Hints on Flower Gardens 249 



of embroidery, during the whole summer and autumn. In 

 a botanical garden, or the collection of a curious amateur, 

 one expects to see variety of species, plants of all known 

 forms, at the expense of everything else. But in a flower- 

 garden, properly so called, the whole object of which is to 

 afford a continual display of beautiful colors and delicious 

 odors, we conceive that everything should 'be rejected (or 

 only most sparingly introduced), which does not combine 

 almost perpetual blooming, with neat and agreeable habit of 

 growth. 



The passion for novelty and variety among the lovers of 

 flowers, is as great as in any other enthusiasts. But as 

 some of the greatest of the old painters are said to owe the 

 success of their masterpieces to the few colors they em- 

 ployed, so we are confident the most beautiful flower gardens 

 are those where but few species are introduced, and those 

 only such as possess the important qualities we have 

 alluded to. 



Thus among flowering shrubs, taking for illustration the 

 tribe of Roses, we would reject, in our choice flower garden, 

 nearly all the old class of roses, which are in bloom for a 

 few days and but once a year, and exhibit during the rest 

 of the season, for the most part, meagre stems and dingy 

 foliage. We would supply their place by Bourbons, Per- 

 petuals, Bengals, etc., roses which offer an abundance of 

 blossoms and fine fresh foliage during the whole growing 

 season. Among annuals, we would reject everything short- 

 lived, and introduce only those like the portulaccas, ver- 

 benas, petunias, mignonette, Phlox drummondii, and the 

 like, which are always in bloom, and fresh and pretty in 

 habit.* 



After this we would add to the effect of our selection of 

 perpetual blooming plants, by abandoning altogether the 



" Some of the most beautiful of the perpetual blooming plants for the 

 flower-garden, are the salvias, bouvardias, scarlet geraniums, etc., properly 

 green-house plants, and requiring protection in a pit or warm cellar in 

 winter. Bedded out in May, they form rich flowering masses till the frosts 

 of autumn. A. J. D. 



