October 7, 1876. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTDRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



315 



themselves. There is nothing tame here, and therefore it is 

 always enjoyable, simply because the surface is so beautifully 

 undulating. It is just a little bit of Sussex in miniature, 

 toned down, refined, and embellished by the hand of art. 



Many of the flower beds were excellent in every respect — 

 soft, rich, and harmonious in colouring, even in outline, and well 

 balanced ; but on the whole there was a deficiency of growth 

 and dulness of colouring that detracted considerably from the 

 general effect, causing many of the beds to lack that brilliancy 

 and high finish for which those of last year were so remark. 



able. The Alternautheras had evidently suffered from the 

 trying effects of the ungenial weather, for they were wanting 

 both in the free growth and high colouring of former seasons. 

 It has been asserted that improper soil is the cause of this, 

 which is a mistake, as it is undoubtedly owing to the baneful 

 effects of an unkindly season, always especially trying to 

 tender plants when growing in such an exposed situation, and 

 even in the sheltered grounds at Battersea a great deficiency 

 of colour is this year perceptible in plants of this das?. 

 Of notable beds a deep purple Viola springing-up among 



1. Tagetes. 



2. Ivy Pelargoniam Duke of Edinburgh, 



Fig. 69. — Carpet bed at ihe cbystal palace. 



I 3. AJternanthera versicolor. I 



4. Pyrethrum Goldon Feather. 



1 5. Alternanthera ma^'aiiica. 1 



6. Echeveria BecuDda glauca. 



7. Sednni glaacum. 



white-edged Pelargoniums was very fine. The soft scarlet flowers 

 of the Geraniums were left on, and rightly so, for nothing could 

 be more charming than the soft yet sprightly effect of such a 

 combination and judicious intermingling of two plants so dis- 

 similar in form and habit of growth. In the chain beds upon 

 the terrace the alternating masses of various shades of pink, 

 white, scarlet, with mottled groups, were very fine, the pink 

 being especially telling — more so than usual, perhaps, from the 

 superabundance of greenish yellow Pyrethrum forming a oon- 

 tinnoQB edging to the whole of theee beds, and which I venture 



to suggest might advantageously be replaced by the soft grey 

 Gnaphalinm lanatum. I was glad to see my old favourites, 

 Purple King Verbena and Lady Plymouth Geranium, still in 

 full force and really quite as effective as ever. This clinging 

 to old favourites is a praiseworthy trait on the part of the 

 managers of public gardens. Space should, of course, be given 

 to all meritorious novelties, but it should be done cautiously. 



The Pelargoniums on either side of the central terrace steps 

 were in fine flower, and I came upon splendid large masses 

 of a bright rosy crimson variety snrronnded by a fine belt of 



