168 



77^6 HmimiUnrvit and Journal 



'\ ^)arilei|* 



Bedding Plants. 



\ND by this title we do not mean the flow- 

 ering plants alone, but those with richly 

 tinted foliage should be included. Much as wc 

 love beautiful flowers in all their variety of color, 

 form and fragrance, still there is an indescrib- 

 able charm in a happy combination of colors, 

 when the gay tints of the Coleus, Alternan- 

 thera, Iresine, etc., are associated in close 

 proximity, and arranged in neat designs. 



Let us first review these brilliant-leaved 

 plants, and see what they are capable of pro- 

 ducing when artistically disposed. Suppose, 

 for example, we select the most simple, and, 

 to our eye, the most beautiful form for a flower 

 bed — the circle. 



We may either adopt the massing system 

 or the ribbon arrangement, for they are alike 

 susceptible of splendid effects. Now, for our 

 suggestions in regard to planting. For mass- 

 ing, three circles of about six feet in diameter, 

 arranged in an equidistant group, can be made 

 to form a charming feature on the lawn by 

 planting one of the beds solid with Iresine 

 Lindenii, edged with Artemisia stellariiia ; 

 the second filled with the rather new white- 

 leaved Glauciuin corniculaUim, edged with 

 Alternaiithera versicolor; and the third of 

 Golden Gem Coleus, edged with Alternan- 

 thera amoena* 



A single circle of large size, say twelve feet 

 in diameter, may be planted in the ribbon 

 style as follows : First an edging of Artemisia 

 stellarina, next a ring of Altemanthera ver- 

 sicolor, then one of Coleus Golden Gem or 

 Princess Royal, then of Colens Verschaffeltii, 

 then of Centanrea gymnocarpa, and lastly a 

 center plant of Iresine Linde7iii. One of the 

 most gorgeous beds we ever beheld was an 

 immense parallelogram set with the above 

 named plants, in precisely the order suggested, 

 and rarely couH a person pass by without 



* We have seen this trio of beds planted with Alter- 

 nanthera, a distinct variety in each, and all edged with 

 Artemisia. In the latter part ofsnnnner, when the beds 

 l)resented a compact mass of highly tinted foliage, the 

 eflect was really gorgeous. 



stopping to admire the same. The laborer, 

 with his kettle on his arm, huri-ying to liis 

 daily work, turned his head and gave an ap- 

 proving smile ; the nurse would forget her 

 charge the moment that she came within the 

 circle of its magic influence ; the florist would 

 sit down .to study out the great attractive fea- 

 ture in this apparently simple arrangement ; 

 and even the man who universally pooh-poohs 

 flowers would involuntarily exclaim, " Well, 

 that is rather pretty, anyhow." 



There are very many pretty designs whereby 

 this class of plants may be used for adorning 

 our grounds, but to explain them properly 

 would require illustrations. There is a class 

 called succulents which are capable of produc- 

 ing remarkably pretty effects when arranged 

 according to a suitable design. The best of 

 these are the various species of Echeveiia, 

 Semper vivu //I, Sedum and Agare. We have 

 seen in Europe beds of these plants arranged 

 in the most complicated manner, yet each 

 curve and angle was so well marked, that the 

 whole could not but leave a pleasant impres- 

 sion upon the visitor. These are almost un- 

 known in this country, and yet for bedding 

 purposes they are well adapted to our climate. 



AVhen we speak of flowering plants for bed- 

 ding out, we scarcely know where to com- 

 mence, nor where to stop, so great is the 

 number of really valuable varieties, any of 

 which will prove acceptable. Suppose, for in- 

 stance, we adopt the group of three circles 

 mentioned in connection with bright-foliaged 

 plants. A greatly admired design might be 

 produced by using solely Geraniums. In one 

 we should plant the Gen. Grant ; the second 

 should be composed oi Master Christine, and 

 the third Mrs. Pollock or Pride of Mount 

 Hope, where the tricolors stand. If an edging 

 is desired, there is nothing better than A rte- 

 misia stellariiia. 



A large circle or ellipse forms a dazzling 

 show when planted solid with Scarlet Gera- 

 nium, and for this purpose we know of nothing 

 superior to the old Gen. Grant. Those who 

 prefer a little contrast may use an edging of 

 the Golden Feather, Pyrethrum, and a fine 

 specimen of the Abutiloii Thompsonii in tlie 



