THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
67 
sown in April and May, for planting out after early-flowering 
annuals, and for succeeding other subjects that do not last the 
season through. It is of the utmost importance to obtain 
good seed and to sow plenty of it, for in spite of the greatest 
care in saving the seed a large proportion of the plants of the 
two last-named kinds will be so poorly coloured as to be 
useless for bedding purposes; but when the seed is saved 
carelessly not more than twenty-five per cent, of the produce 
will be of any use. When they are strong enough for potting 
off, destroy all that are entirely green, and pot the others off 
separately. The exact number of plants required should be 
determined upon, and thirty per cent, more potted than will 
be wanted, to allow of that number of the worst being dis¬ 
carded at the planting-time. By carrying out this plan, the 
plants with the most richly-coloured leafage only need be 
planted ; and as no other plants suitable for bedding purposes 
possess such gorgeous leaf-tints, the appearance of a well- 
filled bed is most magnificent. A. melancholicus always comes 
true from seed, and is one of the easiest plants to grow that 
was ever seen in a garden. 
Beet is not to be considered a desirable plant for the 
flower garden, but as it is often used, it must have a place 
here. The best for the flower garden are Dell's Crimson and 
Barr's New Crimson Leaf. Both are compact in growth and 
rich in colour. The roots are of fair average quality, and can 
be used for salads, in the same manner as the varieties usually 
grown in the kitchen garden. The seed can be sown in the 
beds early in May, or it maybe sown in a cold frame in April 
and transplanted into the beds when the other bedders are 
put out. Beds filled with beet should have a broad edging of 
centaureas or variegated geraniums, to prevent anything but 
a level surface of leaves of the beet being seen. The soil should 
be dug rather deeply to enable the roots to strike down, or 
the roots will be forked and of no use for culinary purposes. 
The Chilian beet, excepting for wildernesses, is worthless, 
and should not be grown. 
Bouvardia. —A small bed of mixed sorts has a very pretty 
effect, especially if a few plants of the blue-flowered Plumbago 
capensis are mixed with them. The bed in which the Bou- 
vardias are to be planted should be' prepared, if practicable, 
as advised for the Lantanas, and strong bushy plants should 
be put out. They are usually propagated in July, and potted 
