52 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



direct contrast to these was a hill, a miniature Alp, 

 planted from base to nearly the summit with alpine 

 plants of the rarest kinds, among which were largely in- 

 terspersed Sedums, Sempervivums, and other succulents, 

 in rarity and variety sufficient to give joy to a botanist's 

 heart. On the peaks and in the crevices of this little 

 hill, was planted closely one of the most common native 

 plants of Britain, Antennaria dioica, one of the Ever- 

 lastings, having white foliage, and this plant easily con- 

 veyed the impression of snow on the hill-tops and in its 

 gullies. Altogether, on this little mound of half an acre, 

 were planted probably three hundred distinct species. 



Then from this mound of botanical interest, the first 

 turn brought us to a very different style of planting the 

 massing or ribbon style, or what would be more appro- 

 priately (as it is done here) called the "carpet style," 

 for it often resembles just such patterns as would make a 

 beautiful carpet. This style is meeting now with much 

 opposition from Mr. Kobinson, editor of the " Garden," 

 and many others ; but whatever may be objectionable to 

 those whose conceptions of gardening are beyond this 

 rectangular system, there is no denying the pleasure that 

 it gives to the masses as was apparent by the crowds 

 admiring those flower beds at Battersea Park, many 

 persons being engaged in sketching the plans and taking 

 notes of the varieties used to produce the effect. This 

 Park of Battersea contains only two hundred acres. Its 

 natural beauties are far inferior to either our Central, of 

 New York, or Prospect Park, of Brooklyn ; but its judi- 

 cious system of planting, which gives novelty and fresh- 

 ness at every turn, conveys to the visitor a lasting 

 impression of pleasure that the plain, monotonous 

 shrubbery and lawn of our New York parks can never 

 give. The public parks in Britain or Ireland are the 

 best schools of taste in floriculture the people have to 

 model from ; and so it should be with us, but with the 



