ON THE FORM AND ARRANGEMENT OF FLOWER-BEDS. 133 



with those that bloom earlier, towards the edge ; and if the bed be 

 large, the effect is greatly improved by repeating the same colour 

 at different intervals. 



For different kinds of Roses, I think an oval bed is the best 

 form, with a tree Rose in the centre ; and the surface of the ground 

 may either be sown all over with Mignionette, or covered by the 

 Musk Plant (Mimulus moschatus) , which spreads so rapidly by 

 its running roots, that it requires little care or culture. A very 

 pretty border for this bed may be formed by bending shoots of 

 Willow into a sort of basket-work round the edge, and training 

 dwarf Woodbines to them. The small-leaved English Ivy, trained 

 to a similar edging, and kept clipped, looks very well. 



There js a bed in the private garden of the Duke of Marlbo- 

 rough, at Blenheim, which has a beautiful effect. It is a large 

 circular one, filled with damask Roses, the edge planted with young- 

 Oaks trained to a Willow bordering ; the beautiful tint of the ten- 

 der shoots of the youug Oaks forming a lovely wreath around the 

 mass of deep crimson flowers. 



Geraniums appear to advantage in an oval bed, raised above the 

 ground, and edged with slips of wood with the bark on, nailed 

 together so as to appear like a large basket ; a long rod is bent across 

 to represent the handle, and entwined with the Eccremocarpus 

 scaber and Maurandia liarclayana. At Lady Acland's, in So- 

 mersetshire, are many beautiful specimens of this kind of floral 

 architecture. 



Pansies form a very gay edging for a circular or oval bed : the 

 various sorts contrasted in colour, and placed sufficiently close to 

 firm one. brilliant and unbroken line. They also look well in 

 small beds, with bulbous roots intermixed, as Hyacinths and Tigri- 

 dias ; and thus present a gay appearance from April to November. 

 I saw in Derbyshire a large heart-shaped bed, raised a good deal 

 towards the centre, filled with Pansies alone; and the form of the 

 bed agreed well with the name of the plant. 



In a garden in my neighbourhood is a straight broad walk, bor- 

 dered on each side I'm- about 30 yards with Gentianellas, planted 



quite cloM together; and When the sun shines upon the brilliant 



blur lowers, they present a splendid appearance. The different 



< laikias intermingled also form a pretty edging for a lomj bed. 

 4prQ 17//,, 1836. Mkta. 



