BEDDING PLANTS. 
211 
for determining what shall be attempted in furtherance of this 
desired advance ; by this time an opportunity will have occurred 
to definitely settle the pretensions of every plant to the situation 
it occupies—its suitability or unfitness will have become appa¬ 
rent. The majority are now in their best order, and it is there¬ 
fore easy to make the necessary arrangements w hich shall direct 
the planting of another year. It is essential that the leading- 
features of every contemplated change should be positively 
settled now, that due provision of the required plants may be 
made, otherwise the operator may find his plans thwarted, just 
when he thinks to put them in force, by the absence of particular 
kinds, which might easily have been provided had they been 
thought of in season; while he is, at the same time, burthened 
with an excess of some others, not at all suited to his intentions. 
And, as a man’s memory may prove deceptive in the course of 
six months, I would advise the aid of a drawing, which, however 
rough, will recall to mind the exact position of every colour, and 
the particular kind of plant bearing it, in either the old or new 
arrangement. 
This part of the affair having received the consideration due 
to it, we have then only to calculate the number of each species 
required for the next filling of the beds, and at once set about 
their preparation. In the average of seasons, I fancy the first 
week of September to be the very best time for propagating 
nearly all kinds of bedding plants ; we have then about a month 
of fair weather to expect, which is just long enough to get the 
cuttings well rooted before they require any nursing ; and, as my 
winter stock is seldom indulged with repotting before the spring, 
I have them in October with roots which fill the pots, and little 
or no new wood about the plants,—two points which I conceive 
to be of the first importance towards their well-being through 
the winter. There is then no encouragement for insects, and 
nothing on which mildew may make a permament lodgement. 
The details of my management, are in themselves very simple, 
and, being directed towards the end just named, are readily ex¬ 
plained. With verbenas I always depend upon cuttings, as the 
layers are likely to begin growing in autumn, or as soon as they 
become established in the pots. Besides, they require so much 
