For those who practise "bedding out," the latter part of May will be a busy time. It is also a good period for sowing biennials for blooming the following year. Thinning and staking need attention.

Bedding Out

I have already said that the bedding-out system is still flourishing, and it has its advocates among gardeners who like to arrange their beds for two separate seasons - in autumn with bulbs, Wallflowers and Primroses for spring, in May with Geraniums, Begonias and other plants for summer and autumn. Let us glance at a few popular plants which may be used for bedding. The dwarf blue Ageratum is bright and a persistent bloomer. We saw how it could be raised from seed in an earlier chapter. Antirrhinums (Snapdragons) are among the very best of bedding plants, and, as we have already seen, will bloom in summer from seed sown the same year if raised in winter.

They remain in bloom as long as Zonal Geraniums, and will thrive in almost any soil, and under any weather conditions. China or annual Asters are extremely valuable for late blooming, and make beautiful beds. Tuberous Begonias are splendid in wet summers, but are only a real success in dry ones when grown in deep, holding soil; unless, indeed, regular watering, liquid manuring, and mulching are resorted to. At their best they are glorious, and, given freedom from sharp frost, they are never finer than in October. We have seen that plants can be raised from seed in winter, but that if early-blooming plants are wanted it is necessary to start tubers in spring. Shrubby Calceolarias are mainly used as edgings, owing to their low growth. The old yellow is very bright, but the newer one, Golden Glory, is a much finer plant. Cannas make handsome beds in deep, rich soil, but they are not a great success in poor ground. Their leaves are handsome, and the spikes of bloom are not only large but very brilliantly coloured. The plumed Celosias are useful for dotting amongst dwarfer plants. They have tall, feathery plumes of crimson or yellow.

Other plants that may be mentioned as useful for dotting are Abutilon Vexillarium, Fuchsias, Salpiglossis, Tobaccos (Nicotianas), and Grevillea Robusta. Cen-taurea Candidissima and Cineraria Maritima are low, silvery-leaved plants that are sometimes used in bedding. Dianthus Heddewigii, the Japanese Pink, makes pretty low beds, and, as we have seen, blooms early in summer if seed is sown under glass in winter. Of the Zonal Geraniums there are varieties grown mainly for their flowers, such as the splendid reds Paul Crampel and Henry Jacoby; and others cultivated for their prettily-marked foliage, such as Mrs. Pollock, Flower of Spring, and Henry Cox. A silvery-leaved Geranium looks well in a bed when mixed with a blue Viola, and "dotted " with Heliotrope. This fragrant old favourite can be had in either light or dark blue. Swanley Giant is a very fine variety. Lantanas resemble Heliotrope in the form of the flower, but the prevailing colours are scarlet, orange, and yellow. They bloom long and profusely.

Lobelias may be used as edgings if varieties of the dwarf blue Erinus or Speciosa; or as major plants if varieties of Cardinalis or Fulgens. There is the greatest possible difference between the two classes of Lobelia, the one growing only four or five inches high, and producing a dense mass of little blue flowers; the other throwing up stems two feet high, and having large, flatfish, scarlet flowers. Marigolds are not so largely grown as they used to be, perhaps. The African is very showy, whether lemon or orange in colour. Mimuluses (Monkey Flowers) are close relatives of the Musk, but have much longer and more richly-marked flowers.

They are particularly useful in shady places, which they enjoy. Both the white Tobacco (Nicotiana Affinis) and the coloured (N. Sanderae) may be used in beds, and if planted thinly they make useful "dot" plants among dwarf China Asters. Pansies make pretty low beds where the situation is cool and the soil moist; but they do not give of their best in poor, dry soil. They should receive good soakings of water in dry weather, followed by liberal doses of liquid manure; and fading flowers should be regularly picked off. These attentions will have a great bearing on their progress. Pentstemons have made considerable progress during recent years. They are as graceful as Gladioli, with their long, arching stems, laden with beautiful, well-shaped flowers of various colours. As we see in a later chapter, they are best propagated by cuttings in autumn, and this plan is essential if particular varieties are to be kept true. But mixed strains can be raised from seed in winter, like Snapdragons, and flowered the same year. A bed of Pentstemons with a broad band of dwarf Asters is delightful in late summer and early autumn. Petunias are old favourites, and reference has already been made to raising them from seed in late winter or spring. Pyrethrum Aureum, the Golden Feather, used to be grown very extensively in the days when carpet-bedding enjoyed favour, but one does not see much of it now. Its yellow leaves need regular cropping with finger and thumb to keep it dwarf. The Salpiglossis is one of the most beautiful of half-hardy annuals. Raised from seed in winter or spring, like Asters and Stocks, it produces tall, loose, arching spikes, studded with brilliant urns. It is charming when lightly mixed in beds of Asters. The Ten-week Stocks make charming and fragrant beds, but are perhaps more largely used for forming broad bands to beds or borders. Tagates Signata Pumila, or the variety Golden Ring, may be pressed into service as a plant for margins. The growth is dense, and the small yellow flowers are produced in great abundance. If raised from seed with Asters and Stocks, it will flower all the summer. Verbenas make delightful beds, and, as we have seen, seedling plants raised in winter flower profusely the same summer. If the plants tend to become straggly, the shoots may be pegged down. Verbenas thrive in most soils. Their revival has brought several beautiful named varieties into being, among which Miss Ellen Willmott (pink) and Warley Scarlet are two of the best. These have large flowers of most brilliant colour, and are grand bedding plants. One occasionally sees the Lemon-scented Verbena (Aloysia, or Lippia, Citriodora) used as a bedding plant. It is worth growing in pots. It is the foliage which is fragrant, and the perfume, which is powerful and delicious, clings to the leaves after they have faded. Violas had special attention in an earlier chapter. If planted as late as May, they ought to be watered regularly for some time, and the flowers should be picked incessantly. Thus nursed, they will probably establish themselves. Zinnias, raised from seed like other half-hardy plants, enjoy some amount of favour as bedding plants. When well grown they are very handsome, as the flowers are large, brilliant, and varied in colour, and borne abundantly.