DECEMBER. 
271 
rambling rod upon the extension system. We see the Ivy at one period 
of its history with a rooting stem exactly like that of the Vine in question, 
whilst at another the hark on its stem is smooth. The bud from that part 
of the Ivy which creeps and clings produces one style of plant, and the 
bud from that part of the Ivy which flowers and fruits, produces a plant 
of quite another style. 
Salford. Alexander Forsyth. 
A FEW WORDS ABOUT BEDDING PLANTS. 
A few words about bedding plants, at the close of another season, 
may not be altogether out of place. Bedding plants had a bad start this 
season. The frosts that prevailed in the latter part of May and early 
part of June at nights, and the dry, parched atmosphere during the days, 
were very trying to plants newly “bedded out.” Still, notwithstanding 
this drawback, the season has been on the whole a favourable one—the 
latter part particularly so ; and as a consequence flower gardens have been 
most beautiful during the months of August, September, and October, 
Verbenas, Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, and many other things looking 
very fresh and gay up to the present time (Nov. 11). 
Pelargoniums are fast driving most other plants out of the flower garden. 
Whether this is right or wrong I will not stop now to inquire, but that 
it is a fact there can be no doubt. Pelargoniums of all kinds have done 
well this season ; we have now a great variety of them, some as remarkable 
for beauty of foliage as others are for beauty and brilliancy of flower. We 
cannot, therefore, be surprised to find them so largely used in decorating 
the flower garden, especially when we consider how v r ell adapted they are 
for this purpose. By putting out good plants and planting thickly, they 
make the flower garden look gay and beautiful at once, and continue to do 
so until destroyed by the autumn frosts; they are, moreover, less affected 
by change of weather than most other kinds of bedding plants. Some 
experience is required in preparing the beds for the different kinds, as one 
mode of treatment would not answer for all. The beds for the stronger¬ 
growing kinds of Zonal and Plain-leaved varieties should not be made too 
rich when masses of flowers are required; they should, however, be of 
good depth to prevent the plants suffering in dry weather; but if the soil 
be of a tolerable quality no manure should be added. For most of the 
variegated sorts the beds can hardly be made too rich. Some of the finest 
beds of Mrs. Pollock that I have seen this season had a considerable 
quantity of well-rotted manure in them. For the more delicate-growing 
kinds, instead of using so much manure, I would advise some peat or leaf 
soil. The beds for these and all kinds of Pelargoniums should be of good 
depth well drained. Plants growing in properly prepared beds look very 
different from the same kinds growing in shallow beds of poor light soil. 
I strongly recommend depth of soil in the beds, and planting deeply also ; 
then the roots soon get down, and the plants, so far from suffering in hot 
weather, grow and flower all the better for it. Pelargoniums are not 
subject to the attacks of insects, neither do they die off, leaving blanks 
in the beds, but with care they soon cover the beds, and look beautiful 
the whole of the season. The only attention they require is in picking 
off decayed flowers and leaves. 
Calceolarias and Verbenas made slow progress at first, but after they 
began to grow they came on rapidly, and have been very fine. Lobelias have 
