26d 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



( September i, 1876. 



with eharply-defined lines of colour, now brilliaut and now 

 soft, not ono flower is to be Been. It is carpet bedding j^ar 

 excellence, and proves that no flowers are required. Even blue 

 Lobelias would have spoiled this design, for, as the present 

 season has proved, they cannot he kept within the precise 

 bounds required. Mathematical precision is the very essence of 

 this mode of garden decoration. There must be no uncertainty 

 as to what height and breadth a plant will grow. Ideal lines 

 must be drawn, and beyond or above these the plants must 

 not be permitted to travel, and, further, they must be of a 

 nature not to receive injury to health or appearance by being 

 restricted within these limits. These conditions cannot bo 

 attained where flowers are admitted. It is the judicious em- 

 ployment of foliage alone which constitutes true carpet bedding, 

 which neither receives injury by sun nor rain, and which affords 

 all the colours and shades required to create an imposing 

 effect. Tha efiect of these beds is due to fohage alone, with 

 the one solitary exception of the bright clusters of berries of 

 Nertera depressa, which stud, like hriUianta in a silvery sea, 

 the smooth carpet of Sedum glaucum. 



How are such panels as Tagetes and Golden Feather kept to 

 the level of Alternanthera amcena or the Sedum above men- 

 tioned, which does not grow more than 2 inches high ? It is 

 not only the result of pinching the tall plants — for that alone 

 would not suffice — but also by raising those which are of 

 dwarf close growth. The soil at planting time for one is raised, 

 while the site for another is sunken. The centre bed, fig. 41, 

 affords a clear example. The groundwork is composed of 

 Mesembryanthemum, the panels being formed of Tagetes and 

 Alternanthera. Had all been planted on the same level the 

 severe pinching of the Tagetes to keep it down to the required 

 level would have marred its effect, but by planting it in panels 

 a few inches below the bed level, and by planting the Alter- 

 nanthera on mounds an inch or two above the said level, the 

 surfaces of each plant are on the exact level required. To this 

 care Mr. Legg mainly attributes his success. He knows the 

 habit of each plant, and provides accordingly by sinking the 

 lines of those which grow tall and raising the sites of those 

 which grow dwarf. More time is absorbed in planting, but it 

 is recovered again by less being devoted to pinching. But 

 to these beds are ungrudgingly devoted time, skill, and labour 

 (for they cannot be produced without), but the greater the in- 

 vestment of means the greater is the triumph achieved. 



Unless both skill and labour can be commanded carpet bed- 

 ding should not be attempted, for without these essentials 

 there can be no success, but with them a picture may be 

 wrought such as it is impossible to justly pourtray by either 

 pen or pencil. To attempt an engraving of these beds would 

 only be a libel on the beds themselves, but a design with the 

 mode of planting will give the best idea of the most advanced 

 and perfect type of carpet bedding of the day. The design, 

 which is simple and effective, is adapted to either a large or a 

 small garden, and' the form of the beds is such as to afford 

 scope for working-out striking patterns in planting. Fig. dO 

 shows the design greatly reduced, and which shows also the 

 outer circle of dwarf Conifers. The figs, on page 207 show 

 the beds on a scale of a quarter of an inch to the foot, and the 

 mode of planting. They are planted in duplicate. 



It should be noted that the carpet beds, as will be seen by 

 the general plan, are relieved by circles; these are filled with 

 subtropical plants, which afford an agreeable relief to the 

 bright colouring of the carpetwork. These beds are filled with 

 Ferdinandia eminens, edged with Chammpuce diacautha, 

 Wigandias and Coleus, Melianthus major and Coleus, Canna 

 and Salvia argentea, Bicinus and Chamcepuce cassaboua. 

 Beyond the beds is an outer circle of choice Conifers planted 

 at wide intervals. 



