110 



THE VILLA GARDENER. 



46 



exposed to the south, the soil warm and dry, and the chrysanthemums brought 

 forward in pots, so as to commence flowering in August. In situations not 

 adapted for chrysanthemums, Lavater« arborea, Zupinus mutabilis, ffino- 

 thera biennis, Persicaria orientahs, and various other tall-growing flowering 

 plants might be substituted. The object of this mode of planting is novelty; 

 that is, to produce a kind of display which is at present seldom, if ever, to be 

 met with in front gardens. For the same reason, standard roses might be 

 substituted for tall-growing herbaceous plants ; or standard rhododendrons, 

 mixed with standard azaleas, might be used; or, where there was a large pit 

 in the reserve garden, fuchsias, brugmansias, or pelargoniums might be pre- 

 served in it through the winter, for filling the beds during summer; or a 

 green-house or hardy twiner or climber might be planted in each bed every 

 spring. Even the scarlet-runner and the common nasturtium, when neatly 

 trained to stakes, will form most ornamental plants; continuing to flower for 

 a whole season, while their fruit, also, is of use. Lophospermums, mauran- 

 dyas, eccremocarpus. Convolvulus major, &c., are most ornamental climbers 

 or twiners, and very suitable for the purpose in view. 



] 68. The groundwork of the side gardens is also turf, varied by circular 

 beds of greater diameter than those of the front garden, and symmetrically 

 disposed. These beds consist of a centre bed, 6 ft. in diameter ; and six 

 smaller beds, each 4 ft. in diameter. In each of the latter, one kind of annual 

 or low-growing perennial may be planted, so as to cover the entire surface of 

 the bed ; and in the centre bed there may either be a collection of herbaceous 

 plants of low growth, and with an eqiial number of the common colours, for 

 flowering in every floral month, or China roses may be substituted : or, to 

 give a greater latitude to choice, and to include some of the cheaper modes 

 with others that ai*e more expensive, one or other of the following methods of 

 planting may be adopted : 



1. Sow each of the six small beds with one of the Californian annuals 

 mentioned in the list at the end, and the centre bed with mignonette ; with 

 Zauschneria Californica, or some other very showy plant, in the centre. 



2. riant the beds with greenhouse plants every spring, one kind in a bed ; 

 the kinds to be raised in the reserve garden, or procured from a commercial 

 gardener. 



