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THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 15, 1859. 
three or four varieties of Verbenas. Tom Thumbs were almost 
unknown, and bedding Calceolarias were not thought of; but 
now, on looking over a nurseryman’s list of bedding plants offered 
for sale I notice almost 500 Calceolarias, Geraniums, and Verbenas 
enumerated and described as being worthy of a place in the 
flower garden. But as no amateur who has but a small plot of 
ground to cultivate can grow so many varieties, and as many new 
sorts are too expensive for the cottager the first year, the object of 
these notes is to select a few out of the many brought before the 
public, and such as we ourselves have proved useful in producing 
an unrivalled blaze of beauty throughout the summer months. 
Foremost, then, among bedding plants are Geraniums of the 
Scarlet class. There is nothing produces a more dazzling effect 
than a “ good bed of Scarlets.” Tom Thumb has taken the lead 
in this tribe for a long time, while several new sorts have 
threatened to consign him to the rubbish-heap; but Tom has 
long remained a favourite with many. There is one, I think, 
destined to place Tom in the background—that is the Trentham 
Scarlet. It is the variety the most extensively used at the 
Crystal Palace, and what is generally taken by a superficial ob¬ 
server to be Tom Thumb. I have grown the Trentham these last 
two years; and each spring I have planted one bed of Tom Thumb 
and one of Trentham Scarlet in juxtaposition; and after ex¬ 
amining each bed some scores of times, I am of decided opinion 
that the Trentham Scarlet is the most compact in habit, the 
most brilliant in colour, and the most abundant bloomer. 
Next to the Scarlets come the Rose-coloured varieties.' Of these 
the Trentham Rose stands the foremost. Shrubland Ret is l 
almost of the same shade and colour, but is quite of different 
habit, and belongs to another class. In highly cultivated soils 
the latter runs too much to foliage and is very sparing of bloom. 
The only way I have found it to succeed well is by either planting 
it in poor, shallow soil, or plunging it in the pots. 
Of Pink-flowered Geraniums Tom Thumb's Bride is the best I 
know. It is far superior to Lucia rosea , as it us not so rambling 
m habit and a more abundant bloomer. This variety is indis¬ 
pensable in the flower garden, and, viewed at a distance, it pro¬ 
duces a most charming effect. 
White Geraniums are a class in which there is great room for 
improvement. Boule de Niege is the best I have grown, and 
this is of clumsy stubby growth, rather scarce of flowers, and at 
the best but a dull dingy colour. 
Ivy-leaved Geraniums, both pink and crimson, are useful in ■ 
the flower garden. The White Ivy-leaf is apt to run to wood 
either on a rich soil or in a dripping season. The Pink and 
Crimson are invaluable, not only planted in beds en masse, but 
also for edgings and other purposes. The best way I have found 
to plant the Rink and Crimson Ivy-leaf has been to plant the 
Geraniums in circles of each colour, and between each plant to 
put two or three plants of Rhlox Drummondi. Let each be 
regularly trained down, and the effect will be very striking. 
Variegated Geraniums.—No class of plants has improved so 
much these last few years as variegated Geraniums ; and even 
these last two years there have been several varieties sent out, 
which, I have no doubt, will prove useful. For a long time 
Flower of the Day had the lead, but it has a disagreeable way of 
curling back its leaves : there is also a sulphur tinge produced in 
the leaves, while the flowers are pale in colour and scantily pro¬ 
duced. Alma comes next to Flower of the Day, and is a step in 
the right direction—it is a decided improvement in both foliage 
and bloom. Mangles' Variegated is one of the best we have 
either to make a bed or to be used for edging round a bed on 
turf. Being a free grower it soon fills its allotted space, and 
looks well from the moment it is planted, and neither heavy rains 
nor hot weather deprives it of its beauty. Brilliant is invaluable 
as a bedder. In the more northern districts, on damp soils, it 
loses its variegated foliage, and is quite as green as Tom Thumb; 
but in the more southern counties, on a dryer soil, it is a fine 
variegated variety of good habit, and producing an abundance of 
deep scarlet flowers. Brilliant answers well either in a bed 
edged with Bur pie King Verbena or Blue Lobelia, or for an 
inner row in ribbon planting. Flower of the Day may be used 
the same way as Brilliant; and I think in ribbon planting it is 
more effective. It does not answer well for an edging ; but on a 
large bed with Scarlets in the centre, then a ring of Flower of the 
Day, finally edged with Blue Lobelia, the effect is good. 
