1879.] LESSONS FROM THE LONDON PARKS. 567 



of the beds themselves in the parks. They are not arranged in one or 

 two large and fanciful designs, but are distributed throughout the grounds 

 in some instances, and in others near the principal walks and roadways. 

 The beds, too, are large and plain, and as a consequence are much more 

 easily and effectively planted. By this mode of arranging the beds a much 

 greater variety of plants can be used, every variety of style imitated, or a 

 new one attempted without endangering the general appearance ; and added 

 to this, the interest is sustained throughout, and not a flash and all over, as is 

 the case where the beds are concentrated. Carpet-bedding, in spite of the 

 pi-ognostics of adverse critics, is still in the ascendant, and is, with the fre- 

 quenters of the parks, the most popular form of planting. A few well-done 

 carpet-beds in private places are equally as certain to be the most admired, and 

 for this reason should be attempted, however objectionable the style of plant- 

 ing may be to the operator. Many of the plants used are quite hardy, often- 

 times to be found in the old herbaceous borders, &c. Alternantheras, largely 

 used in the carpet-beds, have grown but little this season ; but they still an- 

 swered their purpose, as they were planted thickly and kept their colour well. 

 Green-foliaged plants are not so much used as they were, and opinions vary as 

 to the best variety. Herniaria saxatile is preferred by Mr Graham at 

 Hampton Court (a good authority), but the Mentha pulegium gibraltaricum is 

 the most generally used, and is, I think, the most pleasing green ; but the for- 

 mer is the less troublesome after being planted. Succulents are largely used in 

 various ways, and are very effective, especially as single specimens worked into 

 the circles, &c, of the designs. At Battersea Park, Sempervivum tabukeforme 

 was used for clothing the sides of some sunken beds. These beds, although 

 well planted, and, I believe, original, were not so attractive as were many of the 

 beds planted in other styles in the same park. The surfaces of some were per- 

 fectly fiat, and are, I suppose, most strictly speaking, carpet-beds ; but I am 

 inclined to give the preference to those designs which included specimen plants 

 of Aloe filifera nana, Dasylirion acrotrichum, Agave americana, Bonapartea 

 gracilis semilifolia, Chamsepeuce diacantha, Chamsepeuce Cassabonse, a great 

 variety of succulents, &c. The season was much against the subtropical 

 plants at Battersea, the hailstorm of 2d August being very damaging. Cannas, 

 Ricinus, &c. , were much smaller than usual, the few notable exceptions being 

 the Polymnia grandis, Solanum macrophyllum, Aralia papyrifera, and Grevillea 

 robusta. A number of the latter dotted among well-coloured plants of the 

 variegated Vine (Vetis heterophylla variegata) were very effective. Grevillea 

 robusta is easily raised from seed, and, if plunged in pots where required, comes 

 in admirably afterwards for winter decoration of conservatories, &c. A few 

 plants of Nilanthus grandulosus disposed at intervals among Cannas, &c, 

 showed with good effect ; and some of the hardy Aralias are well adapted for 

 the subtropical garden. One of the most effective beds was filled in the 

 centre with a dark-leaved Canna, surrounded with Abutilon Darwinii tessell- 

 atum, alternating with Amaranthus melancholicus ruber, and edged with Dac- 

 tylis glomerata mixed with a blue Lobelia. Large numbers of Palms and other 

 foliaged plants were, as usual, grouped and plunged about Battersea Park — the 

 most conspicuous being Pritchardia pacifica, Cycas revoluta, Areca sapida, 

 Dicksonia antarctica, Pothos acaulis, Seaforthia elegans, Pandanus utilis, 

 Latania borbonica, Phoenix dactylifera, &c. Mr Rogers, the able superinten- 

 dent, also uses a number of flowering plants in mixed beds, &c, which is a step 

 in the right direction, as they are much admired and are enlivening. Large 

 flowering Begonias were scarcely so good as usual, neither were the Fuchsias 



