An Encyclopaedia of Horticulture. 



165 



Beddin^-ont — continued. 

 ditions the design is rarely retained more than two or 

 three mouths, eay, from July to September. The method 

 ifi, however, eo extensively adopted as to demand due notice 

 in this work. Bedding usually commences in May. An im- 

 portant consideration is the proper preparation of the soil for 

 the reception of the plants. It will be found to materially 



Fig. 214. Design i-or CARi'ia- Bedping. 



assist the growth if the soil is well dug over a fortnight 

 before the plants are put in. By this means, it will ac<iuiro 

 a certain amount of solidity, a point of great importance 

 with fibrous-rooted plants that are subject to injury from 

 the fine roots not taking a firm hold of the soil. Having 



Fig. 215. Design for CAnrrx Bedoing. 



decided upon the arrangement of the plants, proceed to 

 work with the planting. With round, oval, or, indeed, almost 

 any shaped bed, begin in the centre and work towards the 

 edge ; in borders, commence at the back and finish with 

 the front row. Plant with a trowel, disturbing tho balls as 



Bedding'-ont — continued. 

 of distress ; and then a good soaking should bo applied. 

 A careful hoeing of the surface after planting will be most 

 beneficial, leaving it smooth and tidy. A Dutch hoe will 

 bo the best to use. Injudicious use of manure and water 

 will only cause a foliaceous growth. The proper treatment 

 of the various Bedding Plants will be found under their 

 respective headings. For spring decoration, the Beds may 

 bo filled with Dutch bulbs, and spring-flowering annuals 

 and perennials ad inji7ntuin; or, after the plants are 

 removed in autumn, the Beds may be filled with evergreens 

 plunged in pots, such as Aucuba, Arbor vitge, Euonymus, 

 and various little Conifers, which have a bright appear- 

 ance through the winter, and can bo removed at any time. 

 With tho relative value, or advisability of adoption, of 

 either or any system of gardening, it scarcely comes within 

 the province of this work to deal. No hard-and-fast rules 

 can be laid down as regards *' style," and each individual 

 may follow his own taste and inclination. 



Carpet Bedding. This mode of gardening, although not 

 so generally employed as it was some few years ago, has 

 many admirers, and small plots, geometrically arranged 

 in multi-coloured beds on lawns, are frequently seen. In 

 our largo public parks, the system is largely adopted, and 

 evidently proves very gratifying to the multitudes who 

 visit these places ; but probaldy no system is more un- 

 natural or expensive, as such a large number of plants 

 are necessary in order to produce a desirable effect. The 

 illustrations (Figs. 214 and 215) represent two designs 

 for Carpet Beds. The numbers placed in the various com- 

 partments indicate the way the different colours should 

 be arranged, repeats being marked by tht> name cypher. A 

 very varied and large selection of plants can be used for 

 Carpet Bedding, some of which are quite hardy, such as 

 Hemiaria glabra and Veronica repens, two of the best 

 dwarf green plants; Semper vivum caUfornicum, Sediim 

 lydiiim, S. glaucunij Antennaria tomenfosa, &c. These may 

 be planted early in the season, with Golden Feather, and 

 are especially valuable, as they are generally employed to 

 a great extent. Other plants, not quite so hardy, are 

 Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica and Echeveria secttnda 

 glauca, both of which are extensively used ; while the 

 tenderest subjects are Alternantheras of various kinds, 

 Coleus Verschaffeltii and Mesembnjanthemum cordifolium 

 variegatum. These latter should not be planted till the 

 first or second week in June. As the plants are usually 

 small, and require to be planted thickly, the >vork is best 

 accomplished with the fingers, pressing the soil moderately 

 firm. First of all, work out the design, and plant the 

 leading lines ; afterwards fill in the '* panels." 



Fig. 216. Design roii liEnrnNG. 



little as possible, and wlien in the holes press the soil 

 moderately firm. After the Bed is finished, give a good 

 soaking of water to settle tho soil at the roots. Manure 

 for Flower-beds should always be perfectly rotten, such as 

 that from a spent hotV)ed. When the plants are thoroughly 

 established, water uv.i^t only be given if they show sifjns 



Suh-Tr»pical Bedding. Tliis term is applied to tho 

 arrangement of tropical plants in Beds or groups outside 

 for the summer months, and if discriminately adopted a 

 very attractive and unique display may be made, depending 

 greatly upon jtosition, and mainly upon the material at 

 command. If a sheltered and partially shady situation is 



