112 THE VILLA GARDENER. 



have had no love for gardening or plants, so cajitivated by this operation, as 

 to practise it for the sake of the excitement it produces ; and such persons 

 have idtimately become enthusiastic florists. When successional culture, 

 whether by pots or the use of the transplanting instniment, is pursued, the 

 beauty and gaiety which may be displayed in even a very small garden is 

 astonishing ; and not less so the amusement and exercise that are by this means 

 created for the occupier. The exercise, indeed, may be increased or dimini- 

 shed, according as the plants chosen are those which remain a long time, or 

 only a short time, in flower. Some plants of great beauty, such as the scarlet 

 verbena, continue blooming three or four months ; but others, also of very 

 great beauty, such as the cyclamens, produce all their flowers in the course of 

 a fortnight or three weeks. The choice of flowers for regidar flower gardens 

 is almost endless, but selections may easily be made from the lists in the last 

 book of this work, 



170. Planting with fihrous-rooted perennials of the loivest growth. — The 

 whole of the plot is dug ; and the borders surrounding it, and the beds, are 

 edged with thrift, or sea pink (Armeria vulgaris), and the walks gravelled. 

 If paved, the flagstones should be laid hollow, and supported on piers, in 

 order that the space beneath may serve as a drain for absorbing the water 

 which falls on the beds, and also on the walks. The surface of the soil of the 

 beds we may suppose to be 2 in. below the surface of the walk, and quite flat. 



171. Planting with fibrous-rooted perennials and bulbs alternately. — The 

 advantage of introducing bulbs in flower-gardens is, that their flowers make 

 a greater show than those of fibrous-rooted plants generally do in spring; and 

 as, in small suburban residences, it seems more desirable that the gardens 

 should look well in spring than in summer (because at the latter season many 

 families go out of town for a few months), the use of bulbs appears very 

 desirable. The manner of introducing them may either be in beds by them- 

 selves, to be succeeded by fibrous-rooted plants when they go out of flower; 

 or intermixed with fibrous-rooted perennials, by using only half the number 

 of the latter, and those of larger growth ; and by placing the bulbs and the 

 perennials alternately. As the bulbs come all into flower in March, April, or 

 May, they will have faded before the perennials have come to their full 

 growth ; and hence, notwithstanding the increased size of the perennials, the 

 bed will not appear crowded. 



The advantage of this mode of planting is, that a much greater show will 

 be made in the months of March, April, and May ; because, as already men- 

 tioned, the flowers of bulbous-rooted plants are much larger in proportion to ' 

 the foliage than those of fibrous-rooted plants. The flowers also are much 

 more conspicuous ; because, in general, they expand before the leaves have 

 attained their full size. On the whole, however, the culture of bulbs in 

 mixture with perennials is inconvenient ; except when florists' bulbs only are 

 employed, that come into flower and fade all about the same time, and the 

 bulbs of which may be taken up annually in June or July, and replanted in 

 November or December. This admits of taking up the perennials every year, 

 or every other year, stirring, refreshing, or renewing the soil, and pruning or 

 otherwise reducing the plants, and then replanting them. On the other hand, 

 if what may be called botanical bulbs were introduced, as these are best 

 allowed to remain in the soil for several years, the perennials cannot be so 

 conveniently taken up, reduced, and replanted, when they get too large. 



