Subtropical Gardening. 



the " bedding system " in gardens. When we 

 come to examine the most charming examples of 

 our own indigenous or any other wild vegetation, 

 we find that their attraction mainly depends on 

 flower and fern, trailer, shrub, and tree, shelter- 

 ing, supporting, relieving and beautifying each 

 other, so that the whole array has an indefinite 

 tone, and the mind is satisfied with the refreshing 

 mystery of the arrangement. 



We may be pleased by the wide spread of purple 

 on a heath or mountain, but when we go near and 

 examine it in detail, we find that its most exquisite 

 aspect is seen in places where the long moss 

 cushions itself beside the ling, and the fronds of 

 the Polypody peer forth around little masses of 

 heather. Everywhere we see Nature judicious in 

 the arrangement of her highest effects, setting them 

 in clouds of verdant leafage, so that monotony is 

 rarely produced — a state of things which it is 

 highly desirable to attain as far as possible in the 

 garden. 



We cannot attempt to reproduce this literally — 

 nor would it be wise or convenient to do so — but 

 assuredly herein will be found the chief source 

 of true beauty and interest in our gardens as well 

 as in those of Nature ; and the more we keep this 



