ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 447 



ous collectors, not only more extensive, but continu- 

 ous ; and the delicate forms of ferns were added to the 

 flowering plants exhibited. Though hitherto a com- 

 paratively small number have been introduced to our 

 gardens, there are now indications of a more general 

 attempt at the cultivation of native plants. 



Allusion has been made to the bedding system, and 

 to carpet and ribbon gardening, as mentioned in the 

 reports of the Garden Committee. These styles of gar- 

 dening were introduced at about the commencement of 

 the period embraced in this chapter. Not far from the 

 same time we became acquainted with the iresine, the 

 coleus, and the alternanthera, without which the system 

 could never have been carried to the extent which 

 it has attained. Along with these and older plants, 

 which were propagated in immense numbers for this 

 purpose, came the infinite variety of pelargoniums, their 

 production being stimulated by the bedding system, in 

 which ribbon and carpet gardening produced effects 

 more brilliant than had previously been seen in our 

 gardens. Sub-tropical gardening, which is also men- 

 tioned in the reports of the Garden Committee, was in- 

 troduced somewhat later than carpet and ribbon garden- 

 ing, and with its groups of cannas, caladiums, dracaenas, 

 tritomas, wigandias, etc., gave a new aspect to our gar- 

 dens, while isolated specimens of palms, bananas, tree 

 ferns, and similar exotic plants, produced on our lawns 

 an air of refinement and distinction previously unknown. 

 These, and the multitude of ornamental foliaged plants, 

 both hardy and tender, which now enrich our gardens, 

 form the most characteristic feature of the present era 

 in horticulture. 



In the fruit department we noticed, that, before the 



