AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 165 
Bedding-out—continued. 
ditions the design is rarely retained more than two or 
three months, say, from July to September. The method 
is, however, so extensively adopted as to demand due notice 
in this work. Bedding usually commences in May. An im- 
portant consideration is the proper preparation of the soil for 
the reception of the plants. It will be found to materially 
Fic. 214. DESIGN FOR CARPET BEDDING. 
assist the growth if the soil is well dug over a fortnight 
before the plants are put in. By this means, it will acquire 
a certain amount of solidity, a point of great importance 
with fibrous-rooted plants that are subject to injury from 
the fine roots not taking a firm hold of the soil. Having 
Fic. 215. DESIGN FOR CARPET BEDDING. 
decided upon the arrangement of the plants, proceed to 
work with the planting. With round, oval, or, indeed, almost 
any shaped bed, begin in the centre and work towards the 
edge; in borders, commence at the back and finish with 
the front row. Plant with a trowel, disturbing the balls as 
_beneficial, leaving it smooth and tidy. 
Bedding-out—continued. 
of distress; and then a good soaking should be applied. 
A careful hoeing of the surface after planting will be most 
A Dutch hoe will 
be the best to use. Injudicious use of manure and water 
will only cause a foliaceous growth. The proper treatment 
of the various Bedding Plants will be found under their ` 
respective headings. For spring decoration, the Beds may 
be filled with Dutch bulbs, and spring-flowering annuals 
and perennials ad infinitum; or, after the plants are 
removed in autumn, the Beds may be filled with evergreens 
plunged in pots, such as Aucuba, Arbor vitæ, Euonymus, 
and various little Conifers, which have a bright appear- 
ance through the winter, and can be removed at any time. 
With the relative value, or advisability of adoption, of 
either or any system of gardening, it scarcely comes within 
the province of this work to deal. No hard-and-fast rules 
can be laid down as regards “style,” and each individual 
may follow his own taste and inclination. 
Carpet Bedding. This mode of gardening, although not 
so generally employed as it was some few years ago, has 
many admirers, and small plots, geometrically arranged 
in multi-coloured beds on lawns, are frequently seen. In 
. our large public parks, the system is largely adopted, and 
evidently proves very gratifying to the multitudes who 
visit these places; but probably no system is more un- 
natural or expensive, as such a large number of plants 
are necessary in order to produce a desirable effect. The 
illustrations (Figs. 214 and 215) represent two designs 
for Carpet Beds. ‘The numbers placed in the various com- 
partments indicate the way the different colours should 
be arranged, repeats being marked by the same cypher. A 
very varied and large selection of plants can be used for 
Carpet Bedding, some of which are quite hardy, such as 
Herniaria glabra and Veronica repens, two of the best 
dwarf green plants; Sempervivum californicum, Sedum 
lydium, S. glaucum, Antennaria tomentosa, &c. These may 
be planted early in the season, with Golden Feather, and 
are especially valuable, as they are generally employed to 
a great extent. Other plants, not quite so hardy, are 
Mentha Pulegiwm gibraltarica and Echeveria secunda 
glauca, both of which are extensively used; while the 
tenderest subjects are Alternantheras of various kinds, 
Coleus Verschafeltii and Mesembryanthemum cordifolium 
variegatum. These latter should not be planted till the 
first or second week in June. As the plants are usually 
small, and require to be planted thickly, the work is best 
accomplished with the fingers, pressing the soil moderately 
firm. First of all, work out the design, and plant the 
leading lines; afterwards fill in the “ panels.” 
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little as possible, and when in the 
moderately firm. After the 
soaking of water to settle the soil at the roots. _ 
for Flower-beds should always be perfectly rotte 
that from a spent hotbed. When the plants 
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established, water must only be given if th 
holes press the soil 
Bed is finished, give a good | arrangement of tropical plants in Beds or groups outside 
-very attractive and unique display may be: 
Fic. 216. DESIGN FOR BEDDING. 
