188 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



to get out of this old and well-worn groove, and do something different 

 from the monotonous fashion. 



The question will be asked by some, " What shall we do ?" Per- 

 haps the best general reply to that query will be, " As you have hitherto 

 chiefly sought after colour, now seek after form. Break through the 

 monotony of level that prevails, and break through the monotony of 

 colour." If we were asked to point to an example of what is meant, 

 we would point alone to Battersea Park, where some wondrous effects 

 are produced this season, by bold and judicious grouping of palms, 

 tree ferns, draesenas, caladiums, cannas, india-rubber trees, papyrus, 

 bamboos, and other tropical and sub-tropical plants, with some of the 

 choicest of the established bedders. We see huge compartments filled 

 with hundreds of gigantic " fine-foliage " plants ; and as we turn from 

 these, we encounter grand masses of Mrs. Pollock geranium. We are 

 astonished at the magnificence of groups of ornamental grasses, clumps 

 of Erythrina, and whole collections of Solanums ; but that astonish- 

 ment is swallowed up in another, as we turn aside to behold circles of 

 Coleus Yerschaffelti edged with Centaurea ragusina, on a larger scale 

 than such a thing has ever been attempted before, and the impression 

 is pretty deeply made on our minds that we have lived to see some- 

 thing new in decorative gardening. 



Battersea Park is mentioned here only as an example of what we 

 mean by the expression " less colour and more beauty," and the theme 

 is one that has engaged our pen from time to time during fifteen years 

 past ; with what result, we will not stay to inquire. But we must say 

 this much, that the example cited applies to gardens of every descrip- 

 tion. Amongst our readers are many of the wealthiest in the land. 

 To them the bedding-out cf caladiums, cannas, and india-rubber trees 

 by scores, fifties, hundreds, is a thing not impossible. We have other 

 readers who find a display of geraniums and verbenas a sufficient tax 

 upon their means, and to whom we must present attractions of a most 

 economical description, if we would win their attention at all. Our 

 well-to-do friends will perhaps pardon us if we address ourselves, on the 

 present occasion, to those of our readers w r ho are not blessed with for- 

 tunes, and who are compelled to beware of wasting their substance in 

 riotous gardening. 



Be it known, then, to you thousand of devotees of the godaess 

 Plora, who, like the writer of this, are neither plethoric with wealth 

 nor depressed by necessities, that the materials for redeeming our par- 

 terres from their monotonous aspects are within reach of all, and in 

 many instances so near at hand that their familiarity breeds contempt. 

 The first question will be as to the subjects, the second as to how to use 

 them. 



Ornamental grasses claim our attention pre-eminently, and there 

 is not one amongst them better fitted for the grandest promenade effects 

 than Elynms ylaucescens, which is as hardy as chickweed, as beautiful 

 as if it consisted of silver ribbons, and will grow in any soil or situa- 

 tion. When allowed to spread as it pleases, it forms huge tufts of 

 bold but graceful outline, the colour a strong bluish glaucous tint, and 

 the average height two and a-half feet. The pampas grass, Gynerium 

 argenteum, is well known to be admirably adapted for groups in the 



