138 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



jasmine, Irish ivy, Stauntonia, and any 

 other close-growing climber, but not, 

 of course, with such things as vines or 

 roses, unless the circumstances ren- 

 dered them peculiarly suitable. 



For fancy work, such as covering 

 the lower parts of walls, on which such 

 things as honey-suckles and pyruses 

 are trained, all variegated varieties are 

 admirably suited, as they are also to 

 mix with French or British ivy, when 

 the stump of a dead tree is made into 

 an ornament on a lawn. These kinds 

 do best when inarched on the Irish ivy, 

 as they grow rather weakly on their 

 own roots, and when so inarched they 

 run over a wall or over stone-work 

 almost as freely as the commoner kinds. 

 I have but three kinds of choice ivy 

 in my collection. One is Hedera Reg- 

 neriana, represented lying immediately 

 on the large leaf of Irish ivy. This 

 is a large-leaved and luxuriant sort, 

 and well adapted for walls, tree- 

 stumps, and such work. It is a ram- 

 pant grower, the leaves less deeply 

 notched than other kinds, and of a 

 cheerful rich green. Most of the 

 nurseries keep this sort, and I re- 

 commend it to those about to plant 

 ivy, as a kind most desirable for 

 any of the purposes to which it may 

 be put. Another is the common H. 

 arborea variegata, on the right of 

 the diagram, the leaves of which are 

 delicately margined and blotched 

 with white, a very showy thing, 

 and a free grower. Of this there 



are several good sorts in cultivation ; 

 one, called Vesta, is still more white, 

 like well-bleached parchment, and, 

 when grown in a suspended basket, has 

 a most charming appearance. The only 

 remaining fancy variety in my posses- 

 sion is H. V. Cullisii, of which the 

 smallest leaf in the engraving is a copy. 

 This is admirable for suspension, and 

 for parasol trellises, and is so distinct 

 that it may be grown so as to mix with 

 other fancy kinds ; the markings are 

 delicate white, cream, and blush crim- 

 son, very regularly disposed, and the 

 leaves of a neat outline, varying but 

 little all over the plant. A soil com- 

 posed of one part peat, one part leaf- 

 mould, one part yellow loam, and one 

 part sand, is the best for all these choice 

 kinds, which are as worthy of attention 

 as any of our most prized conservative 

 and greenhouse plants. The fancy 

 varieties are much liked by ladies, 

 who, when they take to gardening in 

 earnest, are sure to look out for all 

 sorts of delicate trailing and climbing 

 plants. Now, ivies are in every way 

 suited for such artistic effects as they 

 delight in, and the variegated kinds are 

 exquisitely coloured. As sports often 

 occur spontaneously, a shoot on which 

 the leaves have any novel markings, 

 should be layered or cut, and struck, 

 to keep it as a separate thing, as soon 

 as it has made sufficient growth to show 

 its character, and afford half-ripened 

 wood for strikinor. 



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SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



THE FLORAL PYRAMID. 



This is especially adapted for the centre of 

 a plot of grass, and if planted as described 

 below, will remain a brilliant and striking 

 object during the whole of the season. The 

 present is the time for its construction, 

 which will furnish amusing occupation to 

 the amateur, and at last will repay his ex- 

 ertions. 



Having fixed on the most suitable posi- 

 tion for the centre of the pyramid, drive hi 

 a stake. From this point describe a circle 

 of six feet in diameter, from the inside of 

 which the turf; must be removed; then 

 split about sixty 2-inch straight faggot 

 sticks, each 2 feet 6 inches in length. Pur- 



chase a barrowful of " waste slates," from 

 the slater's yard — these will be found to 

 vary in width from 4 to 5 inches, and in 

 length from 8 to !) inches, and cost alto- 

 gether about six shillings. 



Commence by driving in firmly a circle 

 of stakes, ten inches from the circle already 

 marked out, their rounded edges being 

 outwards, so that each faggot penetrates 

 about two feet in the soil, and the spaces 

 between are a little less than the width of 

 the slates used. 



Now fix the slates in position between the 

 faggots, with overlapping joints, each slate 

 being imbedded to a depth of two inches in 



