90 THE FLORIST. 



each colour is planted in masses of five rows ; these five rows cor- 

 responding nearly in Avidth with breadth, will illustrate the system 

 intended by groups or masses of colour in about equal proportions. 

 I would here ask, if effect and contrast can be nearly so well ob- 

 tained by the mixed flower -border as by a judiciously arranged 

 series of beds or masses ? if the same be desirable, which I dare 

 not gainsay against our most popular authorities on the matter of 

 effective flower-gardening, then w^hy not also attain the same end 

 with our Tulip-beds, when the very material so plentifully abounds, 

 and is wherewithal so admirably adapted to the end in view ? That 

 it may be taken by some to be foreign to the use and intent of a 

 Tulip-bed, I vdll not for an instant doubt ; it may raise the ire of 

 others, who, from custom, would, as they may say, let well alone ; 

 but even these will not prevent me from venturing to recommend 

 to others what I am myself doing, in truth have done ; for be it 

 knoAvn, that the one hundred rows, my best bed, is so arranged and 

 planted at Wace Cottage ; nor do I await mth more than ordinary 

 anxiety their flowering. 



Permit me briefly to go into detail, thus : — Rows 1, 2, 3, 4, and 

 5 are all bybloemens, containing first, second, third, and fourth row 

 flowers in their proper places, and mostly on the duplicate principle, 

 as before explained ; rows 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are bizarres, similarly cir- 

 cumstanced ; rows 11, J 2, 13, 14, 15 being roses; the next five 

 rows are bybloemens, then five rows of bizarres, followed again by 

 roses, and so on the whole length : it is thus shown that I have 

 produced twenty masses or groups, seven bybloemens, seven bizarres, 

 and six with roses. I experienced but little difficulty in carrying 

 out the scheme, although my stock is not what is termed a large one, 

 a few trifling additions alone being needed. It was not for effect 

 alone by which I was guided in this determination ; the annual Na- 

 tional Exhibitions make it imperative on all who would win fame 

 at these monster meetings that no effort be disregarded in the dis- 

 crimination which is absolutely necessary in selecting blooms after 

 the acme of cultivation may have been secured ; here then, by the 

 plan propounded, do I facilitate and lessen the cares consequent on 

 selecting for cutting when the all-important hour for packing-up 

 arrives. My Platoffs are perhaps largely predominating in one 

 group. Heroines doing ditto in another, while Captain Whites have 

 the same claims to a third. Does not this simplify the means of 

 selection? are we not in an improved position to find the best of 

 any given variety ? Take, for instance, feathered roses : I turn to 

 Heroine, and actually demonstrate the argument by one simple fact; 

 with myself Heroine is classed as a second-row flower, and, my book 

 tells me, is to be found the second and sixth in rows 26, 27, 28, 29, 

 30 ; here, then, have I ten bulbs planted all in their true positions, 

 and at blooming- time each under the eye at the same time. What 

 inquiry and indecision will such save ; and may doubtless lessen 

 the number of flowers actually cut, by affording ample means of 

 comparing one with another ere amputation be performed ! Other 

 varieties are to be found under similar circumstances ; thus Princess 



