THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 141 



But we may take practical lessons from the facts of Nature, and in the 

 May and June issues of the Floral World we prepared our readers for 

 such disasters as have come upon some of those who were not to be 

 advised, and which have been escaped by those who were willing to accept 

 good counsel. Some of our friends wrote complainingly that, if our advice 

 was followed, they would have no flowers at all. May we ask them how 

 they fare for flowers now ? may we further ask if they have compared 

 their beds and ribbons that were planted in May, Avith the beds and 

 ribbons that were not planted till after the 15th of June, to which date 

 we advised our readers to keep their plants under glass, instead of risking 

 them to be soddened, and almost frozen in the last clutches of the slowly 

 retreating winter. We say it again, and are prepared to advance the state- 

 ment on comparison with the records of the best seasons as well as the 

 worst, that in small gardens the bedding system is very often a bugbear. 

 Superb as are its effects in great places where there is room for the dis- 

 play, and where the empty beds are not noticeable, in the abundance of 

 beautiful forms that diversify the scene, flowering shrubs, hardy bulbs, 

 and the best herbaceous border plants will pay better in gardens of 

 moderate dimensions, than the present folly of devoting every inch of 

 available space to bedders. An abundance of colour from July to the end 

 of September is not sufficient compensation for the labour of securing it, 

 and for the empty spaces that have to be endured all the rest of the year. 

 How have we advised our readers during the progress of this work ? Have 

 we not suggested the culture of evergreen shrubs to move to and fro to 

 keep up the freshness of the scene all the winter ? Have we not given 

 lists of the best herbaceous plants and hardy bulbs to precede the bedders 

 with glorious masses of colour and foliage ? so that instead of a rush for 

 cheap geraniums and verbenas, that for summer display would be dear at 

 any price, the amateur might take his time, be rid of' the vexation of pre- 

 serving quantities through winter, have his garden gay all through 

 April and May instead of being a blank waiting for the bedders. We have 

 no desire to extinguish the taste for colour, we would simply direct 

 it; but what we want our readers to be mindful of is this, that the 

 ordinary run of bedding plants are not the only things at our com- 

 mand for rendering the garden beautiful, and in the months of April, May, 

 and the first half of June, when every ray of sunshine is so fresh and 

 acceptable, the gardens ought to be, and might be, in their most beautiful 

 dress, and that it is quite time enough for turning out the greenhouse plants, 

 when the glorious spring flowers have done their work for the season. 

 We sympathize most sincerely with the many who are now groaning in dis- 

 appointment at the state of things to which the severe weather has brought 

 them. They must not complain of the weather, that is ordered wiser 

 than we know of. 



" The clouds we so much dread, 



Are big with mercy, and shall break 



In blessings on our head." 



Let them lay the complaint to their own injudicious haste, and still more 

 injudicious imitation, in places unsuited for its development, of the pro- 

 menade style of decoration adopted at such places as Kew and Sydenham. 

 If fashion makes war against the elements, which of them shall be 

 vanquished ? Fashion no doubt will war in vain. 



