60 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



In the spring we sowed patches of Mignonette, and also of two beauti- 

 ful annuals — Browallia elata and Collinsia bicolor. There were in 

 addition a goodly number of East Lothian Stocks and Evening Prim- 

 roses, raised from seed, which, by the month of July, were very pretty, 

 and in point of beauty and effect simply eclipsed every herbaceous 

 plant in the garden. 



The air was absolutely perfumed with the smell of the Mignonette ; 

 and bees hovered about, and sometimes descended to sip a drop of 

 honey from the opening flowers. At evening, too, the dew descended, 

 and like crystal diamonds sparkled upon the refreshed flowers and 

 leaves, just as the sunbeams grew faint, and the Evening Primroses 

 ((Enotheras) deigned to open their large but handsome flowers. There 

 were also stately Delphiniums ; and large Sun-Roses hung their heads, 

 as if doing obeisance to the smaller but certainly more beautiful mem- 

 bers of the hardy family. 



But I must stop. I find I am growing sentimental in order to 

 accommodate my friends with choice of language for their favourites. 

 I must now for a moment direct attention to the flower-garden. Your 

 correspondent, J. S. W., has quoted, in support of his arguments, a 

 report from a distinguished correspondent of the 'Gardener' respect- 

 ing his dealing with two large beds which swallowed up the sum of 

 10,000 plants, all good and valuable. 



I do not for a moment dispute this statement ; but would beg to 

 suggest that a simpler and less expensive system of planting might 

 possibly yield an equally good effect. In the summer of 1879 I had 

 some very large beds to plant myself with Pelargoniums and such- 

 like, which took such a number of plants that I resolved upon 

 changing the system of planting. In accordance with this deter- 

 mination, we procured a number of Cannas in the spring of the present 

 year ; and w^e also raised a stock of Castor - oils, Zeas, Abutilons, 

 Solanums, Balsams, and suchlike — the former of which were planted 

 at 6 feet apart, and were touching each other by the end of the first 

 week in July. The Balsams were 5 feet in diameter in August, and 

 flowered splendidly : of course the margins of these beds were toned 

 oflF with groups of smaller plants. 



I may also point out that the centres of many large beds would be 

 much improved in appearance by the introduction of plants that are 

 conspicuous for the grace and beauty of their foliage, whether hardy 

 or half hardy. 10,000 plants might in this way plant a whole gar- 

 den instead of two beds. Many of the finest of the Cannas and 

 Abutilons I had lifted in the early part of the autumn and potted, 

 and they are now (December) doing excellent duty in the way of 

 furnishing a large conservatory ; and perhaps before winter is over 

 they will be useful for something else — whereas the finest things in 

 the herbaceous garden are no better looking than a " bundle of dead 

 sticks." 



