20 THK l-LOKIST. 



THE LADIES' PAGE. 



In undertaking to instruct in flower-craft, or rather to furnish some 

 useful hints to the lady- readers of the Florist, I labour under con- 

 siderable disadvantage in following a writer like Mr. Burgess, who 

 so eminent!}^ possesses the art of conveying profitable instruction in 

 graceful and jilcasing language, and thus arresting the attention of 

 his readers, when a less attractive writer, more conversant with the 

 l)runing-knife than with the pen, might fail in doing so. It will, 

 however, be my aim to supply information of a more practical cha- 

 racter ; for which reason it will be requisite to enter rather minutely 

 into the details of this department of gardening. 



To ensure a brilliant flower-garden, it is necessary to begin at the 

 ground ; — a large outlay of money in the purchase of appropriate 

 bedding-plants will give only an indifferent return, if the soil in which 

 they are to grow is not properly prepared to receive them ; and this, 

 the resting-time of vegetation, is a fitting season for improving or 

 renewing the worn-out soil of old beds or borders, and also for making 

 any required alterations in their form, or in the general arrangement 

 of the parterre. But no alterations of importance should be begun 

 without a well-considered plan to be guided by, or the result is cer- 

 tain to be unsatisfactory ; and ladies who take pleasure in designing 

 their own patterns will do well to avoid pointed corners, unnecessary 

 twists, and, above all, those narrow snake -like figures sometimes 

 seen, which are as objectionable in point of taste, as they are difficult 

 to keep well filled with flowers. Moderate-sized beds, with grace- 

 fully curved outlines, are the most proper for flowering-plants, being 

 more easy to plant, and more effective when planted, than fanciful 

 figures. 



With regard to the quality of the soil, if too good, the plants will 

 grow luxuriantly and bloom but sparingly in it ; therefore very rich 

 ground is not desirable. For new beds, what is called sandy loam 

 is suitable, and this, if moderately good, will not need manure the 

 first season ; such soil may also be beneficially mixed with the earth 

 of the old beds which require renovating, instead of more fertilising 

 substances. For the annual manuring of such beds as require it, the 

 refuse of the pleasure-ground, composed of grass, leaves, the rakmgs 

 of the beds, parings of turf, &c., which have lain in some obscure 

 corner till decomposed, might be used with advantage. But if 

 it was observed last summer that any of the bedded plants grew 

 strongly and did not bloom freely, such beds ought not to be ma- 

 nured. All these operations, however, must be suspended if the 

 ground is very wet ; for it is bad gardening to disturb soil when in 

 that state, especially if it be of an adhesive nature. 



The foregoing observations of course apply only to vacant beds, 

 which are intended to be filled at a later period of spring ; clumps 

 of mixed herbaceous plants had better not be meddled with for two 

 months longer, unless frosty weather aflfords a favourable oppor- 

 tunity for wheeling some well-rotted manure on to them. 



