List Of Suitable Bedding Plants

Begonias (especially the tuberous ones)

Begonias (especially the tuberous ones), varieties of Zonal Pelargoniums, Salvias, Calceolarias, Fuchsias (many kinds), Gazanias, Ageratum, Lobelia, Marguerites, Nasturtiums and single Petunias for dry borders and hot corners. Tropaeolum Mrs. Clibran (yellow), Vesuvius (crimson), and coccineum elegans (scarlet) are excellent and soon make a brilliant display in the poor soils in many town gardens. Then we have Cineraria maritima, Cerastium tomentosum and Centaurea candi-dissima to give a supply of silver leaved foliage, Koniga (Alyssum) maritimum to form a dense carpet, or for a neat edging to borders. Golden Feather supplies the yellow edging and blue Lobelia the blue edging. Portulaca grandiflora is a desirable plant for dry, sunny borders and it blossoms freely. Both the French and African Marigolds and the pretty Tagetes signata pumila are very suitable for growing in poor soils.

Phlox Drummondi, Stocks and Asters, and Pansies and Violas ought to be freely grown, and hardy annuals from seeds sown in the borders where the plants are to blossom.

Moisture In The Soil

Frequently the plants after being bedded out and watered do not prove very satisfactory, owing to the soil being in a dry state at the time. The reason is because the water given does not reach the roots in sufficient quantity to enable them to get a good hold upon the soil, owing to the extreme dryness of the latter. Where the soil is very dry, it is a good plan to give a thorough soaking of water twice during the evening prior to the day when planting is to be done. Then the soil will be in a good condition as regards moisture, and if water be given to the newly planted borders immediately the work is finished the plants will grow without experiencing any check, and so quickly get established in their new quarters.

Unsuitable Bedding Plants

The following plants ought not to be used except in the more open parts, in good soil, and where the atmosphere is fairly clear: - Alternanthera, Chilian Beet (grown chiefly in the flower garden on account of its beautifully coloured leaves), Coleus in variety, Mesembryanthemums, Ire-sines, tricolor Geraniums, Zinnias, Verbenas, Cannas, Castor Oil Plants (Ricinus Gibsonii), Zea japonica (the striped or variegated Maize) and Acacias. These are all very beautiful plants, and, when grown to perfection, they look charming in a garden; but where they only just exist, then they make a garden look worse than it would with bare, unfilled borders.