NINETEENTH CENTURY 
297 
most beautiful of this species : Anagallis grandiflora, Anagallis 
Monelli, Heliotropium grandiflorum, Fuchsia coccinea, Lobelia 
Erinus and unidentata, Hemimeris urticifolia, Alstrcemeria 
peregrina, Bouvardia triphylla, Geraniums of sorts, Lychnis 
coronaria, Linum trigynum .” Before long a large number of 
plants was added to those first considered suitable for bedding 
out. A correspondent addressed a question on the subject 
to the editor of The Midland Florist in 1847. He wrote : " I 
want to mass some flowers on circular beds which are cut out 
on a grass plat. What will be best ?” In the next number 
he received the reply: "The different varieties of Verbena, 
Salvia, lobelia, cenotheras, macrocarpa, and taraxacifolia, 
Veronica speciosa, antirrhinums, mimuluses, etc.” Many 
annuals were used for bedding, and among them Balsams and 
Cockscombs seem to have been most favoured. The periodical 
just quoted also supplies a list of the twelve best annuals for 
summer bedding in 1847. Except one—Convolvulus tricolor , 
which was known to Parkinson—they were all of recent intro¬ 
duction, and the majority had come from North America. 
Bartonia aurea (1834). 1 
Clarkia pulchella (1826) ; also 
C. elegans (1832). 
Clintonia pulchella (1827). 
Collinsia grandiflora (1826). 
Convolvulus tricolor. 
Nemophilia (sic) insignis (1833). 
Sphenogyne speciosa (1836). 2 
Phlox Drummondi (1835). 
Erysimum Perofskianum (1838). 
Gilia tricolor (1833). 
Lupinus nanus (1833). 
Cacalia coccinea (introduced about 
1799, but not generally culti¬ 
vated) . 
The chief Verbenas were all introduced between 1827 and 
1837, an d very soon many florists’ varieties had been added 
to their ranks, and, owing to the wide choice of colour they 
presented, they were among^the most popular of bedding-out 
plants. It is curious to find a rather tender perennial, Plum¬ 
bago Larpentce , which will, however, flourish on herbaceous 
borders in all except the coldest counties, at one time much 
used for bedding purposes. Robert Fortune had found it 
growing on the ruined ramparts of Shanghai, but the seed he 
sent home did not germinate, and it was afterwards obtained by 
1 These figures which I have added refer to the date of introduction 
to England. 
2 Synonym, Ursinia speciosa. 
