WHAT TO PLANT 
33 
A handsome foliage bed is yery desirable in the center 
of a garden that is not confined to side pieces of ground, 
the beautifully tinted leaves having the effect of a rich mass 
of tropical blossoms, and affording an admirable back¬ 
ground in filling large receptacles with cut flowers. Foli¬ 
age plants are expensive if one insists upon having colens, 
geraniums, achyranthus, etc. ; but a very pretty collection 
can be made from home-raised seed at a trifling expendi¬ 
ture. 
A circle twelve feet in diameter is the best shape for 
this central ornament, and, in a confined space, it may be 
of smaller dimensions. Eicinus, tri-color or purpurens, 
makes a good central plant, and around this should be 
drawn a circle a foot and a half distant from the center. 
On the line thus made may be planted cannas, nigricanus 
or Warcsewichsii. Then follow four other circles, each one 
foot apart, on the first of which should be planted ama- 
ranthis bi-color, and on the next tri-color; next, cinera¬ 
ria maritima ; then a circle of pyrethrum, golden feather, 
etc., and the border may be made of centaurea. 
This makes a really handsome bed, and one within the 
reach of a very limited purse. Canna-seed requires to be 
soaked in hot water for an hour before planting (camphor 
water would probably do even better), and should be start¬ 
ed in boxes early in the season. The others also should be 
started under shelter, in readiness to plant in the bed by 
April. One foot apart on the lines is a good distance for 
the plants. 
Verbenas are among the most popular and satisfactory 
of bedding plants, and are usually raised from cuttings ; 
but they can be raised from seeds, if well soaked before¬ 
hand, and many beautiful varieties are obtained in this 
way. They delight in hot sun and plenty of sand, and, if 
the bed is covered with the latter two or three inches deep, 
they will bloom all the better. 
