TENDER BORDER AND BEDDING PLANTS. 321 
albiflora has white flowers ; A. incisifolia and A. myrtifolia, 
scarlet ; A. Warscewiczii, rosy-scarlet ; Mutisii, chamois rose ; 
and A. linearis, bright scarlet. The foregoing blossom 
throughout the summer. Grow in masses or groups in sunny 
beds or borders. 
Alternanthera. — Tender ornamental-leaved perennials, 
Belonging to the Natural Order Amarantaceae, and used solely 
for carpet bedding purposes. They have crimson, orange-red, 
yellow and pink foliage, and grow only about 3m. high. The 
kinds generally grown are A. amabilis, red, green and rose ; 
A. a. amcena, orange-red and purple ; A. paronychoides, orange 
red and green ; A. versicolor, rosy-pink and crimson. There 
are also several varieties of the foregoing, the names of which 
will be found in florists’ lists. They are increased by cuttings 
of the young shoots inserted an inch apart in light sandy soil 
in boxes in a temperature of 65 to 75 deg. early in the year. 
When rooted, the cuttings may be kept in the same temperature 
and further cuttings taken from them, or they may be placed 
in a cooler house till May, then transferred to cold frames and 
planted in the beds in June. If strong bushy plants are 
desired, and hot beds are available, the rooted cuttings may be 
planted 2in. apart on the hot beds in April, the frame kept 
close and shaded from sun till May, then air may be admitted 
and the plants lifted and planted straight away from the frame 
in June. In August, cuttings should be taken and rooted in 
boxes in heat to furnish a supply of cuttings for spring propa- 
gation. Old plants may also be lifted and placed in boxes in 
heat for the same purpose. Natives of Brazil. 
Argemone (Prickly Poppy). — Half-hardy perennials, 
requiring, however, to be treated as half-hardy annuals. 
Natives of California and members of the Poppy family 
(Papaveracese). We cannot recommend these plants for culture 
in small gardens, but where there is plenty of room for 
choice and curious plants the reader may grow them. The 
species are: A. albiflora, white, 1 ft. ; A. grandiflora, white, 
3ft. ; A. mexicana, yellow, 2ft. ; and A. ochroleuca, yellow, ift. 
The flowers are poppy-like in form with yellow anthers. Seed 
of all the above should be sown in heat in March, and the 
seedlings planted ouC in May in a warm, sunny spot, in 
good, ordinary soil. Natives of Mexico. 
Begonia. — Tender tuberous or fibrous-rooted plants, be- 
longing to the Nat. Ord. Begoniaceze, and used for tEe summer 
decoration of beds in the garden. The single and double- 
flowered varieties of the Tuberous-rooted Begonia make 
splendid bedding plants, but the singles are perhaps the most 
v 
