THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 295 
TO DYE GRASSES. 
The dyes for grasses, etc., are made in the same way as for the 
mosses and flowers, and it is not therefore necessary to give special 
directions for their preparation, 
PLANTING THE SPRING BEDDERS. 
BY J. CALVERT CLARKE, 
Head Gardener, Cothelstone House, Taunton, 
“AHEREVER it is possible, the planting of the spring bed- 
t4 ders should be completed by the last week of October, 
and if they can be planted in the early part of the 
month it will be all the better for them. They will have 
a better chance of obtaining a fine hold of the ground, 
and become well established before winter, than they would if 
planted later. 
The autumn affords a good opportunity for stirring up the beds 
thoroughly. I have the soil stirred every year to a depth of not 
less than two feet. My soil is not good the whole depth of two 
feet, so I have two or three barrows brought to the side of the bed, 
and fill them with the top soil from one portion of the bed. By 
doing this I can work up the bottom soil to the required depth 
without bringing it to the surface. The whole bed is trenched over in 
the ordinary way, and the good soil is kept on the surface. That 
placed in the barrows comes in to put on the top of the last trench. 
This deep stirring of the soil in the beds, I find, contributes largely 
to my success with spring flowers. The soil being loosened below, 
it affords a free passage for the water from winter rains, aud leaves 
the roots of the plants comparatively dry, or at all events in a very 
different state to that in which they would be if the water remained 
about them. It is important not to tread upon the soil at planting 
time more than is necessary. In planting large beds have some thin 
boards three or four feet long and about a foot wide, for the man to 
stand upon without treading upon the soil. Rather than plant in 
wet weather, it will be best to wait a few days, for if the soil is 
converted into a paste when the plants are put in, they will not 
thrive satisfactorily. 
Having practised spring bedding now for many years, it will not 
be out of place here for me to say I have found that in planting the 
beds complicated designs are seldom satisfactory. Two or three 
colours only should be put in each bed, unless it be an unusually 
large size. The spring flowers are not so rich in colour as the 
summer bedders, therefore large masses are necessary to produce a 
good effect. It must not be inferred from this that Iam disparaging 
those charming harbingers of spring. On the contrary, I appreciate 
them to the fullest possible extent; but as I am writing with a 
view of giving out useful information, my ouly wish is to point the 
best way of arranging them so as to secure a pleasing combination. 
I think also that I may usefully occupy a little space in giving a 
October, 
