234 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
think I never saw many of the variegated-leaved Geraniums more beautiful 
than they have been for several weeks past. Among the silver-leaved varieties. 
Flower of Spring and Mrs. Lennox have been very beautiful; Bijou, Countess 
of Warwick, Alma, Mountain of Snow, and Queen of Queens have also been 
very fine ; and among the gold-leaved varieties Golden Chain, Cloth of Gold, 
Golden Fleece, Mrs. Pollock, and Sunset. Many of the other kinds have also 
been very fine. There were numerous complaints last season about Cloth of 
Gold not doing well. I think I never saw it more beautiful than it has been 
here this season, and is at the present time. A good rich soil to grow in and 
frequent refreshing showers, or, in the absence of the latter, frequent heavy 
waterings, bring it out in all its beauty. Mrs. Pollock and Sunset have been 
very fine; the latter I have not seen noticed or grown so much as I think it 
deserves. After a few days of showery weather the leaves look like so many 
brilliant butterflies. All the variegated-leaved kinds require to be grown in 
good rich soil, and in dry weather to be well watered. The Nosegay and 
Horseshoe-leaved varieties have not been so beautiful as usual this season, in 
consequence of the almost constant heavy rains and the absence of bright 
sunlight. In general they do very well in a poorer soil than the variegated¬ 
leaved kinds, and when established they require little or no water. 
Centaureas have done well, and have been very effective, and so too has 
Cineraria maritima. Perilla nankinensis grows freely everywhere, and is a 
very manageable and useful pant. Iresine Herbstii is a very valuable bedding 
plant. I bedded it out at the end of May, and it was very effective even then. 
It stood the hot sunshine of June and July, and has not only withstood the 
many weeks of wet weather which we have had since, but has daily improved, 
and is at the present time very beautiful. Amaranthus melancholicus ruber, 
planted in a bed not far distant from the Iresine, rotted completely away v* ith 
the rains; not a single plant has survived, though the bed in which it was 
planted was drier and more favourably situated than the one the Iresine was 
in. The Iresine I have in several beds, and it has done well in all, both 
exposed and sheltered. The Amaranthus did pretty well last year, as did also 
Coleus Verschaffelti in 1864; but these were fine, hot, dry seasons; but in 
cold, wet years they will not do for flower gardens in Yorkshire, nor do I think 
they will for London—that is, if they are put out in May, so that there may be 
a display of at least from four to five months’ duration. 
Delicate, tender plants, however beautiful they may be, that will only do 
in fine seasons, and then only for two, or at most three months, are of no use 
for the flower garden. We want plants that can be bedded-out about the 
middle of May, and that will then be effective and continue so until the middle 
or end of October. We then have fully five months* beautiful display. We 
already possess ample material for effecting this, and every year will add to the 
number of plants suitable for the purpose. We can get five months’ display 
in Yorkshire. I generally get all bedded-out in May. With plenty of 
variegated-leaved and Zonale Geraniums, other ornamental coloured-leaved 
plants, and the usual flowering plants, the gardens look exceedingly gay and 
cheerful, and continue to do so until the end of October. Some seasons a 
severe frost will disfigure some of the beds iu the beginning of October, but 
this is only a rare occurrence. The flower garden here is now (October 15th), 
as gay as it has been any time this season. In the country, where we have so 
much green, with grass and green trees all about, we cannot use warm decided 
colours too freely; the case is different near towns, where the eye wearies of 
bricks and mortar. Beautiful and effective as many of variegated plants are, 
plenty of flowering plants must also be used in all flower gardens where a gay 
'and brilliant display is required for some months. 
