328 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



gigantic specimen of Adiantum reniforme. Could anytliing be more 

 splendid ? Seeing is believing, at least with some people. " Yeni, 

 vidi, vici." 



Two choice tliorns., For a change plant Cratcegiis Mexkanus and 

 G. oxycantha pendida. The first is a fine evergreen, glorious in 

 leaf, fiower, and fruit. The second is a " genuine " weeping thorn, 

 full of grace and glory. Of course you know all about the scarlet- 

 flowered thorn, and the douhle scarlet-flowered thorns, and the pink 

 and double white, and all the rest of such beauties, " which e'en to 

 name would be unlawful," so well are they known, and so much are 

 they beloved. 



In seeking specimens of any of these, try your own nurseryman 

 first, and if balked, hindered, and shut up, try the Cheshunt 

 Nurseries. Shielei Hibbebd. 



THE CHOICE GAEDEK— No. II. 



A TEW SELECTIONS AND COMBINATIONS. 



DID promise to say some more about the hardy garden, 

 and I will now remark upon the various families of 

 herbaceous plants that may be employed to embellish it. 

 I will, therefore, first describe a bed I have seen, which 

 for grace and beauty cannot, I think, be surpassed. 

 The bed is a circle twelve feet in diameter. It is raised above the 

 general level, so as to present a gentle convexity of the same degree 

 as an ordinary watch-glass. In the centre is a fine pampas grass, 

 Gynermm argenieiim. At a distance of three feet from the pampas 

 grass all round there are clumps of the gorgeous Tritoma uvaria, the 

 fiery flowers of which shoot up through the fountain-like leaves of 

 the pampas, and have a most magnificent appearance. Between the 

 clumps of tritoma are tufts of the rather new and splendid grass, 

 Arnnda conspicua, which has been flowering most gaily since the 

 middle of June. This is quite green all the winter, and always beau- 

 tiful. It does not grow so tall as the joampas, and is more robust in 

 appearance. Between these grasses and the margin are clumps of 

 Spirea filipendula, which cannot be surpassed for grace and beauty ; 

 Statice latifolia, a very bold and handsome plant ; Aspidistra 

 liirida variegata, which is quite hardy, and has all the splendour of a 

 choice variegated stove-plant ; Ftnikia Sieholdii variegata, a most 

 beautiful plant in both leaf and flower ; the margin is furnished 

 with tufts of small grasses, such as Festuca ovina glauca, Dactylis 

 glomerata variegata, Stipa pennata, and F.i^agrostis clegans. This is 

 not all. There are spaces between the several plants, and these 

 spaces are filled up with Erench marigolds, of a very excellent kind, 

 the seed of which 1 was informed had been obtained from Messrs. 

 E. G. Henderson, of St. John's Wood. I have never seen a more 

 beautiful bed than this. So much grace and majesty, with a bril- 

 liant display of colour, I should not find in any promenade garden, 



