96 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



at present — the Floral Committee at South Kensington. It is a good court, and 

 its work, all things considered, is well done. Considering how numerous are the 

 so-called " floricultural " societies, it is really astonishing how little is attempted 

 for the real advance of floriculture. — Gardener's Magazine. 



TO CORRIESPONDENTS. 



Planting Flower Bebs. — S. M. — The four corner beds may be planted in ac- 

 cordance with your wishes, but to produce a good effect the dark-leaved plants must 

 be put in the centre of the two beds, and the golden-leaved bedders round the outside, 

 as the former will grow much too tall for the latter. Coleiis Verschaffelti, Ama- 

 ranthus melandiolicits ruber, Iresine Lindeni, and Perilla fianJiineusis are all 

 free growing dark-leaved bedders. The Coleus will require as much warmth during 

 the winter as the Alternantheras, but as they are of larger growth they may be 

 planted farther apart. The Aniaranthus is readily raised from seed sown iu the spring, 

 and as it is exceedingly bright and effective it may be employed with considerable 

 advantage, provided the situation is not bleak, nor the soil cold and heavy. The 

 Iresine is rich in colour and hai-dier in constitution than either of the four plants 

 Mentioned, the Perilla alone excepted ; but it is rather tall in growth, and unless 

 it is planted in a slanting direction, and the leading shoots pegged down, there 

 is some difficulty in keeping it down to a height less than twelve inches. It will 

 stand severe pinching, but it is so long-jointed that there is some difficulty in 

 keeping them down sufficiently. The most satisfactory results are obtained by 

 pegging the principal shoots down, and then pinching the side shoots as may be 

 required. The Perilla may be raised in quantities very readily, and pinched to 

 keep it down to the required height. It is coarse in appearance, as compared with 

 the other three things. Either golden-leaved Geraniums or Golden Feather will do 

 for the formation of the outer band, and you might edge one of tlie beds with 

 Geraniums and the other with the Golden Feather. This would give a greater 

 variety, and at the same time maintain a balance of colour. You mav also fill 

 one of the beds with Coleus and the other with Amaranthus ; or you may, in fact, 

 employ any two of the four plants enumerated. The outer band should be from 

 six to nine inches in width. The other two beds will have the most efft'Ctive 

 appearance if they have a thin line of Cerastium tomcntosum nest the grass, then 

 a single row of Blue Lobelias, and the centre filled with Centaurea ragusina. The 

 two best Lobelias for the purpose are Blue Stone and Lustrous, and they are here 

 placed in their order of merit. The centre of both beds may be filled with a good 

 varicated Geranium if there is any difficulty in procuring a sufficient stock of 

 Centaureas. The best variety for the purpose is Miss Kingshury, but Floicer of 

 Sprinq, Princess Alexandra, or Queen of Queens would also be suitable. The 

 flowers should bo removed. JEcIieveria secunda glauca may be substituted for the 

 Cerastium. The finest effect would certainly be produced by panel bedding, but 

 as you are unable to provide a stock of suitable plants it is useless to refer to it. 

 The following arrangement would most probably be suitable for the borders : — 

 Cernstinci tomentosum, first row ; Lobelia speciosa or Lobelia Blue Stone, second 

 row • Variegated Geranium (either of the varieties mentioned above), third row ; 

 Geranium Mrs. Upton, G. Mihberd's Feast of Roses, or any other first-class pink 

 flowered varieties, fourth row ; Geranium Ponfire, O. David Garrick, G. Duke of 

 Devonskire, or other good scarlet-flowered variety of rather robust habit, for the 

 fifth or back row. In planting ribbon borders much, however, depends upon their 

 length, position, and surroundings. 



Orange Trees. — Mora. — Orange trees do not require any pruning at all so 

 lono- as they remain in good health, excepting it be the shortening back of a branch 

 growing more vigorously than the others, and likely to spoil the contour of the 

 tree. But if the tree is unhealthy and nearly leafless, it may be pruned to advan- 

 tage, and it should be done at once. If repotting is necessary, it should be done 

 in the spring, and in the case of those pruned when the young growth is an inch or 

 so in length'. The seeds of the hardy shrubs mentioned in your letter may be sowa 

 some time during the month of March. 



