COLOR AND FORM IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



the great meaningless mass of color that 

 we have to complain, and the cutting up 

 of our lawns into stars, diamonds, and 

 half moons, circles and other figures, 

 and crowding them with a motley mass 

 of inharmonious colors. 



We, who have limited space, must 

 content ourselves with fewer varieties, 

 choosing only the prettiest colors, and 

 placing them with proper care where 

 each will look its best, and give the best 

 results and eflfects. To do this one 

 must select with an idea of combination 

 as well as individual beauty. The 

 Mosaic, or carpet bedding, which gives 

 one the impression that a fSw Turkish 

 rugs have been left lying out on the 

 lawn, used to seem a necessary adjunct 

 of a wealthy man's lawn, but is, every 

 year, being relegated further to the 

 background. Groups of shrubbery, 

 following the lines of nature as nearly 

 as possible, interspersed with, in un- 

 expected nooks, masses of color in the 

 way of either perennials or solid beds of 

 one, or not more than two, colors in 

 annuals, always first choosing appro- 

 priate surroundings and the most effec- 

 tive background for each color. For 

 clumps of color in perennials, or that 

 can be used as such, I might here men- 

 tion the double flowering helianthus 

 ( or sunflower ), dahlia, delphinium, 

 canna, almost the entire family of 

 lilies, phlo.xes, campanulas, etc. In 



annuals ; verbenas, astors (an endless 

 family of beautiful color and forms), 

 zinnias, stocks, petunias, antirrhinums. 

 For a border at the foot of a hedge : 

 sweet allyssum, blue and white lobelia, 

 or pansies. Pansies in a mass row of 

 about two feet wide, are very effective 

 lined with indistinct colors and mark- 

 ings. 



Supposing we have a series of beds 

 alongside one of the principal walks to 

 fill, and instead of following the orthodox 

 plan of crowding them with bedders of 

 the ordinary type, we arrange every 

 second or third with plants remarkable 

 for the beauty of their leafage, and the 

 others with flowering plants held in the 

 highest favor, the change would be com- 

 plete and for the better. The masses 

 of color would be broken up, a pleasing 

 variety afforded, and an efTec"; not want- 

 ing in richness produced, and each year 

 this could be changed or varied. 



Indeed, the arrangements that suggest 

 themselves appear to be well-nigh in- 

 numerablf, and those who determine to 

 renounce their allegiance to the present 

 outofdate system may be assured that 

 their progression will be well repaid, not 

 only by the pleasure they themselves 

 will experience, but by the appreciation 

 they will receive from people of the 

 highest taste. 



M. B. Hodge, 



Orillia. 



Mulch the Rose Beds. — A mulch 

 on rose beds is quite beneficial dur- 

 ing hot weather, not only preventing the 

 too rapid evaporation of moisture from 

 the soil, but also keeping the roots cool. 

 The most convenient material for this 

 purpose is to be found in clippings from 

 the lawn, this being a covering that 

 has frequently proved most satisfactory. 



When it is possible to do so, the rose 

 beds should be freely watered during 

 dry weather, for by this means quite a 

 sprinkling of flowers may be had from 

 the June roses (hybrid perpetuals) later 

 in the season, besides greatly improving 

 both quality and quantity of flowers on 

 the so-called ever-blooming sorts. 



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