34* 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
2ft. high. It belongs to the Lavender order (Labiatae), and is 
grown for the sake of its foliage as a summer bedding plant. 
It is a very striking plant when contrasted with silvery-leaved 
plants. Sow seeds in heat in March, transplant the seeds as 
soon as large enough to handle, harden off and plant out late 
in May. 
Petunia.— Half-hardy perennials, belonging to the Night- 
shade order (Solanaceae), and used extensively for summer 
bedding. The present race are the result of a cross between 
P. nyctaginiflora and P. \iolacea, two S. American species. 
There are single and double forms, and both are easily reared 
from seeds sown in heat in February or March and the seed- 
lings pricked off an inch or so apart in pans or boxes, and 
later planted in small pots, hardened off in May and planted 
out in June. Special single and double sorts may also be 
propagated by cuttings in heat in August or in early spring. 
Petunias require a rich soil and a sunny position to do well. 
They show to the best effect when planted in bold masses. 
Best treated as half-hardy annuals, i.e., raised from seed 
every year, but choice kinds may be grown on in heat and 
increased by cuttings as above advised. Named varieties may 
be obtained, but a good assortment of colours may be 
obtained from the mixed packets of special strains sold by all 
seedsmen. 
Phormium (New Zealand Flax). — Hardy or half-hardy 
perennials, belonging to the Lily order (Liliacese), and natives 
of New Zealand. P. tenax is a handsome plant, with green 
Iris-like foliage and yellow or reddish flowers borne on spikes 
4 to 6 ft. high. There are several forms of it, viz., atropur- 
pureum, reddish-purple foliage ; variegatum, leaves striped 
white and yellow; and veitchianum, leaves green, striped 
creamy white. The larter is a noble plant for grouping with 
sub-tropical plants in beds or growing on a lawn in warm 
sheltered positions. Hardy only in the South and West. P. 
Cookianum (Syn. P. Colensoi) is a smaller-growing species, 
said to be more hardy than P. tenax. There is a variegated 
form of it. Where P. tenax will not succeed outdoors in winter, 
grow in pots in a greenhouse in winter and plant out in 
May. Ordinary soil. Increased by division in spring. 
Plumbago (Leadwort). — P. capensis, blue, and P. 
capensis alba, white, are tender climbing shrubs often grown 
largely for summer bedding. Dwarf plants reared from seed or 
cuttings are used for edgings to beds and borders, the shoots 
being pegged to the soil, and larger plants trained as bushes, 
pyramids or standards are employed for mixing with sub-tropical 
