SUMMER BEDDING. 



033 



in case of fungus disease or sourness, being 

 essentials in good flower-gardening. In strong, 

 deep soils some plants, Pelargoniums for in- 

 stance, are likely to grow too vigorously and to 

 flower sparingly. The addition of brick rubble 

 or cinder ashes to the soil, and the withholding 

 of manure, would tend to improve matters in 

 this respect. The same principles of cultivation 

 should be applied in the flower-garden as in the 

 kitchen-garden, bearing in mind also that flowers 

 rather than leaves or roots are the desiderata. 



The plants which have been in preparation in 

 pits and frames should be thoroughly hardened 

 off before they are planted out. The usual time 

 for this operation is the last week in May or 

 the first week in June. Dull showery weather 

 is of course preferable for the work; should 

 the weather be dry, copious waterings at the 

 time of planting are essential. The plants 

 should be thoroughly moist at the root before 

 they are put out. 



Cutting-time, usually about the third or last 

 week in August, is a busy period where there is 

 a large flower-garden, as the number of plants 

 required for the beds in the ensuing year must 

 be decided upon and sufficient cuttings taken to 

 provide them. The usual method is to plant 

 the cuttings in boxes or pans and place them in 

 a sheltered sunny position in the open until 

 they are rooted. The cuttings of such plants 

 as Heliotrope, Ageratum, Coleus, Iresine, and 

 named sorts of Verbena strike better when put 

 in a close frame until rooted. Calceolarias root 

 readily in a cold frame in sandy soil, and may 

 be left there for the winter. Directions for 

 propagation are given with the following brief 

 descriptions of selected plants for summer 

 bedding : — 



Abutilon. — The varieties, mostly of hybrid origin, are 

 now numerous, and some of them are excellent bedding 

 plants: — Boule de Neige, Calypso, white; Caprivi, Royal 

 Scarlet, Fire-King, Le Grand, scarlet; Compactum, Cloth 

 of Gold, yellow; Madame J. Laing, rose -pink. There are 

 several varieties of A. megapotamicum with orange and 

 scarlet flowers, and very pretty foliage blotched with 

 yellow. These all grow 3 to 4 feet high if not stopped. 

 The last-named is easily kept dwarf. Propagated from 

 cuttings in autumn or spring. 



Ageratum. — These are most useful for producing broad 

 effects of blue or mauve. The best varieties are Imperial 

 Dwarf and The Zoo. Enfant de Paris has dull-white 

 flowers. Grandiflorum album (fig. 759) has pure white 

 flowers. They grow from 6 to 9 inches in height. A.mexi- 

 canum variegatum grows 2 feet high, and is useful for 

 massing in borders. Propagated by cuttings in late autumn 

 and spring. 



Alyssum maritimum (Sweet Alyssum). — A pretty little 

 annual, free and compact, 4 inches high, with narrow linear 

 leaves and erect heads of small white fragrant flowers. 



Most suitable for edging. Var. variegatum has leaves mar- 

 gined with white, and makes an excellent carpet for Lobelia 

 fulgens, &c. Propagated by seeds or cuttings. 



Antirrhinum magus (Snapdragon). — Of this there are 

 many varieties — white, red, pink, purple, yellow, and 

 scarlet - flowered. The Bride, pure -white, Tom Thumb 

 and Scarlet Gem are excellent for beds. Easily propagated 

 from seed or cuttings. 



Aster.— The Michaelmas Daisies are well suited for 

 bedding for autumn effects. Among the best varieties /or 

 planting in masses are — Acris, Bessarabicus, versicolor. 

 Novi Belgii, Robert Parker, Harper Crewe, rosea, densus, 

 Shortii, Janus, diffusus horizontalis, and laevigatas. Tie 

 two first-named flower early in August. Propagated by 

 division in spring. 



Begonia. — In addition to the tuberous-rooted section, 

 the varieties of which are legion, the following are use- 

 ful:— 



Abundance. Stiff, erect habit, with small, pale, ovate 

 leaves and panicles of pink flowers. 



Afterglow. A hybrid resembling Knowsleyana. com- 

 pact habit, deep-green foliage, flowers soft-rose tinged 

 with carmine. 



Ascotensis. Upright habit, bright-green, small ovate 

 leaves, rosy-red flowers in panicles. 



Rosea floribunda. A semperflorens form of good habit, 

 with bright-pink flowers. 



Semperflorens Sieberiana. Vigorous and erect habit, 



Fig. 759.— Ageratum grandiflorum album. 



glossy -green foliage, and large flowers of a soft -rose 

 colour. 



Var. carminea gigantca. Large shining-green foliage, 

 of good habit; flowers carmine. 



Var. rosea gigantca. Similar to the latter, with rose- 

 coloured flowers. 



Var. alba. Good habit; large shining - green leaves, 

 flowers white, free. 



Var. Crimson Gem (Vernon). Dwarf compact habit; 

 leaves bright shining - green, turning to coppery - red ; 

 flowers crimson, very free and effective. 



Var. Duchess of Edinburgh. Similar to alba in all but 

 its flowers, which are white margined with pink. 



Var. Princess Beatrice. Very free, with smaller leaves 

 than the last-named and abundance of small pink and 

 white flowers. 



