563 THE GARDENER. [Dfx. 



looking well. Tigridia grandiflora was very showy ; some Kalosanthes also had 

 been very bright. A bank of Clematis .lackmannii was very fine, and numbers 

 of the neat -growing and free -blooming Yucca flaccida were to be seen in 

 groups. 



I cannot understand why Dahlias are not more used in the parks, as they 

 would brighten up many a dull place. The bedding varieties are largely used 

 in the Crystal Palace grouuds ; and very effective they are, the present season 

 appearing to suit them. At Hyde Park more of the commoner bedding-plants, 

 such as Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, &c. , are used. Most of the beds are 

 inside the rails following the road known as Park Lane. Some of the 

 arrangements were very good, but there was a great sameness about them, 

 many being banded and edged with the same varieties. This may be cor- 

 rect planting, but is very uninteresting nevertheless. Mixed centres were 

 the most effective — notably those containing Calceolaria amplexicaulis and 

 Ageratum americanum, Viola Golden Gem and Iresine Lindenii, Pelar- 

 gonium Ariosta and Viola Bluebell, mixed Lantanas, &c. Good Pelargo- 

 niums used were Mrs Miles, good pink ; Mrs Turner, deep pink ; and John 

 Gibson, very fine scarlet, — all excellent bedders. Lobelia Owen, a peuce- 

 coloured variety, was particularly good and distinct ; and the Mazarine Gem, 

 a deep blue, with large white eye, was very conspicuous. The carpet-beds 

 were fewer in number, but were remarkably well done. Sedum acre elegans, 

 creamy variegated ; Antennaria tomentosa, silvery white ; Sedum lividum, 

 green, — were all effectively used in the carpet-beds, and are quite hardy. A 

 great variety of succulents were used. Some of the subtropical plants in 

 tubs and pots in different parts of the park are grand specimens ; more 

 especially the plants of Latania borbonica, Seaforthia elegans, and Chamserops 

 excelsa. Musa ensete was very effective wherever used — i.e., either as single 

 specimens or in groups. Erythrina crista-galli, as grown and bedded out at 

 Hyde Park, is very fine and attractive. Victoria and Regent's Parks were again 

 very creditably planted ; one of the attractions of the former being a long 

 well-arranged herbaceous border. Although Hampton Court is not, strictly 

 speaking, a London park, it is still much frequented by Londoners, especially 

 since it has become famous for its flower-beds, in addition to the oft-described 

 monster Vine. In spite of the adverse season, the beds — the carpet-bed es- 

 pecially — were very bright and attractive. To keep off the crowds from the 

 carpet-beds on some occasions, it was found necessary to put up stakes and 

 cords ; and Mr Graham, the very practical superintendent, has also had canvas 

 covers made for them ; and by a judicious use of these their beauty is pro- 

 longed long after the breaking up of the other beds and distribution of their 

 occupants among the working classes. Mr Graham's ' Guide to the Gardens, 

 &c.,' which he annually issues, is extremely useful to visitors generalty, and 

 to gardeners and amateurs in particular— as, in addition to the key to the 

 bedding arrangements, it contains several excellent diagrams of carpet-beds 

 and how to plant them ; lists of plants suitable for the various modes of 

 summer bedding and how to propagate them, &c. The house room at his 

 command is very limited ; to all appearances quite inadequate to " turn out " 

 the 195,000 plants used. As before stated, the carpet-beds were remarkably 

 well done, the designs being very artistic and original, and without diagrams 

 indescribable. A great variety of plants were used, many of them being 

 hardy — notably several varieties of Stonecrops, Veronica, Incana, Pyrethrum, 

 Mentha, Herniaria saxatile, Antennaria tomentosa, Sempervivums, &c. 

 Mixed centres were in the ascendant among the other beds, and they cer- 



