AND THEIR SETTINGS. 249 



same remark will apply to the beds on walks 8 and n. Walks 7 

 and 10 have larger beds suitable for filling with plants of different 

 colors and heights. The former is intended to be bordered, 

 between the beds, with square boxes filled with plants from the 

 conservatory, and back of them, in the circles, clipped dwarf ever- 

 greens ; the latter (10) is to have the small circles next the walk 

 occupied by a succession of pot-plants in bloom, set in larger pots 

 buried in the grass to receive them, so that the former can be 

 taken up and put one side when the grass is to be cut. 



Flower-beds which are not more than two feet in width, and on 

 the borders of walks, should have no plants in them more than 

 eighteen inches high, including the height of the flower-stalks, and 

 plants from six to fifteen inches in height have the best effect. In 

 wider beds, by placing the low growing sorts in front, or on the 

 outside edges of the beds, the higher show to good advantage 

 behind them. 



In sowing flower-seeds, which are intended to cover a bed, 

 put them in drills across the bed so that a hoe may be used be- 

 tween the plants when they appear. 



To make a fine display throughout the season, in beds for low 

 flowers, it is necessary to have at least two sets or crops of plants ; 

 one from bulbs, such as snow-drops, crocuses, jonquils, hyacinths, 

 and tulips, all of which may be planted in October, to bloom the 

 following spring; while the bedding-plants for the later bloom, 

 such as verbenas, portulaccas, phlox drummondii, etc., etc., are 

 being started. The bulbs of the former should remain in the 

 ground till June and July to ripen, but the summer blooming plants 

 can be planted between the bulbs, so that the latter can be re- 

 moved without disarranging the former. Persons having good hot- 

 bed frames, or a green-house to draw from, may make more 

 brilliant beds by more frequent changes, but two crops, if well 

 managed, will be quite satisfactory. 



Few persons are aware of the grand displays that may be made 

 in a single season by the use of those annuals, perennials, and 

 bedding-plants which grow quickly to great size. Proprietors com- 

 mencing with bare grounds can make them very effective tempo- 

 rary substitutes for shrubbery. Many species, especially those 



