THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 309 
is best to plant each variety of shrub in clumps of ten or twelve, or 
more, according to the space to be filled. It appears to me that I 
shall be better understood in what I have further to say on this 
subject, if I describe the plan of filling in the beds which I used to 
practise in the gardens under my charge before we commenced to 
fill them entirely with spring-flowering plants. 
The flower garden at that time consisted of a neat design, made 
up chiefly of round and oblong beds, each bed holding from two to 
four dozen small shrubs, leaving a space round each for an edging of 
bulbs or some dwarf hardy plant. The height of the shrubs never 
exceeded eighteen inches, many of them less, and they were planted 
thick enough to hide the soil in the bed. In fact, close enough 
to touch each other, but not so thick as to have the appearance of 
being overcrowded. With proper care and judgment they can be 
made to appear as if they were intended to remain permanently. 
To describe my own way of filling the beds, I will first say my 
favourite arrangement was a group of Cedrus deodara, encircled with 
an edging of Lrish Ivy a foot wide, and just inside the ivy a few 
clumps of Yellow. Crocuses. The graceful habit of the cedar and its 
peculiar greyish colour always rendered it very pleasing and distinct 
from : others. The Golden Variegated Holly, established in pots, 
makes a rich and cheerful bed ; but we can afford to do without this 
holly if it is desirable to do so, and let the Golden-striped Euonymus 
take its place. A bed of this, with a marginal band of Purple 
Crocuses, is most effective, or the crocuses may be dispensed with. 
The well-known Aucuba Japonica makes another capital winter bed, 
either by itself or with an edging of crocuses or early tulips; and so 
does Retinospora pisifera, which puts on a beautiful golden hue in 
the early spring months. The Znglish Yew, edged with a broad band 
of Euonymus radicans variegata, makes a distinct bed. The Portugal 
Laurel, with an edging of Huonymus latifolius variegatus, is another 
effective arrangement. Rhododendron ponticum is also a suitable 
subject, and Mahonia aquifolium, Tree Box, Pernettya mucronata, 
and Phillyrea buifolia are also useful. The three last-mentioned 
subjects with the Variegated Periwinkle neatly pegged round the 
beds ina band from eight to ten inches wide, varying the arrangement 
with edgings of Crocuses, Tulips, ete. 
The Variegated Kale and Dell’s Crimson Bect are also adapted 
for the purpose; the kale is quite hardy, and the beet will stand all 
through a moderate winter if the position is sheltered and the soil 
well drained. I have an objection to the use of the variegated kale 
myself, because, if we have genial weather early in March, it begins to 
run to seed, and then its beauty is gone, and this is just the time 
we want it at its best, as the weather gets favourable for out-door 
exercise, ‘This is the time, too, in which people begin to enjoy and 
value their gardens, so that, if there has been no previous arrange- 
ment to make it cheerful, it is too late then to make it so until the 
season is more advanced, to enable more tender subjects to be brought 
into use. 
It seems necessary to say in connection with the keeping of 
these dwarf shrubs in good condition for several years, that they 
December, 
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