634 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



If these are planted out in June, they will flower freely 

 all the summer. About the middle of October, before 

 frost can affect them, they may be lifted, potted, and 



placed in a warm house, where they will afford a supply 

 of flowers throughout the winter, as well as cuttings for 

 propagating early in the spring. With the exception of 

 Princess Beatrice all the varieties of B. semperflorens are 

 easily raised from seed sown in heat in the beginning of 

 February, yielding plants fit for planting out in June. 

 Calceolaria. — Very showy and effective when grown 



with success, but unreliable, especially in dry seasons. 

 They prefer a cool, rich soil. The best yellows are — aurea 

 floribunda, Golden Gem, and Prince of Orange ; bronze — 

 Firefly, Sultan, and Sparkler. C. amplexicaulis grows 

 about 2 feet high, and looks well in a large bed ; it has 

 lemon-yellow flowers. Requires a little heat in winter. 

 Propagated by cuttings in autumn, and wintered in a 

 cold frame. 



Callistephus (China Aster). — A great variety of forms 

 and colours are now available for summer bedding, Vic- 

 toria and Dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered (fig. 760) being 

 the best inhabit, their flowers completely hiding the foliage. 

 Propagated by seeds sown in a cold frame in February. 



Celosia pyramidalis. — This attractive plant is best 

 when grown in pots and planted out in July in succession 

 to such plants as Stocks. The tall, elegant, plume -shaped 

 spikes of flowers in various shades of red, purple, silver, and 

 yellow, are very effective. Propagated by seeds in March. 



Centaurea ragusina and CINERARIA maritima are hand- 

 some silvery-leaved plants which are effectively used in 

 combination with Coleus, Beet, or Scarlet Pelargonium. 

 They are almost -hardy. Propagated by offsets in spring. 



Chrysanthemum indicum. — The dwarf early-flowering 

 varieties may be grown in nursery beds until July, when 

 they can be transferred to beds or borders on a wet day 

 to flower in August and September. Among the best varie- 

 ties are Madame Desgrange, white ; G. Wermig, pale- 

 yellow; Mrs. Hawkins, golden -yellow ; Mons. Gustave 

 Grunerwald, pink; Early Flora, yellow; Harvest Home, 

 red and yellow; and White Lady, pure-white. Propagated 

 by cuttings in autumn, and wintered in a cold frame. 



Fig. 761.— A Fuchsia Bed. 



Coleus. — Vcrschaffcltii, Refulgence, and Taylor's Pet 

 are suitable bedders, as they colour well. Propagated in 

 heat in early spring from plants kept through the winter 

 in a warm house. 



Convolvulus mauritanicus. — A very ornamental trail- 

 ing perennial with silvery leaves and mauve-purple flowers. 

 Fine for bedding and vases. Hardy in the warmer parts 

 of the country. 



Cuphea platyccntra. — A dwarf perennial with bushy 

 habit, smooth lanceolate leaves, and tubular flowers 

 coloured scarlet, black and white, prodiiced freely and 

 continuously throughout the summer. Propagated from 

 cutting in the autumn. 



Dactylis glomcrata variegata. — One of the prettiest of 



grasses, dwarf and beautifully variegated, hardy and of 

 free growth, suitable for edgings to beds and borders. 

 Propagated by division in autumn or spring. 



Dahlia.— The varieties recommended as bedders are 

 Alba floribunda, white ; Carl Mendel, deep crimson ; Gem 

 of Dwarfs, crimson, tipped white; George Thompson, 

 yellow; King of Dwarfs, dark -purple; Scarlet Globe, 

 orange-scarlet; Sambo, rich-maroon; White Bedder; Plu- 

 ton, yellow; and Flora Macdonald, primrose. These are 

 showy and free, and they range from 2 to 3 feet in 

 height. The Tom Thumb varieties also are useful for 

 bedding. Propagated by division or cuttings in spring. 



Fuchsia. — Many of the varieties are useful bedding- 

 plants (fig. 761), flowering from early summer till late in 



