294 



JOURNAL OF HORTICITLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 



[ October 13, 18C3. 



TELLING BEDS OR FLOWEE GAEDENS. 



This of all seasons of the year is the most important to 

 the gaj'dener in matters of flower-gardening, as now is the 

 time he should be closing propagation for the coming year, 

 and it also becomes necessary that he should strictly 

 examine his beds to detect any fault of axi'angement, as 

 well as to decide by what change of planting, and by the 

 introduction of what novelties he may keep alive the interest 

 of his employer, and of visitors in them. No matter how 

 perfect the ai'rangement may be in colouring, nor how 

 faultless the design, it is requisite that each year shovdd 

 show a change, otherwise the eye wearies, and one half 

 of the interest and pleasure is lest. 



Thiniing that it might be desirable that correspondents 

 should forward sketches of the flower gardens under their 

 charge, together with a plain description, I forward a draw- 

 ing of mine. It does not contain much that is new ; for, from 

 the sitviatjon lying ojjen to cutting north-east winds, the 

 hardiness of all novelties requii-es to be severely tested 

 previous to theu' adoption, and to be grown to procure stock 

 where the gardener's kuife can be used more fi-eely than is 

 generally agi-eeable to the lady portion of our employers in 

 the early pai-t of the season. I am always obliged for advice, 

 ever willing to leai-n. Should you see anything objectionable 

 in the arrangement, to point it out will oblige. — O. Barton. 



1, Centre bssbet, 2 feet hish. Flower of the Day, edged with Lobelia 

 peciosa; bed Tom Thumb Geraniam, edged with Flower of the Day. 



2, 3, 4, 5, Verbenas. 



6, 7, Tom Thumb Geranium, edge Alyseum. 

 8, 9, Trentham Koec Geranium, edge AlysEum. 



K), 11, Calceolaria Golden Fleece, edfe Ferilla nankinen&ia. 



li:, 13, Trtntham Rose Ger.iniuin,, edge Cerastium. 



U, 16, Eoule de >'eige Geranium. 



10, 17, Flower of the Day. 



[We like the plan of your gai-den quite as well as the 

 planting. 1st. There seems to be no gradation as to height. 

 There is Tom Thumb Geranium for centre ; two Tom Thumb 

 and two Trentham Eose beds for wings, and then Trentham 

 Rose for ends. The ends, 12 and 13, being the smallest 

 figures, tall plants would be out of place there. Now, though 

 the garden would look best if the beds were nearly on a level, 

 stUl as the centre bed is to have an elevated centre, in the 

 shape of a basket, we would have a tall instead of a dwarf 

 scarlet there, and, therefore, would use Punch Scai-let, or 

 better stiU, Beaton's Stella for 1 ; and the sides for variety we 

 would have Cineraria maritima, or Centaurea candidissima. 

 Then you might make 6, 7, 8, 9, Trentham Eose, with iUys- 

 stim, or two of Trentham Eose and two of Eubens crossed, 

 and the outsides, 12, 13, might then be Tom Thumb, with 

 Cerastium for an edging. 



2nd. The four quarter-moons round the centre, 2, 3, 4, 5, 

 would be passable with mixed Verbenas of strong growth ; 

 but if three colours are to be distinct in each, they will 

 be drowned by the masses in 1, 6, 7, 8, 9. Then, besides, 

 we do not like the arrangement of having three bands in 

 these beds — red, white, and purplish-blue. It is just the 

 old story of having a white-bodied phteton with one wheel 



red and the other piu-ple. I have seen lots of such beds 

 this season, and the owners have a perfect right to plant 

 them as they will. This style of ornament is also getting 

 popular. We would just advise you to try a similar style 

 with some pretty female friend of yotu'S, who had a rather 

 pale complexion, by sticking a long wreath of Violets on one 

 side of her face, and an equally long wreath of pink Eoses 

 on the other side. Or try what the effect would be with a 

 long purple pendant in one ear, and an equally long golden 

 one in the other. If you are satisfied we have no argument 

 to offer against your decision, even should you resolve that 

 your fair lady should appear in company with one boot 

 of the loveliest red, and the other of the most beautiful 

 purple. If these four beds are to be ringed, then we would 

 prefer the centre to be white, and the outsides purple all 

 round. 



3rd. Though not in the list, you give an edging of blue to 

 14, 15, 16, 17. That, in connection with the purple round 

 the quarter-moons, woidd lead i:s to change the planting of 

 10 and 11, by placing PerOla in the centre, and a broad 

 band of the Calceolaria round it. We think that heights 

 and colours would then be better regulated, but do not be 

 led by our opinion. — E. F.] 



