THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
71 
This consideration brings ns back to the subject of seed, 
and it is by no means bad practice for the amateur to save his 
own. A stock of old plants must be kept for this purpose, 
and for small gardens about twelve or fifteen will produce 
sufficient. That number should be put by at planting-out 
time every year, and be potted into six-inch pots, and the pots 
plunged in a bed of coal-ashes in the full sun. They should 
remain in the open until the end of September, and then be 
placed in a cold frame, where they can have protection from 
heavy rains, and, at the same time, be exposed to the air. In 
the spring and early part of the following summer they will 
flower profusely, and, if placed in a light, airy position, will 
produce an abundance of seed. The seed must be sown as 
soon as gathered, in pans in the usual way, and the pans must 
be placed in a cold frame. The seedlings, if potted off when of 
a fair size into small pots and kept close for a fortnight, will 
make nice plants for the following season. The young stock 
should be removed to the open when nicely established, and 
be wintered in a cold frame, with a mat or litter thrown over 
the glass to keep out the frost. The greatest enemy to cen- 
taureas during the wdnter is damp ; therefore no more water 
must be administered than is really necessary. 
The two best for front lines are G. argenteaplumosa and G . 
ragusina comjpacta. Both are very neat in growth, and won¬ 
derfully effective. G. gymnocarga is immensely valuable for 
back rows and centres of large beds, and G. ragusina is equally 
valuable for second rows. Both grow rather coarse in rich 
soil, and therefore when employed in conjunction with sub¬ 
jects that require a liberal share of nourishment, they should 
be plunged in the beds instead of being turned out of the 
pots. 
Cineraria. —The “ silver-frosted ” plant has lost much of 
its popularity within the past few years on account of the 
superior claims of the centaureas. But it is, and always will 
be, valued for its distinct silvery-grey colour, neat habit, and 
hardiness. In all respects the cultivation should be the same 
as* advised for the centaureas. (7. maritima is the best known 
of the series, but G. acanthifolia surpasses it in silvery white¬ 
ness and is to be preferred. 
Clematis.—T he new garden varieties may be described as 
“ sensation ” bedders, for if large compartments can be de¬ 
voted to them, they produce a wonderful display of crimson, 
