78 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



longer some mornings than others. Every facility should be afforded 

 to bees to revel among the trees, as they are a valuable assistance 

 in impregnating the flowers. 



My plan is never to cover unless I observe signs of a cold rain, 

 which generally is followed by frost ; but, if the weather is dry, 

 slight frosts will not in the least affect the bloom or fruit, the heat 

 absorbed by the wall on fine days being sufiicient to repel the cold. 



During the spring of 1S63, which was remarkable for the fine 

 dry season generally, tlie fruit set in abundance, and I only pulled 

 the canvas over them once. When the fruit is developed to the size 

 of peas, you may take the coverings down and pack them away, as 

 the foliage will afford sufficient protection to the fruit. 



The material we use is tiffany, both for that purpose as well as 

 shading plants, as I have proved it to be light and durable. 



PEEMANENT EDGINaS EOE ELOWEE-BEDS. 



jITH the majority of amateurs now plotting their plan- 

 tations for the season, broad masses of colour will have 

 careful considerations, and the edgings will be thrown 

 in as makeweights. When the beds lie scattered, or in 

 pairs, it scarcely matters what the edgings are, provided 

 tliey define sharply and distinctly the boundary lines, and afford an 

 agreeable relief to the colourings of the beds. High colours are, 

 generally speaking, objectionable as edgings ; first, because they are 

 offensive to the eye, and make a pretence of carrying the eye further, 

 and as it were away from the picture into empty space ; and, 

 secondly, because the beds themselves are appropriated to high 

 colours. If we examine a classical composition in colours, we shall 

 invariably find that the outlines are picked out in white, black, and 

 yellow ; and these are the best of all relief agents to light up a 

 design, and to bring out the broader masses of red, blue, crimson, 

 and so forth. The ancients were very fond of black with yellow 

 lines, and the effect of such colouring is superbly rich and forcible. 

 But in garden colouring we cannot follow classical models closely, 

 for the simple reason that we usually have two strong tones already 

 to hand, and to these two we must adapt our patterns. Suppose a 

 mass of rich purple needing an edging, there could be nothing 

 better than yellow for the purpose, if we regard the purple only ; 

 but if the bed happens to be on a broad surface of bright gravel or 

 turf, the yellow is weakened, muddled, and in fact spoilt. But a 

 line of silver makes as good a boundary to purple as yellow, and 

 tells well against grass or gravel, and to any except the most vulgar 

 eye the silver will carry the day against the gold. It is very 

 important to consider the edgings in connection ^^nth the sur- 

 roundings of the patterns. On grass, white and silvery edgings tell 

 the best of any ; on gravel, blue Lobelia, Peiilla, Amaranthus 

 melancholicus, and other dark colours, are remarkably effective. 

 JNTear bright grey or white masonry, as on an architectural terrace, 



