BEDDING PLANTS FROM SEED. 



pots. Keep the plants steadily growing, harden, 

 and plant out late in May. Seed may also be 

 sown in May thinly, where the plants are to 

 flower. 



Pyrethrum (Golden Feather). — P. parthenifolium 

 aureurn, laciniatum, and selaginoides are popular 

 forms of this familiar plant. Sow in boxes 

 during March or April in gentle heat, prick out 

 the seedlings 2 inches apart in larger boxes, 

 harden, and bed out any time in May. Ought 

 not to be planted in a rich soil, and flowering 

 growths should bo kept pinched out. 



Salpiglossis. — A class of annuals fully meriting a 

 bed to themselves, or they may be mixed among 

 other plants. Height 1 to 2 feet ; colours various 

 and rich. Sow in March, and otherwise treat 

 similarly to asters. Plants may also be raised in 

 the autumn (August), as advised for lobelias, 

 pentstemons, and petunias, in the absence of 

 warm structures for raising them in early spring. 



Scabious. — The dwarf varieties being showy, are yet 

 suitable for bedding out. Height 1 foot ; colours 

 principally dark shades, some nearly black, and 

 velvety ; may be raised with salpiglossis, and 

 similarly treated. The flowers are in demand for 

 cutting for vase decoration. 



Stocks. — Dwarf German Ten-week, height 1 foot. 

 Large flowering German ten-week stocks can 

 be had in six to twelve distinct colours, and are 

 the best for early flowering, but fail by the end 

 of August. They may be planted thinly among 

 verbenas, and no blanks occur when the stocks 

 are removed. We have had a natural succes- 

 sion of flowers by planting in mixture early 

 raised stocks and late raised asters in equal 

 numbers, about 9 inches apart. The earliest 

 flowering autumn or intermediate stocks, in- 

 cluding East Lothian, Emperor, and Giant Cape, 

 heights 12 to 18 inches, when sown in spring com- 

 mence flowering in July, and carry on the dis- 

 play till severe frosts intervene. Princess Alice, 

 height 18 inches to 2 feet, white and perpetual 

 flowering, beds out admirably, and the plants 

 should be staked. Sow in March or early in 

 April, and treat as advised for asters. 



Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). — Tall - growing 

 annual sunflowers are suitable for the back rows 

 of long borders, and for shrubberies. They may 

 either be raised under glass in April, and planted 

 out in May, or the seed can be sown in April, 

 where the plants are to flower, thinning out 

 severely. The newer miniature (H. cucumcri- 

 folius) is very different. It grows to a height of 



3 feet, branches and blooms continuously ; flowers 

 small, yellow, with dark centre: This variety 

 may be planted in the centres of large beds, or in 

 mixed borders. Raise in pans thinly, not sowing 

 before April, and plant out direct to the garden. 

 Sunflowers grow and flower excellently in town 

 gardens. 



Sweet Peas. — Tall-growing varieties are effective 

 in isolated groups, and separate colours, in 

 borders. Sow five to seven seeds in 3 -inch pots 

 under glass in March, hardening the plants, and 

 putting them out early in rich, deeply-worked 

 ground. One pot of plants is enough for a 

 group. These plants ought to be staked early, 

 and kept free from seed pods, or a long con- 

 tinuance of flowers cannot be expected. The 

 improved named varieties of sweet peas are very 

 beautiful, and rank as fashionable flowers. A 

 mixture of ordinary varieties sown in a row •in 

 the open garden early in April yields abundance 

 of delightfully fragrant flowers for cutting. 

 For prolonging the supply, every fading flower 

 should be clipped off the plants. 



Verbenas. — Scarlet, blue, and white varieties can bo 

 had true from seeds, and mixed packets give 

 numerous colours. The seed is uncertain in 

 germinating, consequently the pans containing it 

 must not be too hastily discarded. Sow in Feb- 

 ruary or early in March in light, sandy s6il, 

 covering lightly. Place in brisk heat, shade 

 heavily, and keep the soil uniformly moist till 

 the seedlings appear. When large enough, either 

 place them singly in small pots or prick out in 

 boxes of rich soil. Stop the more forward ones, 

 and plant all out late in May or early in June. 

 Seedlings grow strongly, and should have ample 

 room. 



Violas. — If these, in common with pansies, are sown 

 in heat during February or early in March, in 

 pans or boxes, and the plants duly pricked out in 

 larger boxes, they will be large enough to bed 

 out in May. Under good treatment (see Violas, 

 page 213) they will continue flowering all the 

 summer. 



Zea ja:ponica (Japanese Maize). — The variegated form 

 is noble and handsome. Height 3 to 5 feet, but 

 may be kept down to 30 inches or less by planting 

 in poor soil or by occasionally half lifting or 

 severing some of the roots. Z. gracillima is not 

 so coai'se, but the variegation is less constant. 

 Both are effective dotted among begonias, 

 verbenas, petunias, and other low-growing plants 

 in mixed borders. Sow the seed late in April, 



p p 2 



