CHAPTER Y. 
A SELECTION OF BEDDING PLANTS* 
The preceding chapter has disposed of all the general matterg 
in connection with the cultivation of bedding plants, and it 
now becomes necessary to enumerate the principal subjects 
employed in bedding, and offer a few practical observations on 
their characters, uses, and the most convenient modes of culti¬ 
vating them. The alphabetical arrangement adopted will facili¬ 
tate reference, and it is hoped the very brief hints on selecting 
and multiplying the several varieties will be found sufficient, in 
connection with advices offered elsewhere in these pages. 
Agebatum. —This is one of the most popular plants, and is 
especially useful for ribbon borders, for the contrast of its 
grey or bright blue flowers with scarlet geraniums or crimson 
petunias. All the varieties may be raised from cuttings in 
spring ; but it is far better to raise from seed, as they occasion 
less trouble, and, as a rule, maintain their character suffi¬ 
ciently for practical purposes. A. Mexicanum , the species 
originally cultivated, has of late been greatly improved in a 
series of dwarf varieties. The dwarfest of them is Tom 
Thumb , which, in ordinary soils and situations, does not 
exceed six inches in height. It is most valuable for edging 
purposes where a band of pale blue is required next grass or 
gravel, and for panel beds, because of its neat habit. It, 
however, is hardly robust enough for very poor soils. Im¬ 
perial Dwarf usually attains a height ranging from six to 
nine inches, and is remarkably neat and compact in habit. It 
can be employed as a first or second row plant, or as a centre 
in small beds. Prince Alfred is rather taller than either of 
the preceding, and is therefore more valuable for large beds 
or ribbon borders, excepting for outside rows. The seed 
should be sown in a gentle heat in February, and when the 
plants are well established in the small pots in which they 
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