BEDDING PLANTS. 
55 
it will be seen that summer flowering plants alone are mentioned, 
to select for the whole year being foreign to our present pur¬ 
pose, and they are all of more than annual duration, the latter 
class being open to a very serious objection, on account of the 
short time they remain in perfection ; in thus circumscribing the 
list we follow what may be called the popular meaning of the 
term “bedding plants.” 
Alonsoa granaiflora. The plant attains the height of about a 
foot and a half, branching abundantly, amply covered with light 
green foliage; the flowers are rather small, bright scarlet, and 
freely produced. It requires the protection of a greenhouse or 
pit through the winter, and may be increased to any extent either 
by seed or cuttings. 
Alstrcemeria. Any of the species or their varieties are desir¬ 
able, they vary from one foot to two and a half in their heights, 
and partake of a number of colours in the flowers, the greater 
portion are variegated with white, yellow, red, and green ; all are 
free flowerers. The tuberous roots should be taken up in the 
autumn, dried, and preserved till the following spring, when it is 
best to pot and start them in a gentle heat, hardening them 
afterwards, so as to be fit to turn out in May. 
Anagallis, Brewerii , Phillipsii , and Carnea grandijlora. These 
are all seminal varieties: the first two are bright blue, and the 
last, as its name implies, flesh colour; they grow to about a foot 
in height, but are usually kept as trailers by pegging the branches 
down to the earth; they are free bloomers, but are open to an 
objection, inasmuch as that in the absence of sunshine their 
flowers do not expand. Preserved and propagated in the manner 
of the first mentioned in the list. 
Anemone coronoria , both double and single varieties, and the 
A. hortensis. All these are very showy free-flowering subjects, 
rising but a few inches from the ground; nearly every shade 
of red and blue is found in their flowers, frequently enlivened 
with stripes or portions of a pure white. The double varieties 
should be planted in February, March, and April, and will bloom 
through June, July, and August, according as they are planted. 
The single ones may be had at any time or always, by varying 
the season of sowing or planting. As seed is produced plentifully, 
and for flower-garden purposes the single kinds are as good as 
