BEDDING PLANTS FROM SEED. 



217 



be easily raised from seed. Sow in August in 

 frames, in preference to waiting till the spring, 

 in j)ans of light soil, covering with squares of 

 glass and shading till tho seedlings appear. Place 

 these singly in 2-inch pots, and keep in a cold 

 pit or frame. In the spring shift into 5-inch pots, 

 using a mixture of loam, leaf soil, and sand. 

 Bed out early. Smaller plants for edgings can be 

 raised from spring-sown seed. 



CHAMiEPEUCE (the Fishbone Thistle). — C. Casabonao 

 grows to a height of 10 to 12 inches, and forms 

 green leaves covered with spines. C. diacantha 

 (see Pig. 109, p. 220) has white foliage margined 

 with green, furnished with white spines. Both 

 are effective " dot" plants, the green -leaved form 

 being interspersed among light-coloured carpeting 

 plants, and the silvery-leaved form among dwarf 

 lobelias, alternantheras, and the like. Seed can 

 be sown in pans early in the autumn, and placed 

 in a frame or pit to germinate ; or sowing may be 

 deferred till February, in which case heat will be 

 needed. A mixture of loam, leaf soil or peat, 

 and sand suits these thistles, and the seedlings 

 should be lifted out of the pans early and placed 

 singly in 2A-inch pots, kept in gentle heat till 

 well established, then transferred to cooler 

 quarters, bedding out late in May. Keep a few 

 plants in reserve to fill up possible blanks. 



Cockscomb (Celosia cristata). — Dwarf cockscombs are 

 not extensively bedded out, but where variety is 

 desirable, they are attractive when planted among 

 silvery-leaved trailing plants. Eaise the plants 

 with the other celosias, and grow them strongly, 

 shifting them into 5-inch pots. For producing 

 very dwarf plants take the tops off the seedlings 

 when the " combs " are showing, placing singly in 

 3-inch pots, and root in brisk heat. When well 

 rooted, gradually harden and plant out in June. 



Dahlias. — Both single and double flowering dahlias 

 are easily raised from seed, and the plants will 

 flower freely the same season. Seedlings are not 

 sufficiently reliable for filling prominent flower- 

 beds. Mixed borders and thinly-planted shrub- 

 beries are the best places for them. Sow the seed 

 thinly in pans of sandy soil in February, and 

 place in heat to germinate. When the seedlings 

 are large enough either prick out thinly in boxes 

 or place singly in 2|-inch pots, using good loamy 

 soil. Grow them near the glass, and gradually 

 harden them for planting out early in June. Place 

 a stake to each plant at once, and protect from 

 slugs. 



Dianthus ciiinensis (Indian Pink). — Single and 



double varieties of this section of the pink family, 

 though not gorgeous, are pleasing in beds, 

 especially, perhaps, the lioddewigi groups : 

 height 9 to 12 inches ; colours various. They may 

 be treated as biennials, but are the most satis- 

 factory when grown as annuals. Sow in March, 

 in other respects treating similarly to asters. 

 Bed out early, devoting the centre of small beds 

 to them, or group in mixed borders. 



Lobelia. — If seed is obtained from a reliable source, 

 the strains may be depended upon to come true to 

 description, and if an early start is made, stocky 

 plants can be ready for the beds by the end of 

 May. Sow in January on the surface of pans of 

 soil prepared as recommended for, and treat 

 similarly to, begonias. Transplant the seedlings 

 in boxes, and give the same treatment as advised 

 for cuttings (see page 209). As previously 

 indicated, these lobelias may be raised in tho 

 autumn, wintered on a greenhouse shelf, and 

 pricked out early in the spring — a practice that 

 ought to commend itself to persons who have not 

 the requisite facilities for raising seedlings in heat 

 early in the year. Tall-growing or herbaceous 

 lobelias can also be easily raised from seed. Sow 

 in June or July in pans of fine loamy soil, and 

 place in a cold frame or hand-light. Pot the 

 seedlings when large enough to handle, winter in 

 protected frames, and plant out in May. These 

 lobelias should have deep, moderately rich, freely- 

 worked soil, and they enjoy moisture. 



Marigolds (Tagetes). — These half-hardy annuals are 

 very showy. African lemon and orange types 

 grow to 2 feet, the dwarf forrns 18 inches, and all 

 produce fine double flowers freely throughout 

 the summer. They are suitable for massing in 

 the centres of beds. French striped are also 

 showy; height 18 inches ; colours, orange shades, 

 brown and yellow. Dwarf forms 1 foot high can 

 be had, and the miniature yellow and brown 

 varieties (good substitutes, in common with 

 Tagetes signata pumda, for calceolarias) are 

 6 inches high. The middle of April is soon 

 enough for sowing, and the seed will germinate 

 in a warm frame or on a greenhouse shelf. If it 

 is sown thinly in boxes of good sod, the plants 

 may be moved direct from these to the beds, but 

 if the seedlings are crowded, they must be early 

 pricked out in other boxes, in either case harden- 

 ing and planting out early in June. 



Mignonette. — The common large flowering variety 

 succeeds well among summer bedding plants, and 

 is more particularly recommended for carpeting 



VOL. I. 



