266 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



a better opportunity could not be had for inspecting tbem than 

 during the present month. The arrangements in Hyde Park are, as 

 in previous years, remarkable for extreme richness and the taste 

 evinced in carrying them out. There are good examples of carpet- 

 bedding in Victoria Park, and Battersea still remains the head- 

 quarters of subtropical gardening. The terrace and Rose Mount at 

 the Crystal Palace are also very attractive, for the superintendent 

 of the exterior gardens at this well-known resort has carried out a 

 system of carpet-bedding which is as remarkable for its originality 

 as it is for tastet'ulness. 



The bedders introduced this year are not large in number, 

 neither are they remarkable for high quality. A few good things 

 have been introduced, and to these reference will be made, as well 

 as to those introduced during the one or two years previous. 



We have had but few really good bedding plants introduced within 

 the last two years, and the new varieties sent out this year have been, 

 with but one or two exceptions, better adapted for pot culture than 

 for the flowergarden. As a first-class scarlet Geranium, our old friend 

 Vesuvius is as yet unsurpassed, and, considering its brilliant colour, 

 neat habit, and profusion of bloom, we may fairly conclude that it 

 will be a long time before it is put on one side by something better. 

 We, however, require other shades in addition to scarlet, and can 

 consequently proceed to discuss the merits of other varieties, with- 

 out implying that they supersede the variety here mentioned. 

 Turning to those sent out last year, and which have now 

 undergone a thorough trial, I would mention, as being decided 

 acquisitions : Comtessa Quaria, bright pink, strong in growth, but 

 free flowering ; General Outram, a fine variety, producing freely 

 large trusses of deep crimson flowers ; Ilarquis, orange-scarlet, 

 dwarf, and very free ; Faul Pry, a useful variety, with magenta- 

 crimson flowers, useful for its distinctiveness ; White Chpper, has 

 white flowers, and is well deserving of notice as one of the finest of 

 white varieties for bedding purposes ; Woman in White has also 

 white flowers, and is said to be as floriferous as Vesuvius, but un- 

 fortunately I omitted to procure plants early enough to enable me 

 to speak with confidence respecting it. In examining my stock of 

 those sent out the year previous, I have made note of the following 

 as possessing sufiicient merit to justify their being planted exten- 

 sively : Aighurtli BeoMfi/., a scarlet-flowered variety, remarkable for 

 its neat growth and floriferous character ; Crimson King, dark 

 crimson, one of the finest bedders of its colour ; Forest Hill Nosegay, 

 a distinct variety, producing a profusion of medium trusses of 

 salmon-coloured flowers — it is really the only salmon-coloured nose- 

 gay worth growing for bedding; the Sev. T. H. Fcnn is also a 

 grand dark crimson bedder, and forms a fine contrast to those with 

 orange-scarlet flowers ; Amaranth, is a grand pink variety of robust 

 growth, with huge trusses; J/a/«, has purplish-pink flowers, which 

 are produced in profusion in medium-sized trusaes ; and Bella is in 

 the way of that w^ell-l5;nown variety Christine, the trusses are larger, 

 borne with a greater degree of freedom, and it does not seed so 

 freely. Another comparatively new pink-flowered nosegay is Hib- 



