8G THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



their use without another trial. He states that they want growing in the shade 

 to bring out their peculiar leaf-hues. Next came some bold and striking groups 

 of Yuccas, indispensable to the subtropical department, like the shading that, by 

 an almost perfect contrast, brings out clear and distinct the exquisite colouring of 

 some great master painter. Yucca aloifolia plays an important part in Mr Gibson's 

 groups. Canna discolor floribunda deserves to be recorded as one of the very 

 best of the dark-leaved kinds ; there was a group of it with leaves so beautiful, 

 bronzy, and glossy, as to strike the eye at once ; it was edged with the double 

 white Balsam. Then came an irregular triangular-shaped bed, having a centre of 

 several plants of the grand Musa Ensete; round this was Coleus Bateraanni, good 

 as a dark-leaved kind, and stands well ; then Coleus Verschaffelti marmoratus, 

 which had been very fine and effective indeed, though with the cool damp nights 

 the "glory was departing ;" the edging, Sempervivum Californicum. Solanum 

 "Warscwiczioides should be noted as a fine-foliaged plant for such work as we are 

 now describing. Now came a fine bed of triangular shape, having three Musas 

 in the centre ; under and around them was a kind of carpet of Coleus Blumei 

 and C. Lamonti, the last named of the Blumei type, but a little greener in the 

 leaf, and edged with Sempervivum Californicum. These Coleuses are of good service 

 in the summer, but are scarcely adapted for late work, as they come too green in 

 the leaf then. Zonal Pelargonium Leonidas was very fine in the centre of a circu- 

 lar bed, the flowers of a rich deep glowing scarlet hue, the trusses of bloom small, 

 but the individual pips of great size. On the other hand, hybrid Nosegay Pelar- 

 gonium Christine Nillson, with deep-pink flowers, may be justly condemned as 

 of no use. It is well, in treating of bedding plants, to intimate what to avoid, as 

 well as what to specially select. Gold and bronze Pelargonium Artemus Ward 

 had been good early in the season, but failed as the advancing shadows of autumn 

 threw their dark lines over the scene ; the leaves came blotched with green and 

 gold when in good condition, and had a lively chocolate zone. A perfect bed 

 was one of oval shape, having in the centre a large mass of Coleus Verschaffelti ; 

 round this Centaurea candidissima, and an edging of Sempervivum Californicum, 

 No more need be said in praise of the arrangement. In a serpentine bed, the 

 groundwork formed of winding circles of Ivy, was seen zonal Pelargonium 

 Lucius, one of Bull's fine varieties, and having fine showy crimson flowers and 

 large erect and bold trusses ; this was edged with Pelargonium Golden Fleece 

 and a margin of Euonymus radicans variegata. At the back of this bed, in place 

 of Lucius, was Nosegay Lady Constance Grosvenor ; but Mr Gibson intends to 

 abandon the growth of it, on the ground that it blooms too late. Next came a 

 circular bed arranged with much novelty of design. In the centre of the bed 

 was a disc of Ageratum Prince Arthur ; from the centre of the bed to the circum- 

 ference ran out four ray-like bands, each of which was planted with one of the 

 following variegated Zonal Pelargoniums ; viz., Sophia Dumaresque, good ; Star 

 of India, very like it in character ; Sunray, a variety that does not do well out of 

 doors ; and Louisa Smith, also in bad condition. Between each of these bands 

 was an angular-shaped space, and these were filled with the following gold and 

 bronze Pelargoniums, one variety in each ; viz., Mrs C. Barry, Bronze Belt, Kent- 

 ish Hero, and Beauty of Calderdale ; of these, the two last named were decid- 

 edly the best. 



The 'Gardeners' Chronicle' shall supply the remainder of our notes : — 



"Foremost in novelty and attractiveness are certain low beds carpeted with 



distinctly-coloured foliage. In one most strikingly beautiful bed, 30 feet long by 



6 feet wide, we have three rectangular masses of the golden-leaved Pyrethrum, 



which are bordered and connected by a broadish band of the rosy-tinted Alter- 



