants, 

 there is much to admire in the Bermuda 

 Buttercup, Oxalis cernua, and the Brazilian 

 Oxalis floribunda. Both are very free- 

 flowering, and thrive much better when 

 hanging from the roof of a greenhouse or 

 corridor than when grown in pots arranged 

 closely together on a stage. They thrive 

 best in sandy soil, and when growing freely 

 delight in liberal supplies of water, manure 

 water being also beneficial. Oxalis is in- 

 creased by division of the fleshy rhizomes, 

 or roots. Oxalis cernua has yellow flowers ; 

 there are single and double flowered varie- 

 ties. O. floribunda has rose-coloured blos- 

 soms, and the variety alba is white. Spring 

 is the season of flowering. Baskets of 

 Oxalis may sometimes be seen in cottage 

 windows quite as fine as those growTi in a 

 large greenhouse. 



Panicum variegatum. This is a prettily 

 variegated grass-like plant for baskets in a 

 warm greenhouse. As it is a native of 