Calceolarias. —The summers of 185V and 1858 were both 
trying seasons for this favourite plant, especially in very dry 
soils, and it was almost feared we should be obliged to extirpate 
it lrom the flower garden; but the present season it has fully 
proved itself to be free from any constitutional debility, and has 
been equal to any former occasion. Those which I have found to 
fail have been the Kentish Kero and Sultan. Of those which 
have proved the best aud longest display of bloom have been 
Aurea floribunda, Integrifolia, Sulphurea splendens and Visco- 
sissima. Amplexicaulis is very good, but is often late before it 
comes into bloom. 
Verbenas. —This useful class of plants presents a vast dif¬ 
ference in both habit and colour. Instead of the catalogues of 
nurserymen presenting us with three or four sorts, we have now 
as many hundreds, and these all described as being distinct in 
colour and habit. Where there are only a few beds to plant, 
and many varieties possessed, any attempt to arrange the colours 
is useless. When the varieties are of the same habit I prefer to 
plant them on the mixed system. These last three years I have 
tried them both mixed and of the same variety; and I am 
inclined to think that Verbenas judiciously mixed produce the 
best effect. Last year I grew all the sorts I could lay hold of: 
but last autumn, when making cuttings for this year’s display, 
after carefully examining each sort, I reduced them to fourteen or 
sixteen sorts; and of them I would recommend of scarlets— 
Brilliant de Vaise, Defiance, Geant des Batailles, Mrs. Wood- 
roffe, and Lord Raglan. Of Whites— Smith's Queen and Mrs. 
Kolford. Of Rosy purple— Victory. Of Pinks— Magnificent. 
And of Purples— Andre and Purple King: the latter is by far 
the best. 
Petunias. —These, generally, have been good this season, but 
I think not quite so good as the two preceding summers. It 
often happens that those sorts recommended by nurserymen as 
being worthy of cultivation are not the sorts best adapted to 
make a grand display in the flower garden, as many of the double 
varieties so much puffed up when planted out produce nothing 
but a mass of rank foliage. What we want in this class, is 
something to stand the sun and rain and produce an abundance 
of bloom. The best Petunia I know, and which has often been 
highly spoken of by Mr. Beaton, and deserves all that has been 
said in its favour, is Magna coccinea, a large crimson purple, 
producing flowers five inches across. It stands the sun well, and 
is an abundant bloomer, but in consequence of the flowers being 
so large they are spoiled by heavy rains. It ought to be in every 
collection, and is very effective in beds. 
Phlox Drummondi. —This plant is not well adapted for a bed 
j by itself; it, however, comes in very well for the mixed border, 
or intermixed with Ivy-leaved Geraniums as above described. 
Alyssum vabiegatum. —This charming plant is, without ex¬ 
ception, one of the most useful plants in the flower garden. 
Nothing can be more effective as an edging round a bed of scarlet 
Geraniums on turf; being of free growing habit it soon fills its 
i allotted space, and neither sun nor rain affects it. It looks well 
when all other plants fade, and remains ornamental until 
destroyed by frost. 
Ageratum. —This is a valuable bedder, as we have not the 
same colour in any other plant. It generally produces flowers 
abundantly ; but with me these last two years, about the middle 
of September, its foliage has turned of a nasty brown colour, 
which has quite spoiled its appearance. The variegated variety 
promises to be useful, but is more sparing of flower. 
Heliotropes.— These are unsuited, in my opinion, for bedding 
out in the flower garden, on account of the absence of any decided 
colour. It may be used for pincushion-beds, or round standard 
Roses. It is generally admired by ladies from the delightful odour 
it exhales, and is useful for bouquets. 
Lobelias. —These low-growing plants are exquisitely beautiful 
for small beds, or for edging round large beds. I have always 
found the old Frinus the most useful, for its erect, compact, 
free-blooming habits ; but there is a new sort out called Spedosa. 
I have not tested it by the side of Frinus , but, from what I have 
seen, it is likely to prove useful. 
TROPiEOLUM LobbianumElegans.— This dwarf-growing, ever- 
blooming plant is at the present moment producing the most 
gorgeous display of bloom that can be conceived. It stands alike 
both sun and rain, and is a mass of bloom from the moment it is 
planted to the time it is destroyed by frost. In order to keep it 
in a healthy state it ought to have the seeds picked off: but it 
does not come true from seeds. It ought, therefore, to be always 
propagated from cuttings. Much has been written in its favour 
in the pages of The Cottage Gardener, but no encomium 
bestowed upon it is greater than it deserves. I shall, therefore, 
conclude these rambling notes by pronouncing it one of the very 
best bedding plants we possess.— QuintinRead, Gravesend, Kent. 
