142 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
refuse, or a mixture of two or more of these fertilizers, and then 
digging it up rather deeply. The grand point is to place within the 
reach of the plants plenty of food, and to make the soil sufficiently 
open to enable the roots to extend freely, and take advantage of it. 
If the soil is heavy, a barrowful or so of road or other grit, in 
addition to the manure, will be of considerable service in promoting 
a healthy development of growth and flower. 
The importance of putting out strong plants has been already 
alluded to, but it is desirable to remark that large plants are not 
absolutely required, provided they are well established and thoroughly 
hardened off. Plants raised from cuttings struck about twelve 
months since, which early in the present season were cut down 
nearly to tlie surface of the soil, and have made a good growth since, 
are perhaps the most suitable. The size of the plants must be taken 
into consideration in filling the beds, and the distance between them 
regulated accordingly. After they have been planted a month or 
so, the surface of the beds should be covered to a depth of four or 
six inches with partly-decayed manure or flaky leaf-mould, to main- 
tain the soil in a nice cool and moist condition, and in dry weather 
a few thorough soakings of water will be of considerable service. 
They should also be sprinkled overhead occasionally in dry weather. 
This can be done vdth the garden engine or syringe, or it may be 
done with a watering-pot, to which a moderately coarse rose has 
been affixed. 
All varieties are not alike suitable for bedding, and from my 
large collection, which comprises nearly two hundred and fifty sorts, 
I have selected twenty as being exceptionally good for the purpose 
in question. They are as follows ; — 
Darh varieties : Constellation, Lizzie Hexham, King of the 
Doubles, Kifleman (double), Norfolk Giant, First of the Day, Tower 
of London, and ]\Ir. Lyndoe. Light varieties : Wiltshire Lass, Mar- 
ginata, Minnie Banks, Prince Alfred, Arabella, White Perfection, 
Alba coccinea, and Evening Star. Varieties with white Corollas : 
Conspicua, Emperor of the Fuchsias, Vainqueur de Puebla, and 
Mrs. Ballantine. 
Some of the hardy varieties are splendid objects planted in beds 
or in the front of shrubberies, and I would strongly recommend 
tlieir being more extensively planted than is the case at present. 
The fact is, few amateurs are aware of the existence of the most 
attractive of tl>e hardy kinds. liicartoni and Longiflora are two fine 
species, and Mr. Bland, gardener to Lord Kilmorey, has succeeded 
in raising several hardy hybrids, with flowers large in size, and 
p.artaking of the characteristics of the vigorous-growing show 
varieties. These will, I believe, prove valuable acquisitions, but as 
they are now in my hands for distribution, I do not feel justified in 
saying anything further respecting them. 
