THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



needing to be covered with the most refined verdure, plant it with Sper- 

 gula saginoides, and keep it well rolled and weeded, and there will soon 

 08 a turf fit for the feet of a fairy. 



Previous to 1859 the spot occupied by the magic ring was a steep slope 

 of grass continued from the lawn below, and with a circular bed planted 

 sometimes with roses, sometimes with fuchsias, and once with pampas 

 grasses, which made a display in autumn worth a journey to see. When 

 the spergula was started the thought occurred, why not make on that spot 

 a grand feature ? A circle was raai-ked out for a peat-bed, and round 

 that another circle of loam on a dead level so as to fall over by a sort of 

 ramp on the grass at the lower side. The result was the efi'ect repre- 

 sented in the picture. The spergula and the rhododendrons competed 

 with each other and grew out of bounds, and for the sake of a change the 

 first was removed in July last, and the circle planted with 240 Tom 

 Thumb geraniums in a ring of seventy feet circumference. This present 



winter the rHododendi-ons were taken up and se\en Luge plantb appro- 

 priated to the border in the forecourt on the other side of the house ; the 

 bed was raised a foot higher by means of more Wanstead peat, and the 

 outer circle to the same level by means of the loam taken out to make a 

 peat-bed for the rhododendrons in the forecourt. The remammg rhodo- 

 dendrons were planted in the bed and filled it well, and the outside of the 

 ring was faced all round with the largest burrs from the brick kiln, 

 forming a massive ring eighteen inches above the level, so that^ii photo- 

 graphed now the picture would be " Hyperion to the satyr already 

 presented. What is to be done with it now ? In the first place a stock 

 of the new Silver -edged Ivy has been secured, and is in course of propa- 

 gation to be planted next the burrs all round to make a ghttermg 

 boundary line or silver ring, and which will be a lovely sight winter and 

 summer. This new ivy is to be had generaUy an the trade, Mr. baiter 



