THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
75 
and the colour of the foliage is the richest sanguineous red 
imaginable. For centres of beds and second and third rows 
it is all that can be desired. It is more effective than any 
other plant of a similar character, and it can be wintered in a 
cool greenhouse; indeed, it has made us independent of the 
coleus, and is therefore of immense value to amateurs. 
Lantanas.—T hese are not well understood, or they would be 
employed extensively in the summer decoration of the flower- 
garden. All the varieties are not suited for the open ground, 
but a few are marvellously showy. They, however, do not 
flower in all soils and situations alike, as they require a 
warmer soil than the generality of bedders ; but they will 
flower profusely in naturally cold soils if the precaution is 
taken to elevate the bed in which they are planted six or 
eight inches above the general level. In naturally warm and 
dry soils the beds should of course be on the level, or in very 
hot weather the plants will be dried up unless they are 
watered frequently. The soil of the beds should not be too 
rich or too poor, and should, if practicable, be dressed with 
leaf-mould or vegetable refuse, instead of with decayed hot¬ 
bed or stable manure. The cultivation may be generally 
described as corresponding with that of the pelargonium, but 
it is best to propagate by cuttings in spring in a brisk moist 
heat, and to winter the old plants in a rather warmer house 
than pelargoniums require. Old plants make magnificent 
beds in isolated sunny spots in a good season. The following 
are fine varieties:— Bom Calmet , lilac pink and yellow, com¬ 
pact in growth, and most profuse in flowering; Jean Bart , 
yellow and bronze, very dwarf and free flowering, one of the 
very best; Monsieur Escarpit, deep rosy purple, very distinct • 
Cauvin , yellow and rosy. The best of the older sorts are — 
Alba lutea grandijlora , white and yellow ; Imperatrice Eugenie , 
rosy pink, very dwarf and free, the best for edging purposes 
Adolphe Ilwass , canary yellow; Mons. Bougier , yellow bor¬ 
dered with reddish scarlet; Rcempler , crimson and orange 
Roi des Rouges , scarlet and orange; and Victoire , pure white. 
Lobelia.— The smaller kinds are immensely popular, but 
few amateurs grow the stately and gorgeous varieties of what 
is called the “herbaceous section,” nor, sumptuous as they 
are, have they any right to special notice here, for they are 
not bedding jolants. Our little friend, L . erimis , is the centre 
of the group, from which are derived the bright blue, deep 
