BEDDING PLAKTS. 95 



of one flower, or else with roots of one flower completely 

 to cover the centre, and with bands of another flower, 

 handsome either in bloom or in foliage, to surround it. 

 When all the beds can be made gay with bloom and 

 healthy foliage at the same time, it is very effective, 

 though stiff and unlike the gaiety that nature shows us. 

 With it, to get the beds all in prime blooming condition 

 at one time, and to keep them so, is an imperative 

 necessity for the beauty of the garden. Constant atten- 

 tion must therefore be bestowed on it : such attention 

 as ladies, with leisure at command, can so well give. 

 In addition to not allowing a weed with a dozen leaves 

 to hold its unwelcome place, all the flowers as they 

 wither should be cut off; to keep the plants long in 

 bloom, all shoots inclined to get too rampant in growth 

 should be stopped, those too backward in growth 

 encouraged with a little liquid manure, and nothing be 

 allowed to run a hair's breadth out of order. In 

 planting this kind of flower garden it should be made a 

 study to select flowers which will be in beauty at the 

 same time, and, as far as can be managed, such as will 

 remain in beauty for about equal duration. 



The ribbon borders are on the same principle of 

 massing the colours, the flowers being arranged in close 

 bushy rows, each row contrasting with its neighbours in 

 colour of flower and foliage. 



In the plans given an effort is made to shape the beds 

 so as to avoid very sharp angles, narrow strips, and all 

 shapes which it would be very difficult to maintain, and 

 in which it would be impossible to keep the flowers 

 from straying over the edge. 



Among the florists' flowers already spoken of are 

 many capital bedding plants. The common yellow 

 Calceolaria gives a capital mass of bright yellow. Take 

 cuttings in autumn, keep them in-doors through the 

 winter, harden them gradually, and plant them out in 

 May, in a rich light soil. Fuchsias of free growth make 

 recherche beds, with the tallest plants in the centre, 

 descending gradually to quite low plants round the 

 edo'e of the bed. 



