BEDDING PLANTS. 



237 



The Verbena (fig. 467) is now much neglected, perhaps on account 

 of a difficulty which has arisen of late years in its cultivation, as 

 aphides, fungi, and unknown causes make it die during the summer. 

 A well-broken bed of verbena flowers, such as was annually grown 

 at Hampton Court Gardens, is one of the finest sights in floriculture ; 

 and at my garden a bed of seedlings which the gardener raised, and 

 which occupied a vine border of about two hundred square, feet, was 

 the most exquisite floral production 'in the whole garden for a period 

 of at least three months. When planted round the base of any of 

 my pyramid rose-trees, they are very beautiful. Florists dignify every 

 appreciable variety by giving a fancy name to it, which is not worth 

 any person's while to learn, so long as he obtains a variety of 

 colour in his difi'erent plants, which should be white, tinted, scarlet, 



Fig. 467. — Verbena. 



Fig. 468. — Heliotrope 

 (Jenny Lind). 



FiG. 469. — ^Salvia patens. 



or lavender. Some species are scented. Varieties may be raised from 

 seed, and are subsequently propagated by cuttings taken in August, 

 which are kept from frost in a glass-house all the winter, and planted 

 out the last week in May. 



The Heliotrope, another good bedding plant, is much neglected. 

 A dark old-fashioned variety called Jenny Lind (fig. 468) is par- 

 ticularly desirable, but any other good kind may take its place. It 

 is easily propagated by cuttings. 



Salvias are not much cultivated at the present time. The blue 

 Salvia (Salvia patens, fig. 469) is a fine plant, but it is somewhat 

 difficult to keep through the winter. 



