CHAPTER I. 



SPRING BEDDING. 



This has been a feature of Belvoir Gardens for many 

 years ; it was carried out here by the late Mr. W. Ingram 

 when only very few gardeners in the kingdom attempted any- 

 thing of the kind ; the late Mr. Fleming of Cliveden was 

 another gardener who devoted much thought to the system, 

 he raised several varieties of flowers which were indispensable 

 at the time, one of which Viola Cliveden Purple is the 

 best of its colour even now, and is grown here largely at the 

 present time. 



Previously, flower beds were for the most part bare of 

 plants in the winter time, or were in some instances covered 

 with broken bricks, broken coals, and small white stones. 

 Spring bedding is a great improvement on this system as the 

 beds are covered with plants again as soon as the summer 

 occupants are removed, and thus present a green appearance 

 all the winter, with the addition of a number of flowers on 

 many of the plants, whenever the weather is not frosty. 



Some of the plants employed are at their maximum of 

 beauty in mild winters during January and February, but the 

 fullest display is obtained here during the last two weeks of 

 April and the first two weeks of May. There are many 



