THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
87 
subject, sucb as Centaurea ragusina , or, what is better still, 
strong two-year-old plants of variegated pelargonium Bijou or 
other erect-growing variegated varieties. A solid edging, as 
here suggested, will keep the growth of the petunia in its 
place, and the beds will have a neat appearance, if the young 
growth is not allowed to ramble through the edging. 
Perilla. —Though the popularity of this plant has greatly 
declined within the past few years, it cannot be dispensed 
with, for its solemn bronzy-purple colour gives it a most dis¬ 
tinctive character, of great value to the colourist. It has been 
well abused for its “ funereal ” aspect, and greatly misused by 
planters, who, in common with its detractors, w T ere ignorant 
of its capabilities and proper place in the disposition of colours. 
The plants are always raised from seed in the first instance, 
but the tops may be taken off in June and July, and struck 
in about ten days in a frame, if a further supply is required 
for planting in the autumn. The middle of March is early 
enough to sow the seed, and a very mild heat suffices for its 
germination. As a rule, the seed is sown too early, and the 
plants, during the early stages, grown in too much heat. 
Stocky plants, three inches high at planting time, are de¬ 
cidedly preferable to gawky things eight to ten inches high 
with a few leaves at the top only. Of course, when required 
for a back row, it is necessary to have them rather tall, but 
they should be managed so as to insure being furnished with 
foliage to the surface of the soil. Perillas transplant so well 
that it is not necessary to put them in pots, and very satis¬ 
factory results may be obtained by pricking off from the seed- 
pan into a bed of soil made up in a cold frame. There are 
several varieties, but P. Nankinensis is the best. 
Phlox. —The large-flowering phloxes are not adapted 
for the parterre, but the varieties of P. Brummondi are in¬ 
valuable for their continuous bloom and brilliant colours. It 
is usually supposed that a bed of phloxes must be mixed, but 
that is a mistake, for the named varieties come sufficiently 
true from seed, and a few of them deserve to be regarded as 
amongst the best bedding plants in cultivation. It is quite 
a waste of labour to plant them in a hungry soil, or to allow 
them to perfect seeds, for in either case they will present a 
shabby appearance long before the summer is past. The soil 
in which they are put when removed from the seed-pans 
should be moderately rich, to insure a healthy growth during 
