of Rural Art and Taste. 



169 



center. Beds massed with the Tree Peri- 

 winkle (Vinca), both red and white, are quite 

 showy, but to look well they should be used 

 freely, as small groups do not show to advan- 

 tage. A pretty border for the White Vinca 

 may be composed of the little Cuphea platy- 

 centra, which produces myriads of small scar- 

 let tubular flowers all summer long. 



Dahliaa, when scattered over the lawn 

 singly, look meagre and out of place, but when 

 massed together in a large bed, with the taller- 

 growing kinds on the back, and the lit4le 

 "bouquet" varieties in front, they make a 

 grand show. But Dahlias shovild never occupy 

 a prominent position on the front lawn ; rather 

 place them on the side or back, where visitors 

 may catch a glimpse as they enter. They are 

 entirely too conspicuous and large for the finer 

 portion of our grounds. 



The Double White Feverfew (Pyrethrum) 

 looks well in a mass, and will bloom through- 

 out the season by clipping olf the old decayed 

 flowers; and even Heliotrope, when used in 

 the same bed with the above, shows to great 

 advantage, its fragrance lending an additional 

 charm, which the most indiflerent admirer of 

 flowers cannot resist. 



Those who have only seen a single plant of 

 the Lavtana in a mixed flower bed, have no 

 idea of their beauty when a large numbe*- of 

 colors are grouped together. The brilliancy 

 of color, the multitude of bloom, and their 

 free growth are all unsurpassed. As an edg- 

 ing we would suggest the little Lobelias ; and 

 whilst we can never hope to compete with the 

 English gardens in cultivating this plant, still 

 it succeeds satisfactorily in most places with 

 us. To have it in perfection, cut off" all the 

 flower stems the moment their beauty is over, 

 and a new set will at once take their places. 



Every year we have a bed of Scarlet Sage 

 (Salvia splendens), and during the summer we 

 almost conclude we will never plant it again, 

 as green foliage alone is not very attractive on 

 a lawn ; but as autumn approaches, and the 

 bed becomes a mass of dazzling scarlet, we 

 wonder why we ever allowed a disparaging 

 thought to creep in. 



Verbenas and Petimias are lovely all 



through the season, especially when planted in 

 large masses. They are very appropriate to 

 cover the surface of shrubbery beds, when the 

 latter plants are small ; and the contrast 

 afforded by the evergreen foliage of a Rhodo- 

 dendron clump in close proximity to these 

 flowers is exceedingly pleasing. 



Fancy beds cut in the turf and filled with sum- 

 mer-flowering bulbs look well ; for instance, a 

 bed of each of the following : Tuberose, Lily, 

 Gladiolus, Tiger Flower and Triloma. 



But we must not forget the annuals, as very 

 many of these furnish the landscape gardener 

 with valuable material for producing particular 

 effects in his art. Space will not allow us 

 even to enumerate all the fine plants in this 

 department ; so we shall content ourself with 

 calling attention to a few of the most useful. 



Asters and Balsams produce the best show 

 when set in lines of different colors, and now 

 that we have so many forms of each, they may 

 be arranged very tastefully ■ and in this con- 

 nection allow us to suggest as a handsome 

 border for the same, mixed colors of Fhlox 

 Drninviondii. Portidacca should have a bed 

 to themselves, and on a clear day nothing can 

 well exceed their brilliancy. The double form 

 is greatly superior to the single. 



A bed of jSasturtiums (Tropaeolum) is a 

 beautiful sight, provided we have poor soil, 

 and a good selection of colors. If the soil 

 should be rich, the plants run to vines, and 

 flower indiff"erently. Marygolds, either in 

 masses or ribbons, always look well if they are 

 old-fashioned. Mignonette and Sweet Alys- 

 suin form very neat and fragrant edgings for 

 walks, although neither are very attractive. 

 The Ferilla ISankinensis is a capital annual 

 " foliage plant," as the leaves are of a rich 

 dark purplish hue. It looks well when as- 

 sorted with other species, or in a solid mass, 

 with a light-colored border. Ten Weeks'' 

 >)tocks — or, as our grandmothers called them. 

 Stock Gillys — are especially showy when in 

 bloom, but, unfortunately, that is not all sum- 

 mer.* We might name many more, but the 



* Wc very nearly forgot to mention the Double Zinnia. 

 one of the very showiest of all. Tliese are best suited 

 for large beds on the side rather than at the front of the 

 dwelling. 



