304 ON CLUMPING OUT FLOWERS. 



had been used in the previous season in the growth of melons, 

 and which had since been stored from the inclemency of the 

 weather, to prevent it from being over-saturated with moisture. 

 No care is required further than to attend to keeping up a proper 

 succession, and to remove the roots which have ceased producing. 

 If strong roots have been employed two cuttings will be readily 

 obtained from them. No watering is required, the genial warmth 

 proceeding from the adjacent chambers supplying a sufficiency 

 of moisture. 



The conditions necessary for carrying this plan into full opera- 

 tion are the supply of a sufficient quantity of strong roots of the 

 articles to be forced. The roots of seakale I usually re-plant and 

 force again in the second season. A considerable number are, 

 however, annually destroyed ; but a proper succession is kept up 

 by raising a bed of seedlings both of kale and rhubarb on well- 

 prepared ground every season. 



I usually commence forcing early in October, and leave off 

 when cutting in the open ground commences, the blanching of 

 which has been effected under a covering of leaves in a semi- 

 decayed state. 



These pits are also well adapted for the protection of late 

 vegetables, such as lettuces, cauliflowers, and endive, when taken 

 from the ground in a state nearly fit for use. When employed 

 for that purpose the covers are removed, and they are only par- 

 tially replaced when severe frost is apprehended. 



XXXVIII. — On Clumping out Floicers. By Robert Errington, 

 Gardener to vSir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, Bart., M.P., 

 F.H.S., Oulton Park, near Tarporley. 



(Communicated August, 1848.) 

 It can scarcely be supposed that clumping or massing flowers 

 has yet attained the perfection of which it is capable ; for it is 

 scarcely twenty years since the matter has been recognised as 

 a ruling principle in the modern flower-garden. In making 

 these remarks I do not wish it to be inferred that I suppose all 

 good flower gardening is of necessity to be composed of the 

 bedding-out system. However eligible and popular this mode 

 may be as a general rule, rosaries, gardens of American shrubs, 

 and even bulbs, herbaceous plants, or annuals, will in large 

 establishments still occasionally be encouraged, especially in what 

 Loudon termed the episodical manner, or as digressions from the 

 main plan. 



The most general mode of massing is to form beds of one 

 thing only. This, I would respectfully suggest, will not be 



