exclude the frost. Indeed, Dahlia roots are probably as safe in this position as in any other. They start and come away with several shoots, which should be thinned out to one or two as soon as it can be seen which are the best to leave. Select List of Dwarf Dahlias.-For a small collection those marked * are best. * Alba Floribunda, best white, 2 feet. Gem of the Dwarfs, crimson, tipped with white, 2 feet. * Pluton, fine yellow, 2 feet. Orb of Day, fine yellow, 2 feet. * Prince Arthur, best crimson, 2 feet. * Scarlet Tom Thumb, best scarlet, 16 inches. Titian, yellow, 2 feet. * Zelinda, purple, 18 inches. ANAGALLIS SANGUINEA, Crimson, 6 inches — A. EUGENIE, Light Blue and White, 6 inches—A. GRANDIFLORA CERULEA, Blue, 6 inches.-Some of the varieties of Anagallis are very effective in beds, especially where the soil is dry and warm, and where they can be fully exposed to the sun. They shut up in dull weather, and on that and other accounts they are most suitable for dry warm localities. They can be easily raised from seed the same way as recommended for Lobelia speciosa, but they cannot be relied upon as true. By cuttings they propagate very freely in spring and autumn. The best way is to prepare a few store-pots in autumn, and force for cuttings in spring, when they strike freely in pure sand, in bottom heat, along with the generality of other flower-garden plants. They should be potted off singly or two in a pot, as they do not bear shaking out very well. They require being manured slightly with leaf-mould in hot dry soil. Indeed, they are only to be recommended for such soils, and for planting round the edges of vases and rustic baskets. ANTIRRHINUMS —1 to 2 feet high. Some of these are remarkably showy, and desirable for mixed borders. They can be raised from seed sown in March for autumnal blooming the same way as Stocks; and to stand the winter for early flowering, they require to be sown and managed the same way as directed for Biennials. Named sorts must be perpetuated and propagated from cuttings, which strike very freely both in autumn and spring in the same way as Verbenas. When rooted, pot or prick them into boxes or frames. Dr. Greville, violet rose, streaked with buff. Ensign, white tube, crimson lips. Harlequin, white, mottled with rose. Hendersonii, white, with violet belt. Lacandeur, rosy purple, white lips. Leopard, bronze yellow, mottled with crimson. Major Stewart, crimson, with orange centre. Nina, white mottled rose. Prince Charlie, blush, streaked with violet. Royal Albert, yellow, striped with red. Sir Colin Campbell, crimson. Sir G. Douglas, carmine. Sunbeam, white, striped with peach. AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS (Love Lies Bleeding), Crimson, 2 to 4 feet. When well managed, this is one of the most imposing and striking-looking plants that can be grown for back lines and as single specimens. I have grown it in lines 4 feet high, with its crimson ropes pendant to the ground. To grow it well, and get it early to perfection, it should be sown in the beginning of April in a slight hotbed, very similar to the manner in which Celery seed is sown. It always does better sown in a slight hotbed than sown in boxes in heat. When about 4 inches high, it should be transplanted to its blooming position-well watered, and shaded by a few evergreen boughs, or by being covered with flowerpots through the day, for a short time. The soil should be deep and rich; and when it has arrived at its full size, a few of the leaves removed show off its crimson racemes to advantage. Of course it succeeds very well sown in the open border in the end of April, but it never attains the same magnificence as when brought forward earlier. AMARANTHUS MELANCHOLICUS RUBER, Dark Carmine Foliage, 1 foot.-This crimson-foliaged annual does very well in some parts of England, but not in northern climates. It is easily managed. Sow in heat in March, pot off singly when about 2 inches high, and grow into good plants before being planted out, which should not be before the very end of May. It likes a rich soil and a warm situation, and where it thrives is very effective. ASTERS. Though too stiff and formal-looking for grouping, the various sorts of Asters are very handsome for mixed borders. The treatment recommended for Love lies Bleeding is suitable for these, and they can be very easily raised in pots, pans, or boxes, in a temperature of 55° to 60°; and if they are pricked off in a F small state they transplant much better than when allowed to remain in the seed-pans. AGATHEA CŒLESTIS, Pale Blue, 9 inches-A. CŒLESTIS VARIEGATA, Variegated Foliage, 6 inches.-Although this plant is not so much grown as it was at one time, it is worth enumerating and cultivating, and for some purposes deserves a place among bedding plants. It produces a very pretty effect by mixing it with Mangles' Variegated Geranium. Autumn struck plants generally flower best. Cuttings should be put in pans or boxes in August, and in spring pot them off and give them a little heat for fourteen days. The variegated form of this plant is rather shy of growth; rich dry soil is most suitable for it. ARUND ODONAX VARIEGATA, 4 to 8 feet. This plant has been truthfully described as 'the most stately and graceful of all known variegated grasses of the garden. It forms a robust vigorous plant of majestic habit, with long, broad, elegantly decurved leaves 1 to 3 feet in length, and 2 to 3 inches in width, picturesquely marked with broad silver margins their whole length. As a single specimen, it forms a very ornamental and diversified feature.' It is, however, from the height to which it attains, best for back lines, and as such it has a distinct and tropical appearance, while it is quite hardy: it thrives in any good garden soil, but does best in peat or loam heavily manured with leaf-mould. It is propagated by division of the root in spring. AGAPANTHUS UMBELLATUS FOLIIS VARIEGATIS.-Foliage 18 inches, blooms 2 feet.—Being a variegated form of the well-known A. umbellatus, it is all but hardy. When this plant becomes more plentiful and better known, it cannot fail to take a high position for beds. Its foliage is very lovely at all times, while it yields large umbels of blue flowers that last in bloom a long time. It is easily propagated by dividing the plants in spring, and potting them singly till well establishod, when it may be planted out early in May. It requires rich, rather moist, soil to grow it to perfection. 3 ARABIS LUCIDA VARIEGATA (GOLDEN ARABIS) inches. This is probably the most lovely dwarf goldenleaved hardy plant we have. It is exceedingly useful for front lines and edgings. It is very easily propagated by division either in spring or autumn. Lift and divide it about the end of October, and plant it out either where it is to remain, or in nursery beds in light soil, and transplant it in March. To get it in its finest dress, it must be grown in rather heavy rich soil, and allowed to remain undisturbed for a few years. It must never be allowed to flower, otherwise it never makes such fine foliage. ARABIS ALPINA VARIEGATA-A. MOLLIS VARIEGATAFoliage, 6 inches.-These two are similar to A. lucida variegata, only they are stronger growing, and the variegation is white instead of gold. Both are useful plants, either when white flowers are required in spring, or variegated dwarf foliage in summer and autumn. They all do well with the management recommended for A. lucida. AGERATUM MEXICANUM, Lavender, 18 inches — A. MEXICANUM PRINCE ALBERT, Dark Lavender, 14 inches. Is a very useful plant for large beds, and being of |