164 THE FLORIST. 



had a much higher place amongst the sixes, as it was understood 

 that the exhibitors of twelve blooms were to put their best six on 

 one stand and mark it, so that it should be placed in its proper place, 

 which could not have been the case, as several pans of sixes, by the 

 parties named, containing their refuse specimens, after placing the 

 other blooms in twelves, took prizes, which would not have happened 

 had the others come before judges. 



The next meeting is to be held in London ; and it is to be hoped 

 that a suitable time may be fixed upon, so that the northerns can meet 

 their southern friends on that occasion; and no doubt, from the 

 numerous growers in the neighbourhood of the great metropolis, the 

 tastes of their northern brethren will be found upon scrutiny to be 

 in unison with their own. 



John Slater. 



Cheetham Hill, near Manchester. 



MEMORANDA FROM KEW. 



One of the paramount features belonging to ornamental flower-gardening, and 

 one that displays considerable taste and ability, is the arrangement of the various 

 kinds or groups of plants that it contains. Herbaceous plants, for the most 

 part, can only be planted in beds, borders, or on clumps, to produce a good 

 effect, the tallest-growing kinds occupying the centre or back-ground, gradually 

 decreasing in height to the margin ; but trees and shrubs, to display the greatest 

 advantage, imitate nature, and break that monotony which would otherwise be too 

 prevalent, should be planted singly, or some few kinds, such as Azaleas, Rhodo- 

 dendrons, &c, should be planted in clumps, as when they are in flower in a large 

 mass, they produce, from their various colours, a very striking effect. There 

 are many kinds of Conifers, &c, which are splendid objects for a lawn. Standard 

 Roses distributed about, and not planted too closely or in straight lines, are 

 objects of extreme beauty throughout their flowering season; but during spring 

 and the early part of summer there is nothing that can vie with the elegance, 

 gracefulness, and profusion of flowers produced by the various species of legu- 

 minous plants. Many of this family are possessed of unrivalled beauty; the 

 herbaceous kinds for the beds or borders, and the shrubby species for clumps, 

 walls, or throughout the shrubberies, or many as standards for the lawns ; they 

 are the most interesting and highly-ornamental group of all our hardy species 

 for out-door decoration. Every one is pretty familiar with the beauty and grace- 

 fulness of the Laburnum, Wistaria, Robinia, Edwardsia, Genista, &c, our native 

 Broom and Furze, which in many localities constitute the gayest part of our 

 rural scenery. The double-blossomed Furze, which is perhaps one of the 

 showiest flowering of our indigenous shrubs, if planted singly throughout the 

 shrubberies, or on the outside border of the flower-garden, forms a large bush, 

 3 to 5 feet high, and loaded in spring with a profusion of very fragrant flowers, 

 which towards evening fill the air with their perfume. The various kinds of 

 Cytisus, Caragania, &c, are handsome free-flowering shrubs, suitable for the 

 borders or clumps, some of them forming very compact bushes, 2 to 3 feet high; 

 others are of a prostrate or trailing habit ; but if they are grafted on stocks of 

 the Robinia, or common Laburnum, they form large handsome heads, and with 

 this advantage, that they can be planted as standards on the lawn, or here and 

 there one on the beds or clumps, to give variety to the flower-garden, and keep 

 it in a blaze of beauty during spring and the early part of summer ; the stocks 

 should vary from 2 to 6 feet high, according to the kind with which it is in- 

 tended to graft them ; from their various heights they may be arranged so as to 



