72 VILLA GAKDENING part i 



might be taken away in one's waistcoat pocket were worth, accord- 

 ing to the nurserymen's price lists, several guineas each. But a 

 better, healthier time has come, thanks in a great degree to the 

 exertions of one gentleman (I\Ir. Wm. Robinson), who at first al- 

 most single-handed commenced an energetic attack upon the ex- 

 travagant folly of the times, so far, at least, as it referred to and 

 had an influence upon gardening. But that folly is nearly dead, 

 and is not likely to be resuscitated, so I need not waste w'ords 

 over it. But, as I have already said, a bed, or even a group of 

 beds, of bright-flowered exotics may often be used with advantage 

 to give warmth in our damp climate in association with other 

 quieter tints. This thing is pretty well understood even in the 

 best managed gardens. It would be diflicult to find a good garden 

 where the rein was given so freely as was formerly tlie case to 

 lavish displays of colour. In hundreds of country gardens bright 

 green turf now occupies the site of the ribbon borders and poly- 

 chrome patterns of the past, and inquiries are everywhere heard 

 about good hardy plants and shrubs. This is on all hands de- 

 serving of encouragement, as denoting a healthier state of public 

 taste and feeling, and this, too, must be my excuse, if any be 

 needed, for the prominence I liave given, and shall continue to 

 give, to hardy subjects in these pages. 



There is no reason wliy beds devoted to the bedding system, 

 pure and simple, should not always be full of flowers. If the 

 design, from its size, entails too much labour to keep up a succes- 

 sion of flowering plants, it is clear that the design is too large, 

 and should be reduced. It will be far more satisfactory, if we are 

 to have a group of beds devoted to bedding out, that its size should 

 be well within our means. Half a dozen beds well filled will afford 

 more pleasure than a dozen badly done. Intricacy of design is in 

 every way a mistake, as simple graceful forms are the most pleas- 

 ing, and anytliing which is placed in a prominent position sliould 

 be calculated to give pleasure under all conditions and circumstances. 

 One never tires of a circle or an oval, and such simple figures are 

 easily planted, and will fit in appropriately everywhere. A group 

 of beds, whether a true geometrical pattern or simply a combined 

 group of ovals and circles, if they occupy a prominent position, 

 should in spring overflow with bulbs, Pansies, Daisies, Wallflowers, 

 and autumn-sown annuals. There is nothing easier than to obtain 

 a good spring display, as the materials are abundant, and, being 

 hardy, are not costly. After the spring flowers are cleared oft" in 

 May, the beds should be prepared for the exotics, and this prepara- 

 tion is an important matter. I know of several instances of friends 

 whose summer beds failed because they had for the moment for- 



