l82 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



over tree-stumps. Seed may be sown in February or March, 

 pricking out the seedlings into boxes, and transplanting to the 

 open border during June. Cuttings will also root freely if 

 placed in a warm case about August ; when rooted, they should 

 be transferred to a cool position for the remainder of the 

 summer, removing to a warm greenhouse before any signs of 

 frost appear. In the early spring, they should be potted up 

 singly, and kept in a gentle heat ; they will soon make 

 plenty of new growth, and if more plants are required, the 

 tops may be taken off and put in as cuttings ; if placed in 

 a close case, these will soon root and make fine specimens for 

 planting out in June. Numerous named varieties are now 

 grown, some having double and others single flowers. Of the 

 latter. Dr. Hogg and Spitfire are amongst the best ; whilst of 

 the double forms, Kate Tidy (white), Wm. Brown, Perfection, 

 and Mrs. Chas. Wilson cannot be beaten. 



Phlox Drummondi is a plant which cannot be passed by 

 unnoticed, as for filling small beds, or for mixing with taller- 

 growing subjects, it is superb. It is a half-hardy annual, and in 

 this work is treated of under " Half-hardy Annuals." 



Pyrethrum Golden Feather is a well-known, free-growing 

 bedding-plant, suitable for edgings, Szc. It has been styled the 

 "gardener's friend," and it certainly is a treasure to him, for 

 it can always be relied upon, and is always in season. In 

 spring the plants look like masses of gold, and in summer they 

 light up the whole garden, and harmonise with everything. As 

 they are grown for their beautiful golden foliage, which is often 

 elegantly cut, the flower-buds should be picked off as they 

 appear. To secure plants suitable for bedding out in June, the 

 seed should be sown in March in a warm pit, and the seedlings 

 grown on rapidly in a light position. 



Verbenas. — These rank amongst the showiest of our 

 summer-bedding subjects ; they are easily raised from seed sown 

 in spring ; or they may be grown from cuttings of short, stubby 

 shoots dibbled into a slight hot-bed in August. They may also 

 be increased by potting a few old plants in the autumn, 

 wintering them in a cool, light greenhouse, and placing them ni 

 heat about January, when they will make an abundance of 

 cuttings. These will root readily if placed in a close propagating- 

 frame, and will make useful subjects for planting out in June, 

 Those raised from seed are more robust in growth, and yield 

 more flowers than those grown from cuttings, and, moreover, are 

 not so liable to fall a prey to the disease which attacks those 

 raised from cuttings ; it is therefore advisable to grow them 

 annually from seed, and if care is taken in selecting the 

 seed, excellent results will be obtained. Verbena venosa has 

 rose-purple flowers, and grows to a height of i8in. ; it is very 



