THE FLOWER GARDEN, 97 



will not require changing ; for thoiigli we admit there is a 

 charm in change, it is very difficult to manage it without 

 losing bloom for a considerable time, or occupying many 

 hundreds, if not thousands of pots to bring on things that 

 may be got to bloom for such changes. 



The Pot-growing System, — It is possible to manage thus 

 for a succession of bloom with abundance of trouble and means. 

 See how many pots will fill all the beds at six inches apart, 

 and that the earliest advantage may be taken of the opening 

 spring, let so many pots be used for spring bulbs, three 

 colours of crocuses, yellow, blue, and white ; the same of 

 hyaciuths, confining the latter to the dwarf kinds ; then there 

 are snowdrops, Scilla sibirica, and the dwarf daffodil ; these 

 latter are even before the crocuses. The pots of everything 

 should be one size, what is called large sixty, or four inches 

 at top but much smaller at bottom. To folloAV these, which 

 will last from February till May, the verbenas in every 

 variety may be brought forward ; but there is a choice of fifty 

 things that may be in bloom in May. The beauty of this pot 

 system is, that all the pots being of one size, they have merely 

 to be lifted out when done blooming, and those in flower 

 dropped into the same holes. An hour, with proper assistance, 

 would do thousands of pots, and the whole face would be 

 changed before breakfast any morning, and the old pots 

 wheeled away. Generally speaking, flower gardens are not 

 made up till May, and then there is abundant choice. 



In very small places, always in sight, the pot supply is 

 good ; and it is carried out with great advantage in villa 

 gardens, where everybody who passes can see the place. 



There is but little taate exhibited in bedding out plants 

 generally. Those subjects which belong only to the backs of 

 wide borders are frequently thrust into pretty small clumps, 

 the form of which is destroyed before the plants are half 

 grown. Tall fuchsias, salvias, and other similar tall plants 

 are totally unfitted for any given figure ; they are only fit to 

 be placed in the background. If they are to grace a clump, 

 it should be on a large scale, and without any particular 

 outline or figure. 



The prettiest way of showing off anything ennobling or 

 tall, is in clumps with basket or rustic borders, that they may 

 appear hke baskets set on the lawn. Eoses look better so 

 than any other way; and if the basket border be well 



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