ON BEDDING PLANTS. 1 75 



pot up a few old plants in the autumn for furnishing cuttings 

 early in the spring. C. maritima grows from i2in. to i8in. 



Coleus Verschaffeltii is one of the best crimson-leaved 

 plants used for bedding; it grows from i2in. to i8in. high, and 

 strikes freely from cuttings placed in bottom-heat in spring. A 

 few old plants taken up and potted in the autumn will yield an 

 abundance of cuttings in the spring, as each " eye " will grow 

 and form a plant. March is the best time for propagating for 

 bedding, growing the cuttings on in heat until May, and then 

 very gradually hardening them off. They make very effective 

 beds when edged with silver- or golden-leaved plants, such as 

 Cineraria maritima or Pyrethrum Golden Feather. Taylor's Pet 

 is a very dark crimson form, which, when planted out, turns 

 almost black; it withstands the cold better than C. Vaschaffeltii; 



Fuchsias. — These are now largely used in summer bedding 

 arrangements, and very effective plants they prove to be, with 

 their graceful drooping flowers. They are propagated by means 

 of cuttings of the young growing shoots, taken from the old 

 plants just as they start into growth in the spring, and placed 

 in a warm propagating-frame. They root quite readily, and are 

 soon fit for potting up singly into small pots. The cuttings 

 should be kept near the glass in a warm house, so as to induce 

 them to make stout, healthy growth, repotting them into 6in. 

 pots before the roots become matted together. They should be 

 kept growing freely during the summer, gradually drying off in 

 the autumn by withholding water and keeping them in a cooler, 

 temperature. They will then make excellent stock plants for 

 starting into growth, in heat, during the early spring, gradually 

 hardening off, and planting out in June. The following autumn 

 they should be taken up before severe frost occurs, ripening 

 them off well, previous to storing away in cool, dry sheds or 

 cellars for the winter. Some Fuchsias are allowed to assume a 

 bush form, whilst others are kept to a single stem, and grown 

 into pyramids. The dwarf, bushy kinds form excellent beds, 

 either alone or edged with other dwarf-growing bedding plants. 

 Those grown into pyramids make beautiful objects, their drooping 

 branches showing off to advantage. They require a carpeting of 

 Ageratums, Violas, or other dwarf-growing subjects. The varieties 

 of bedding Fuchsias are very numerous ; in fact, almost all of 

 the Fuchsias are sufficiently hardy to stand outside during the 

 summer. Dunrobin Castle is a very distinct bedding variety ot 

 compact habit. It has small dark foliage and bright coral-red 

 flowers, which are produced in great profusion for weeks in 

 succession. It is suitable for either small beds, carpeting below 

 taller plants, vases, window-boxes, or for growing into standards. 

 There are several varieties, with richly-coloured or variegated 

 leaves, which are grown extensively for bedding- purposes. 

 Amongst these are Cloth of Gold, an old favourite, having 



