i88i.] FLOWER - GARDENING. 35 



these 8000 Lobelias were put, as also the precise position in the border the 

 "suitable edging" was placed. Then there remains the question of distances 

 between the plants — 9 inches for Geraniums, and'6 inches for other kinds of 

 plants. Here again I confess to be somewhat at variance with the above 

 mode of arithmetic. Where is the utility of planting Geraniums which are 

 9 to 15 inches across, at a distance of 9 inches from each other, and allow 

 them six weeks in which to meet ; or of planting Calceolarias of an average 

 size of 6 inches across, at 6 inches each way, and allow them ten weeks to do 

 it in ? Of course the plants for that particular border might have been grown 

 on a principle of great refinement, and were not allowed to grow beyond a 

 certain size before being planted out ; but I do not think that gardeners at 

 all act on that principle in a general way. 



Before leaving the 13,000 bedders, we will compare the number of hardy 

 flowers required to stock the same border. For hardy plants £35 were spent, 

 or "close upon" that sum. "Most of the plants came from Mr Parker's, 

 of Tooting, at the prices marked in the catalogue." Sixpence per plant 

 used to be the lowest price quoted in Mr Parker's list, and we may take the 

 average at ninepence each. That gives, allowing a percentage of "gratis" 

 plants, 950. " The most" was made of these, and with the addition of what 

 was "propagated" from "our own small stock," and the further "addition 

 of a few annuals," the border which swallowed up such an unconscionable lot 

 of tender bedders was complete, though why annuals should be classed as 

 herbaceous plants it is difficult to say. It will also be noted, as the Editor 

 did on the appended notes to "J. S., W.'s" article, that all mention of hardy 

 bedders is omitted. This is hardly fair, when such plants as Violas, variegated 

 Grasses, Polemonium variegatum, the dark -leaved Ajuga, Golden - feather 

 Pyrethrum, Sedum spectabile, and others, are to be found in almost every 

 garden. As to cost of production, "J. S., W.," will not lose anything at 5s. 

 per 100. Geraniums are the only expensive article to produce, and a great 

 deal less than £8 per 1000 will produce these. Calceolarias are more than 

 covered at 15s. per 1000 ; Lobelias, Ageratums, and other tender plants, at 20s. 

 per 1000. The cost of hardy bedders, in most cases, depends on how many 

 pieces a man can break up in a day. Now I do not want to make out a case 

 either way, as I think just as much of a border of mixed hardy herbaceous 

 plants as I do of a bed of Geraniums ; but from a little calculation I have 

 made, I find that "J. S., "W.'s" border could be planted with 6500 plants, and 

 that their cost would not exceed £10 for the lot, or 3s. per 100. Take the 

 whole quantity of plants required for a flower-garden, and much less would 

 suffice for even an extravagant "bedding man." 



Now let us take a nurseryman's prices, and see what the cost of the two 

 systems would be were a stock of each to be bought. I have a quotation 

 before me for 5000 plants, 1500 of them to be Geraniums — of which 500 

 are gold and silver variegated, — the remainder "Calceolarias, Lobelias, Ver- 

 benas, Ageratum, &c, " These, furnished next May, fine plants out of single 

 pots, are £4, 10s. per 1000 ; out of store pots, £2, 5s. per 1000. Remember, 

 these are all good plants. Well, then, here is a quotation from a nursery- 

 man, who makes hardy plants a specialty ; his rate is £3, 10s. per 100 in 

 quantity, Ms oivn selection, and does not include the best sorts. A selection 

 of finer sorts is £7, 10s, per 100, and of course does not include such things as 

 Pseonias, the rarer hardy Lilies, &c. If we follow the directions given by the 

 persons who have taken hardy flowers under their own special care, a hardy 

 border must be planted so thickly that the taller plants will support each 



