336 



The Horticulturist and Journal 



when grown thickly, becomes dense in habit 

 without much attention on the part of the 

 gardener. 



The hardy, herbaceous plants furnish us 

 with many useful species for carpet-gardening ; 

 for instance, some dwarf Gna'phaliums^ Achil- 

 lea, Saxifragas, etc. Then, again, we have 

 several very pretty annuals of small size that 

 will work up in this way very usefully, such 

 as Sweet Alyssum, Fortulacca, Ageratums 

 (dwarf sorts), and others similar plants. 



In preparing a bed for the purpose of form- 

 ing handsome designs of the character treated 

 of in this paper, we should bear in mind that 

 a sloping bank will show the figures to much 

 better advantage than a dead level ; conse- 

 quently, the bed should be raised high in the 

 middle, and carefully rounded oiF to the edges. 

 In England it is customary to have a perpen- 

 dicular edge of, say, six or nine inches in 

 height, which is plastered with clay. This 

 we unhesitatingly condemn, as in poor taste. 

 Others, again, set this edging with Sempervi- 

 vums of sorts, and this is a decided improve- 

 ment over the first ; but we cannot help think- 

 ing that the most preferable plan of all, is to 

 allow the slope of the bed to reach the level 

 surface without a break, and then form an 

 edging of about three species of Sempervi- 

 vums. 



The soil should at once be light, moderately 

 rich, and sandy, as the majority of the plants 

 enumerated prefer such to one that is heavy. 



We should recommend a compost, prepared 

 one year in advance, of old chopped sods, a 

 little old manure, and some sand ; this, if oc- 

 casionally stirred through the season, will 

 give perfect satisfaction when in use. If the 

 season should prove dry, a frequent watering 

 must be given, as an exposed bed of this 

 character will need more attention than a flat 

 surface. True, the succulents used in the 

 planting thrive, as a rule, with very little 

 moisture ; but, after all, they ai-e benefited by 

 that little, judiciously applied. 



Now is the season to prepare for the work 

 next year, and the exact number of each spe- 

 cies desired may readily be ascertained ; and 

 work should at once be commenced upon their 



propagation by all who have the proper appli- 

 ances. Better have a few too many than not 

 quite enough, as the plants must be set thickly 

 to produce the finest effects. 



Best Ge ran iiinis. —The following is a list 

 named by the American Far7ner as really 

 choice : " Jean Sisley is the best and most 

 distinct scarlet geranium in cultivation. Ge- 

 raniums Gen. Grant and Lucius are good. 

 Gen. Lee (Buist) is an excellent violet. Crim- 

 son variety Arthur Pearson is ju>it splendid. 

 Coleshill is excellent. Master Christine, 

 Christine Nilsson, Christine, Heleod Lindsey 

 and Maid of Kent are pink varieties unsur- 

 passed. Mark Twain is distinct and good. 

 So is Blue Bell. Rollerous Unique, London 

 Blue and Macbeth are beautiful in flower and 

 foliage." 



Celosia HuttoniL — In answer to a ques- 

 tion whether this plant has come up to expec- 

 tation, Briggs Bros,, of Rochester, say that 

 they consider it "the finest c?a?-/i-^eare6? foli- 

 age plant that we possess that can be raised 

 from seed ; being nearly as dark, and of a 

 much finer and more compact habit than the 

 now well-known Iresine Lindenii, forming 

 dense bushes about 15 inches high, and 20 

 inches in diameter, the same season from seed. 

 It succeeds much better than the Iresine 

 when planted out of doors, and is excellent for 

 the ribbon border, vase or basket." 



China Asters.— An English gardener, af- 

 ter trying the various kinds of Asters of recent 

 introduction, recommends the following : 



For large beds, the Hamburgh Prize, 

 Paeony Perfection, the Victoria, the Cockado, 

 and the Hedgehog, are the most desirable. 



For medium sized beds, ribbons, etc., the 

 Dwarf Chrysanthemum, the Dwarf Victoria, 

 and the Schiller Dwarf Pyramidal are the 

 finest ; being compact, and of even growth, 

 bearing their flowers conspicuously above the 

 foliage. 



To cut for bouquets, the Imbrique Pompon, 

 and the Dwarf Bouquet elegantissima, are of 

 the most exquisite colors, and perfect models 

 in shape, varying from the most miniature to 

 the size of a Pompon Chrysanthenium. 



