PEHENNIALS.] 



PRACTICE OF nOKTirULTUKE. 



[annuals. 



Laurel." Beaitlea these there are thoStrawberry 

 tree, the Irish Yew, the Cyprosa, LarustiiiuH, 

 Swedish and Irish Juiiii)L'r3; dilleroiit kinds of 

 Daphne ; the Andrachne, the Broad-leaved 

 Myrtle; the Acuba Japonica, the Ciatus and 

 lleliantheinum. Among the shrubs requiring 

 a peaty or, at least, a moist and eliadv situa- 

 tion, are the Khododondron, the Azelia, the 

 Andromedaa, and several others more recently 

 introduced. Among these, some of the hardy 

 heaths should find a place. Of deciduous 

 ilowering shrubs, there is not a finer object in 

 the vegetable kingdom than the Flowering 

 Lilac, which, from the deliciousness of its fra- 

 grance, and the pendent graces of its foliage, 

 should always find a place in a garden. Of 

 climbing shrubs, the Clematis and Honey- 

 suckle may be first mentioned ; but, indepen- 

 dent of them, it may be observed, that there 

 are numerous varieties of Fuchsia, Escallonia, 

 and Ceanothus, which, when planted against a 

 wall, or even in the open ground, and shaded, 

 in winter, with an occasional covering, convey 

 to us a better idea of the riches of Chilian 

 vegetation, than when they are restricted to 

 the shelves of the green-house. Many roses 

 are also well adapted for walls, such as the 

 varieties of Noisette, Boursault, and the dif- 

 ferent species from China. 



MODE OF PROPAGATION. 



"Nearly all shrubs may be propagated by 

 layers ; some by budding or grafting ; many 

 by separating the roots. In planting, shrubs 

 may be arranged either singly or in masses. 

 The latter method is the most efficient in the 

 production of effect ; but it should not be very 

 servilely adhered to, as it is apt to beget 

 monotony. Some kinds should never appear 

 in masses ; the white Portugal broom, for 

 instance, when so arranged, gives a limy tint 

 to a garden. Perhaps it is better that groups 

 should contain a predominance of one shrub, 

 set off" by a few others of a contrasting figure 

 or colour, than that they should be entirely 

 homogeneous." 



PERENNIAL PLANTS. 



The principal plants employed for floral 

 decoration are the common perennial ilowers, 

 whether strictly bulbous or herbaceous in 

 their character. In planting these, they 



should bo arranged according to their height, 



otherwise matiy of the most charming floweru 

 of lower pri)porti«)n8 will bo entirely loHt sight 

 of. It is essential, therefore, that the lowest 

 plants stand first, or next to the border or 

 margin of the parterre — to bo succeeded by tho 

 next highest, and so on backwards. Tho 

 fiower-pots should present a regular bank of 

 foliage and blossom, ascending gradually from 

 tho front: "but as this might convey an idea 

 of too great precision, a few starinrj plants, on 

 the same principle as those emphjyed in green- 

 houses, should be thinly scattered over tho 

 surface." Most herbaceous or perennial 

 plants are pro()agatod by parting the roots, or 

 by cuttings; but some, most conveniently, by 

 the sowing of seed. For tho names of those 

 showy flowers best adapted to the British 

 climate and garden, we must refer our readers 

 to tho catalogues of practical horticulturists 

 and nurserymen. 



BIENNIAL PLANTS. 

 Plants which have been designated biennials 

 are such as have an existence only of two 

 years, when they wither and decay. Many of 

 them are invested with great beauty ; and by 

 the easiness with which they are propagated, 

 and the rapidity of their growth, they furnish 

 a ready means of ornamentation to garden 

 borders. "Where a very desirable variety is 

 obtained, attention should be directed to the 

 striking of cuttings during the summer, as the 

 only way of continuing it. The end of spring 

 is the proper time for sowing biennials, which 

 is done in beds ; and, in the course of the 

 following autumn, they are generally trans- 

 planted into those places designed for them, 

 and where they are intended to stand. Tho 

 object of this is to enable them to get con- 

 firmed before the winter, that thev may 

 readily shoot into flower in the foUowic 

 summer. 



ANNUAL PLANTS. 



Annuals, besides being easy of culture, 

 possess great beauty and elegance of Ibrm. 

 All that is necessary to be done to have a crop, 

 is only to throw the seeds into the bed or 

 spot where they are wished to grow, and in. 

 due season they will make their appearance aa 

 plants, without care or trouble. They aro 



9b3 



