306 ON CLUMPING OUT FLOWlillS. 



flat-headed character of a blue mass, and the edging might be 

 formed of the dwarf Blue Lobelias, or the Kaulfussia amelloides, 

 whilst some of the bushy Blue Salvias miglit occupy the situ- 

 ation of the Geraniums before-named in the Lobelia bed. The 

 Verbena family are particularly eligible for pegged down 

 edgings, and can hardly be placed wrong; for so graceful is the 

 character of this plant, pegged down, that it seems at all times 

 capable of giving complete satisfaction in a bed by itself. 



Whatever mixture of species may be introduced in a bed, it 

 seems pretty certain that an identity of character, or general 

 expression, should in some degree characterize the mixture. 

 Thus, I would say, the Ciiphea has a sort of Chinese character 

 about it, so has the Fuchsia fulgens ; therefore the Cuphea would 

 make an edging to a bed of which the Fuchsia fulgens was the 

 principal. The Kaulfussia amelloides is at first sight an Aster, 

 and would make a nice edging to a blue bed, of which some of the 

 finer Asters, as spectabilis, Amellus, or sibiricus, were principals. 

 Identity of style of flowering, howiver, is not all ; the style of 

 foliage should as much as possible be taken into consideration. 

 Simple foliage, I think, should in the main be classed with 

 simple, and the like of compound foliage, or pinnate. These 

 things duly carried out, it appears to me that every bed would 

 have an individual character stamped on it, and a meaning would 

 directly take the eye, which to persons of taste would be far 

 more satisfactory than a total absence of design or a want of 

 unity of purpose. 



I take it for granted, also, that relief of colouring is equally 

 necessary ; a bed of Verbena Melindres is a gorgeous affair, but 

 the eye would not love to dwell on it for any length of time, 

 although it contributes well to the general eft'ect at a distance ; 

 and in this respect it strongly reminds me of the noisy drums 

 in a musical band, which are a nuisance in a close room, but are 

 necessary at a distance, where the sound can expand. AVhen it 

 is desired to make a mass of a given colour — say scarlet — the 

 more shades of tl)at colour that could be introduced into the 

 bed the richer the effect would be, and they \vould also be a 

 relief to the eye. In such a case the scarlets might rise up to 

 genuine crimsons, and descend almost to orange tints. 



As for the herbaceous tribes in mixed beds, or in what has 

 been termed " the changeable flower-garden," it must be con- 

 fessed that under existing circumstances they are somewhat dif- 

 ficult to manage. To have a mixed garden complete, the 

 flowers should be removed as they go out of blossom, and 

 reserved stores must supply their places. This, however, would 

 require an extensive reserve garden, as well as reserve pits or 

 frames, and, in addition, plenty of labour. 



