116 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



each at its proper value, lie between the two extremes adopted by the 

 two parties to the contention. No doubt it is so in the case before us, 

 and it may be of less importance to reconcile the combatants than to 

 combine the- systems they represent, so as to obtain from each its 

 utmost advantages. 



It is very certain that in the majority of private gardens much of 

 the space devoted to plants which make but little display till autumn, 

 might be more advantageously devoted to plants which flower plenti- 

 fully in spring and early summer, when the sensitiveness of the eye to 

 colour, and the newness of everything that adorns the face of nature, 

 enhance our enjoyment of floral elegancies. It is certain that spring 

 flowers afford a delight differing both in character and intensity from 

 -that with which we view the more richly coloured masses of autumnal 

 flowers. Let us have both, and let us have both in plenty; there can 

 be nothing easier, but with many it will need more courage than they 

 at present dream of to carry into effect a combination of the two classes 

 of decorative plants. Nevertheless, such a combination is desirable for 

 several reasons. It has been long matter for regret that the rage for 

 bedding displays has well nigh driven out of cultivation some of the 

 choicest gems of the mixed border, and reduced gardening (as practised 

 by amateurs) to a monotonous routine. Its truly intellectual pleasures 

 are now but little known amongst those thousands of amateur cultiva- 

 tors who begin in May to plant " bedders," and in October to take them 

 up, and in those two operations have their chief employment and recrea- 

 tion in the garden. To restore the spring flowers to their proper place 

 in the order of horticultural dignities will be the greatest boon that 

 can be conferred on those who attach themselves to gardening solely 

 because of its recreative attractions. Another reason for combining 

 the two systems is that, while it will admit of the display of geraniums, 

 verbenas, and others of the recognized class of "bedders" so as to 

 gratify the love of colour to which these plants so admirably minister, 

 it will tend to check the tendency of amateurs to imitate the planting 

 in grand places, which is a violation of true taste in ninety-nine cases 

 out of every hundred where the imitation is carried into effect. Prome- 

 nade colouring depends for its appropriateness on the style and extent 

 of the place in which it is adopted. Griven the terraces at Sydenham, 

 and a holiday-making throng who do not dwell on the spot, and the 

 gorgeous colouring of the chain patterns and ribbons is most appro- 

 priate, but in small private gardens such colouring is by far too grand ; 

 it destroys the quirt which belongs of right to a domestic scene, it pro- 

 hibits the eye from observing and admiring the beauty of less gaudy- 

 objects, and to say the least of it, it is costly beyond the degree of 

 satisfaction it affords. 



The remedy is not hard of attainment. Let there be a systematic 

 grouping of all the most beautiful of the hardy herbaceous plants in 

 the beds and compartments that have been designed for bedders. These 

 will bloom in their season, and make brilliant displays of colour during 

 the months of March, April, and May. Let there be between and 

 amongst them gaps left for the reception of geraniums, verbenas, cal- 

 ceolarias, and other of the summer bedders, and let these be planted 

 when the proper time comes. The result will be that, instead of solid 

 masses of colour, there will be refreshing and quieting breadths of 



