180 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



March 2, 1912 



means^ yet all those 



lied will be 



found most serviceable for creating a dis- 

 play in beds and borders. 



For bedding purposes during August and 

 September these popular and beautiful 

 flowers hold an important position. The 

 most effective display is obtained when 

 they are massed in beds, in separate 

 colours, and they are also indispensable for , 

 mixed borders. The single types have be- 

 come great favourites, and are largely 

 grown J the new Southcote Beauty being 



small scarlet blossoms, which are borne in 

 such profusion that the plants are literally 

 smothered with bloom. 



Amaranthus. 



Amaranthus melancholicus, A. salioi- 

 folius, and A. tricolor, are prized for their 

 ornamental foliage, and will be foxmd ex- 

 tremely useful for dot plants for beds. 

 Being rather tender, they should not be 

 planted out until danger from frosts is 

 over. The seeds should be sown in early 

 March, in gentle heat, and the plants 

 grown in pots ready for planting out. 



DIMORPHOTHKCA HYBRIDS. 



Tliese, introduced by Messrs. Barr and So ns, Covent Garden, range in colour from 

 white to deep xed, and have been obtained by crossing D. aurantiaca with D. pluvialis. 



A g r a nd acq u i si t i on . 



The variouslv- 



ing 



•coloured forms of Callistephus sinensis are 

 highly prized for their large single flowers, 

 and they are most useful for cutting. The 

 most popular of the doubles are the Comet. 

 Plume, and Ray varieties, the latter hav- 

 very large blooms of fine lasting 

 quality. Besides these there are the Vic- 

 toria. Pieonv and Chrvsanthemum-flowered 

 \ ju ieties. 



Alonsoas. 



Alonsoa Warscewiczi compacta and A. 

 gracilis are beautiful subjects for small 

 l>eds, or for grouping in the borders. They 

 grow about twelve inches high, and have 



Clarkias and Candytufts, 



Clarkias are remarkable alike for their 



graceful habit and attractive colouring, and 

 are especially adapted for the formation of 

 <listinct groups in the mixed border. Five 

 or six plants, arranged from eight to twelve 

 inches apart, will make most effective 

 groups if^ as should l>e the case, each con- 

 sists of a distinct variety. There are two 

 distinct types, which are known as elegans 

 and pulchella. The varieties of the first 

 type are the more robust, and attain under 

 good cultivation a height of about thirty 

 inches, and the lonii. unu^'ful sprays pre- 

 sent a most pleasing ap[>earance. There 



are most 



are white, pink, salmon^ and scarlet varie- 

 ties, all of which are more or less beautiful. 

 Two of the finest of the varieties at present 

 in cultivation are Sutton's Firefly, which 

 has crimson-scarlet flowers, and Sutton's 

 Scarlet Beauty, which has flowers of 

 salmon-scarlet hue. The pulchella viirie- 

 ties range in height from twelve to eigh- 

 teen inches, and include several beautiful 

 shades of rose. The rose-coloured flowers 

 with white margins are also highly attrac- 

 tive, and the white varieties 

 useful. 



The annual candytufts are of much value 

 for producing bright and pleasing displays 

 of floAvers. The seed can be sown where 

 the plants are to produce their flowers, and 

 whether grow^n in clumps or lines the" seed 

 should be sown thinly, and the plants be 

 thinned sufl^ciently to allow each one to 

 attain its full development. Unless allowed 

 plenty of room the candytufts have a rather 

 short flowering season, and the flower spikes 

 do not attain their full size. Dobhie's 

 "WHiite Spiral is a rem.arkably fine strain, 

 the plants being vigorous in growth and 

 the flower spikes of immense size. The 

 carmine and crimson varieties are also most 

 meritorious. 



Celosia plumosa. 



Tlio yellow, scarlet, and crimson varieties 

 of celos-iae are very eff^ective in beds when 

 massed in their separate colours. The 

 «eeds iS'hould be sown at the end of F^b- 

 I'liary, and the plants grown on in pots. A 

 fairly rich soil should be afforded tlieni, 

 and the plants must not be allowed to be- 

 come pot-'boiind. 



Chrysanthemums and 



Cosmeas. 



The ilorniiig Star and Evening Star 

 varieties of this popular annual are all very 

 beautiful, and most usefful for grouping in 

 the borders. 



C'osmea bipinnata is a handsome plant 

 with large flovvem resembling siingle dab- 

 lias. It is a strong gmwing annual, reach- 

 ing the height of about three feet, -and 

 having very fine and light foliage. To ob- 

 tain a good display of blossom the seeds 

 should be sown in February, otherwise the 

 flowering scas:on will be vory late. 



Dimorpotheca aurantiaca. 



This is one of the most gorgeous of an- 

 nuals^ the deep orange flowem producing *i 

 tbrilliant effect during August and Septem- 

 ber. It delights in full simshine, and the 

 colour does not burn or scald. 



Variously 



coloured hybrids of this flower have been 

 obtained by crossing it with Dimorpotheci 



Messrs Barr and Sons, of Co- 



•ality of 



o-btained by 

 l)luvialis. 



vent (iar(b'n, have made a speci 

 1). auiantiaca, and are now introducing 

 these new hybrids. Seeds should be sow" 

 early in March, potting the young plan^^^ 

 immediately they are large enough to 



handle into small pots, and repotting them 

 if necessary into larger pots before plnnt- 



mg out. 



Gailiardias. 



of Gail 



m 



The brilliant and rich colours v,. ^ 

 lardia Lorenzian:i and G. picta ^•^'^'^^f,,! 

 grand effect when the plants are hoW. 

 grouped in the borders, and they remain 

 in bloom for some considerable time. 1" 

 seeds should be sown in gentle heat 

 Feibruary. 



Marigolds. 



The African and French marigolds prj 

 vide <a wealth of blosisoms, highly prized to 

 their bright colours. The African varie- 

 ties have large self-oo.loure<l flowers, whi" 

 the Vrvm-h varieties are beautitnlt. 

 marked. 



