iSSi.] THE FLOWER -GARDE^r. 503 



white Picotee and Duke of Wellington Carnation, Chrysanthemum 

 " Precocite," and " Alexander Pele/' Pentstemons, Antirrhinums, Mari- 

 golds, Gladiolus brenchlyensis, and CEnothera Lamarckiana planted 

 well to the front, are the plants which lend a character to this border. 

 Every half-foot of ground in a border like the above requires to be 

 filled to have effect, and every plant used for the purpose must be 

 selected to tell its tale. No other style of planting mixed borders 

 will ever do for gardeners to take in hand. In the kitchen-garden, 

 again, where the borders adjoining the principal walk are kept for 

 flowers, though nothing can be more suitable than hardy plants, still, 

 if a long continued and late display of flowers is wanted, only a 

 few kinds must be employed to give effect. Of course we can do 

 without the amount of flower in this garden which we must have 

 in the flower-garden proper, and so admit the best hardy flowers ; 

 and by a selection of plants prominently introduced, which it is 

 known will give effect at certain times, still have a sufficient amount 

 of flower when it may be required. I think, also, that at this 

 season much more brightness might be obtained in gardens, were 

 this class of flowers more used for filling detached beds. For in- 

 stance, there is nothing to rival Sedum spectabile for a pink bed just 

 now \ Chrysanthemum " Precocite," again, cannot be equalled in the 

 brilliancy of its yellow flowers when massed ; and Tritoma uvaria is 

 simply unapproachable for eff'ect \ while with Phloxes, Antirrhinums, 

 Japanese Anemones, Aster longifolius formosus, A. amellus, and Salvia 

 patens, quieter beds can be indulged in. But with these, as well as 

 with ordinary bedding plants, I think it a mistake to dispense with 

 edgings. Beds of all kinds, and borders as well, without an edging, 

 at least show a want of finish which I do not like. If, for instance, 

 we plant a bed of the Chrysanthemum above-named in a bed cut out in 

 grass, and instead of filling to the edge with the same flower, we run 

 a 9-inch ring of Santolina incana round as an edging, and inside that 

 a band of Sedum spectabile, we at once obtain a foil to the main 

 flower, which improves its effect, at the same time that any harshness 

 in the colouring is counteracted, and the eye obtains a more pleasing 

 impression from the shading which it unconsciously feels in passing 

 from this particular colour to another. Where flowers are required 

 late, it is certainly worth while, every way, to introduce some of all of 

 the above-named plants. They nearly all require high cultivation — all 

 are decidedly the better for it. In seasons when Geraniums and others 

 of that class are in disgrace, these will be found to shine so much the 

 more. It is well worth every means being taken to continue a display 

 of bright flowers as late into the closing year as possible, as the shorter 

 and darker the days, the brighter look the flowers. Try what you like 

 and what you can, nothing better fitted for this purpose than these 

 can be found. I often feel how inadequate one's pen is beside the 

 flowers themselves in pressing their claims to attention. Repeatedly 



