BEDDING PLANTS. 
155 
allow the others to get so much ahead, as to preclude any chance 
of recovering their position* they are consequently drawn up into 
a weakly growth, and when exposed by the removal of the annuals 
to the scorching influence of a midsummer’s sun, take along time 
to rally, and seldom or ever keep pace with the beds that surround 
them. 
Another course pursued, with certainly a better chance of 
success, and if properly carried out, would unquestionably attain 
the desired end, is to reserve a sufficient number from the original 
stock, to fill these beds at a later period ; but too often they are 
kept in small pots, and soon exhaust their supply of nourishment, 
from the very small quantity of soil allotted them, and are only 
kept alive by frequent watering; such plants become indurated 
to a degree that they likewise require a long time ere they re¬ 
cover sufficiently to fill a bed well; the plants in the adjoining 
beds have had so considerable a start, that a difference is always 
observable between the early and late planted groups. What I 
would urge is, the advantage to be gained from encouraging the 
reserve while yet in pots, between the periods of the first turning 
out, and their own final removal; if a few of the free-growing 
sorts of Verbenas, Geraniums, or whatever else is most wanted, 
were then shifted into 32s or 24s, the branches pegged down, 
and the leading buds taken out to prevent them blooming, by the 
middle of June six such plants would do more in furnishing a 
bed, than three times their number of stunted ones, neither do 
they occasion so much trouble in watering ; one good shifting, 
such as that described, the main branches to be pegged down at 
the time, and the constant removal of flower-heads, will ensure 
handsome vigorous plants, very little inferior to those which have 
passed the time in the open borders. Verbenas with a habit like 
that of Beaute supreme, Delight, Emma, Josephine, and other 
strong-growing kinds, are decidedly improved by the treatment: 
they are made dwarfer, and when the extra stimulus of the 
border is afforded their roots, their progress is astonishing ; there 
is a good foundation formed by the frequent stopping necessary 
to prevent blooming, and the number of branches, and, as a 
natural consequence, flower-heads also, that are thrown up im¬ 
mediately the roots become settled in the ground, is most grati¬ 
fying. Many other plants may be treated in the same manner with 
