THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 79 



slate-colour and blue come out more distinctly than white and 

 silver. JN^ear burr and root- work, yellow edgings show their proper 

 character, as do also all the kinds ot" foliage which are usually 

 described as silver. These are a few generalities which may be 

 useful to many who have not yet thought much about the rules 

 needful to be observed if taste is to be respected, and for tl;e present 

 must suffice, for we had no intention of generalizing at all when w'e 

 commenced these remarks. The object of this paper is to suggest 

 the adoption of permanent edgings where admissible, both to reduce 

 the expense oF a bedding display, and render the edgings useful at 

 seasons when bedders are under cover. We may for a moment 

 consider where permanent edgings w^ould be most useful. The place 

 in which to turn them to best account is unq'iestionably iu a com- 

 pact Italian garden, where the whole of the bedding scheme forms 

 one distinct design, and where the design is in fact an object of 

 some interest where there are no flowers in the beds. In panels, 

 and in fact in all geometric gardens, permaueut edgings would much 

 reduce the gardener's labour, reduce the expense in the event of the 

 plants for the display having to be purchased annually, atid save 

 some part of the dreariness which characterizes geometric gardens 

 iu the wdnter season. Let us suppose now that we have a case 

 before us — a set of beds grouped according to a distinct design, and 

 needing to have the outlines all picked out in sharp bright lines of 

 a tone of colour suitable to help out the effects of any and every 

 colour that it might be desirable to use in the beds. In such a case 

 the chances are ten to one that one Jdiid of edging all through would 

 be better, artistically considered, than two, three, or any number of 

 kinds. We cannot imagine a more chaste, more manageable, more 

 sparkling, or more classical plant for edging all the beds in a neat 

 composition, so placed as to be viewed collectively from any par- 

 ticular point, as that prettiest of all the ivies, Hedera helix marginata 

 argentea, or, if the Latin name be too long, say the " Silver-leaved 

 Ivy," which name will do at a respectable nursery, where they would 

 sooner die than palm ofl" some inferior variegated ivy as the true 

 silver-leaved, though at some of the little places they would do it 

 without a blush, and quiet their hardened consciences by the 

 reflection that anything is fair in the way of business. This silver- 

 edged ivy is, in the first place, quite hardy and evergreen ; and 

 hence, when it is once fairly established, it is equally beautiful 

 winter and summer, and will iorm as grand an edging to the pom- 

 pones in November, the crocuses in March, and the tulips in April, 

 as for the geraniums and verbenas all the summer. Plant this ivy 

 not more than eighteen inches apart in a good loam without manure, 

 train the growth right and left by means of pegs, and in due time 

 it will meet and thicken, and form glittering silvery lines which will 

 make the scarlets and purples in the beds many degrees brighter by 

 contrast. Those w^ho grow all their own material for decorations 

 may get up a good stock of this ivy in a year, by beginning at this 

 season, as there is no difficulty in striking cuttings ail the summer. 

 For large beds that stand alone, and especially if raised above the 

 general level, common Irish Ivy makes a grand edging. 



