THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN*. 
39 
be taken up, the ground should then be trenched and manured, 
and the bulbs planted again. Borders appropriated to a dis¬ 
play of these in spring may be sown over with annuals with¬ 
out injury to the bulbs, and to render a yearly lifting of them 
unnecessary. As to hyacinths, they rapidly deteriorate unless 
subjected to careful systematic cultivation. As a rule, the 
best plan is to purchase a fresh supply every year, and throw 
away those that have flowered. The other kinds of bulbs do 
not deteriorate if carefully managed as bedding plants. One 
more remark may be worth making, it is that all the most 
valued bulbous and tuberous rooted plants thrive amazingly 
well in the smoky atmosphere of great towns. 
We will now briefly indicate a few of the more important 
points that require consideration in connection with the sum¬ 
mer bedders. To begin with, we must divide these into two 
classes—1, those that produce effect by their flowers; 2, 
those that produce effect by their leaves. In the first section 
the most important plants are Verbenas, Petunias, Calceo¬ 
larias, Lobelias, Lantanas, Heliotropes, and Tropseolums. In 
the second section the most valuable subjects are Coleus, 
Amaranthuses, Alternantheras, Iresines, Perillas, Centaureas, 
Cerastiums, Gnaphaliums, Pyrethrums. From the great 
family of Geraniums (zonate pelargoniums) we can select 
plants for both classes, and so far as they serve the purposes 
required by the flower and leaf colours, they are without 
question the most useful bedding plants in cultivation. But 
the question arises what constitutes a bedding plant ? Before 
attempting an answer to this question, it must be remarked 
that although such noble subjects as Agaves, Yuccas, Cannas, 
Humeas, and Beaucarneas, may be employed to enrich the 
parterre, our chief concern now is with the plants employed 
in flat colouring, for such are the bedders proper. This con¬ 
sideration suggests the limits within which we may select 
plants for bedding. They must be decisive in the colour of 
leaf, or flower, or both; they must be of comparatively dwarf 
habit, or admit of being trained close to the ground to pro¬ 
duce the same effect as dwarf plants ; and they must present 
the appearance which renders them valuable as agents in 
colouring for a considerable length of time, and the longer 
the better. Other qualities we need not make note of. It is 
evident that a plant selected for its flowers will prove but a 
poor bedder, if those flowers are presented in a succession of 
