40 
TIIE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARBE1T. 
efforts with considerable intervals between. Hence, antirrhi¬ 
nums and pentstemous, which, as garden flowers, are most 
beautiful, cannot be considered valuable bedders. Pyrethrums 
flower too early for the summer display, and phloxes flower 
too late. A vast enumeration might be made of plants com¬ 
monly regarded as bedders, that really do not belong to the 
category ; but it is sufficient to say that given all other need¬ 
ful qualities, continuity of effect, whether by leaves or flowers, 
is an indispensable quality. Here we light upon an interest¬ 
ing distinction between such as we may call flowering plants, 
and such as we may called leaf plants. Under the best of 
circumstances, we must wait for the first, for even if we plant 
them in full bloom, the change of conditions consequent on 
planting will soon cause them to cast their flowers, and some 
time must elapse ere they produce a succession. With leaf 
plants, the case is quite different. They show their colour 
from the first, however weak it may be, owing to the smallness 
of the plants ; and they improve every day. With flowering 
plants, the first display is of green leaf, with accidental dots 
of colour. With leaf plants, the first display is the same as 
the last, save and except as to intensity. If a verdict as to 
relative values must be given here, the leaf plants must have 
it certainly, and the latest fashion in leaf embroidery will 
amply justify this preference of leaves to flowers for colouring 
of the richest and most artistic character. As, however, it 
will be long ere the leaves drive out the flowers, the last must 
have attention in these pages, without regard to their possible 
eclipse in years to come, or the great probability that, after 
all, the flowers may be in the end triumphant. 
The shortest and simplest way of making a display of 
bedding plants is to buy them when wanted, and dig them 
into the beds as manure when the autumnal rains have spoiled 
their beauty. And it needs to be said that this is not so 
extravagant a mode of procedure as it appears. To be sure, 
the plants will cost money, and the outlay must be repeated 
every season, so long as bedders are required. But those 
who raise their own plants, and keep up a stock for bedding’, 
do not obtain their results for nothing. They must employ 
skilled labour, and make use of glass, and burn fuel, and 
occupy space for a mere manufacturing business which, if 
judged from any high standpoint, offers but little to interest 
the enthusiastic horticulturist. The system of purchasing 
