BEDDING PLANTS. 
1 54 
SUCCESSIONAL BEDDING PLANTS. 
As tlie principal concern of the flower gardener is to have every 
part of his charge well stocked with flowers throughout the 
summer and autumn, not merely in isolated patches, but at all 
times, and in every available portion, the importance of keeping 
a due succession soon forces itself on his attention, and a few 
brief hints as to how this may be accomplished, may be welcome 
to such of your readers as are engaged in the matter. It is but 
too frequently the case, while viewing that portion of the pleasure 
grounds laid out in beds for flowers, we see many perhaps full to 
overflowring, while others mar the general effect by their naked 
shabby appearance. The end of June is a most trying time for 
the gardener in this respect, such beds as have been filled with 
early spring-sown annuals have just then lost their attractions, 
while scarlet Geraniums, and most other bedding plants occupying 
the surrounding space, are in full bloom; this has led many to 
exclaim against the admission of annuals into beds at all ; but I 
should be sorry to see them banished altogether, as many of them, 
judiciously employed, are adapted to make a very good appearance 
in such places before the more regular occupants come into bloom ; 
what, for instance, forms a more compact, neat, and pleasing bed 
than Nemophila insignis, supplying for a time, a colour so much 
wanted ? blue flowers being among the most difficult to obtain of 
the character suited to purposes of the kind, and where we may 
find a substitute for this I know not. 
It is not my intention on this occasion to enumerate the annuals 
adapted to the flower garden, and I have merely mentioned the 
above, to instance the valuable assistance derivable from them, 
and propose rather to show how the beds they have filled may be 
rendered equally ornamental with those stocked by plants of a 
more enduring character. I find it is usual to turn out, in May, 
among the annuals then coming into bloom, Verbenas, and other 
similar plants, with a view to their filling the beds immediately 
the former are withdrawn ; but this practice is seldom attended 
with success, for the annuals being at the time in the midst of 
their most active growth, soon smother the more recent plants, 
which, languishing for a time under the effects of transplanting, 
