206 THE FLORIST. 



of the flower may be readily increased or diminished by judicious culti- 

 vation, and so be made, in a great measure, to accommodate itself to the 

 requirements of the grower. To this end it is a good plan to select a 

 variety neither too large nor too small, as the representative of what is 

 most appropriate for the middle row, and then endeavour to grow the 

 larger varieties down, and the smaller up, to the required standard. It 

 is notorious that when flowers naturally disposed to coarseness are sub- 

 dued in growth, they gain in form in direct proportion as they lose in 

 size ; and, on the other hand, very small and compact kinds will be 

 improved by an excess of growth, as these varieties rarely become 

 coarse, even when subjected to the most stimulating treatment which 

 can be adopted. 



Finally — If aught of criticism pervade this or my preceding paper, it 

 has not been made in a captious or cavUling spirit. While I am fully 

 conscious of ha^^ng expressed but imperfectly the ideas present to my 

 mind, I would fain hope I have not been altogether unsuccessful in 

 rendering intelligible the principles I have been ad\t)cating. Should 

 the opportunity of attending some of the more important shows in the 

 ensuing autumn be given me, and the pages of the Florist be still open 

 to my pen, I may possibly take the opportunity of reverting to the sub- 

 ject on a future occasion. Meanwhile, exhibitors, be upon your 

 mettle ! 



" If there's a hole in a' your coats, 



I rede you tent it : 

 A chiel's amang you takin' notes. 



And, faith hell prent it." 



A. S. H. 



DESIGN FOR FLOWER GARDEN.— No. III. 



The prevailing fault with modern flower gardens is this, that they 

 present so unin\'iting an appearance in the winter season, during which 

 period the eye can rest only on the mere outline of bare earth. As the 

 season for the display of summer flowers is usually limited to the time 

 intervening between the end of June and October, it wiU be seen that 

 the beds are generally vacant for the larger portion of the year. To 

 remedy this striking defect various makeshifts have been resorted to, 

 among which that of keeping dwarf shrubs in pots, or in the reserve 

 ground, for transferring to the beds of the parterres when the frosts of 

 autumn render a clearance of summer plants necessary to high keeping 

 is one, and these, ^vith spring flowering herbaceous plants. Anemones, 

 Hyacinths, Narcissus, Crocuses, Scillas, &c., will form a perfect blaze in 

 spring, and if proper attention is paid to the harmonious distribution of 

 colours, a very effective and pleasing show may be produced at the cost 

 of a few pounds yearly, and a little extra at starting by way of "outfit ;" 

 but to manage this tastefully some thought must be given to the subject 

 of arrangement, and the usual plan of dotting the shrubs at regular 

 intervals over the surface of the beds, and fiUing in between with other 