The next garden front — the north-east — is totally different 

 to this, from which it is judiciously separated by a raised scroll- 

 shaped bed of Rhododendrons. It is a simple expanse of 

 lawn perfect in texture and keeping. It contains only one 

 solitary carpet bed near the front door, and along its margin 

 are small specimens of i-are Conifers, as Sciadopytis ver- 

 ticillata, Cryptomerias, Eetinosporas, &c. This open expanse 

 of lawn is an example of good taste. But let us look at its 

 boundaries. Its furthermost boundary is artistical beds of 

 shrubs, through the foliage of which a glimpse of the vineries 

 is obtained, but the eye is irresistibly drawn to the left to the 

 glorious bank of flowers. This hank is steep and surmounted 

 by evergreens which screen the plant houses and frame 

 ground. The bank is CO yards in length by 8 feet in width, 

 and is of graceful curvature. It is a striking design of flowers 



and foliage, the Coleus especially being in splendid health and 

 colour. It is brightened by Geraniums, and edged with Lobelia 

 and Echeveria secnnda glauca. In design and quality it is 

 impossible to imagine anything more imposing. It is a brilliant 

 boundary to a velvety lawn, and with the beds just noticed, 

 drew forth the following exclamation from a gentleman who 

 is no stranger to superior gardening, Mr. Campbell of the 

 Churchill Nurseries, Glasneven, who said, "If I had seen 

 nothing else in England, and I have seen much, I should be 

 well satisfied with my visit from Dublin." No more need be 

 said on that side of the garden, and but little on the other 

 boundary. 



This is again a total change, being composed of rugged roots, 

 and the cool green fronds of Ferns luxuriating under the 

 dense foliage of timber trees. This cool retreat is made still 

 cooler by a fountain, and the sense of rest is further suggested 

 by a rustic grotto and inviting chairs. On the front next the 

 lawn is an herbaceous border. Such In brief are these two 

 lawns, their dispositions and surroundings, each of which 

 enhances the beauty of the other, and which affords an 

 example of decorative gardening on a limited scale which is 

 certainly worthy of notice and emulation. 



"But is there nothing else but a bit of flower gardening to 

 see?" some may ask. Yes, there is a bit of Vine-growing and 

 a bit of plant culture at Cleveland House, but these 1 will 

 notice next week. — W. 



The first part of " The Dictionary of English Plant-names," 

 edited by Mr. J. Britten, Botanical Department, British Mu- 

 seum, is printing. Ho will be obliged by information relative 

 to local names. 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBUBBAN GABDENING. 



Kitchen Gaeden. — September is upon us, and many things 

 will have to be attended to in this department. For instance, 

 it is the month for ripening and storing many of the crops, such 

 as Onions, the general crop of which will now be ripening-off, 

 and will do no more good in the ground ; therefore pull them up, 

 and while the weather is fine let them lay upon the ground 

 even for a week or more, then gather them in, and on the first 

 opportunity string them on to sticks about 2 feet in length, and 

 hang them up in some dry cool shed; but not where damp 

 and frost reaches them. They keep better in this way than any 

 other I know. Those prioked-out or sown later may be left 

 in the ground a little longer ; but if wet weather comes upon 

 them take care that these are used first, as late crops of this 

 bulb do not keep well. Those sown last month to stand the 

 winter should be kept very clean on the ground, and be thinned 

 as soon as possible, and all vacancies in the rows filled np. 



This is the month for the growth of the general crop of Cehry ; 

 it makes more progress during this month than any other. Take 

 care that the plants are well supplied with water, because if 

 they were put out at the proper time they will have filled their 

 allotted space with a multiplicity of roots, which must now have 

 something in the shape of nourishment to keep them going 

 apace. After the plants have reached a fair size, say about half 

 their growth, and if water has at all times been liberally sup- 

 plied, the earthing may commence. I seldom like to commence 

 this work very soon, except in the case of the earliest, which 

 must be earthed in order to have it properly blanched. 



Take care to advance as much as possible the sowing of 

 Cabbages which are intended for spring use. The Onion bed is 

 a place for these to be planted, because the manure applied to 

 the Onions is so far exhausted by that crop that the Cabbages 

 do not grow too coarse and become too tender to stand the 

 severity of winter. Transplant the Cabbages about 1 foot apart 

 in the row and at least 2 feet between the rows. Every other 

 one of these can be cut out about Christmas time, and the stalks 

 pulled out, and the first fine day the ground is put in order 

 about them, and they go on successfully. 



Plant out all the Lettuces and Endive possible, a store cf 

 these is very valuable; and remember those that do come in for 

 use will not be large, and therefore will not go so far as a good 

 summer Lettuce, consequently more than as many more will be 

 needed ; and the ground should be the best the garden affords. 

 Those from sowings made now will not be likely to come in for 

 use, but It is necessary to have plenty of plants to put out thickly 

 under walls and on warm borders ; therefore if a sowing is not 

 already made it should be done at once. 



Leeks in trenches and on warm borders must during this 

 month have plenty of liquid manure, for it is also the time when 

 this plant makes wonderful growth. If the plants are making 

 too much leaf according to the stem clip off some of the large 

 and drooping leaves, this will help to increase the size of the 

 stem. 



