184 



Notes and GleaninsTs. 



Fig. 2 illustrates a simple mode of furnishing the centre of a ribbon. It 

 breaks up the monotony of straight lines by the easy flow of curved ones. The 

 eflect of both is heightened by the contrast, just as the harmony of the sweetest 

 instrumental music is enriched and mellowed into a softer, sweeter melody by 

 the addition of the human voice, or the distant murmur of falling waters. The 

 centre figures may be of any form in this style, so long as the lines are curved. 

 Some prefer circles to elHpses, and others more intricate figures. Others cut 

 the centre into diamonds, squares, or parallelograms. In the latter the beauty 

 of the centre is lost, and the contrast between the centre and straight lines 

 bounding the sides is not so striking. Diamonds, however, often look well. 

 But, upon the whole, few arrangements of this kind are more efiective than Fig. 2. 

 The curves are easy and full of grace, and the spaces large enough to fill the eye 

 satisfactorily with the different colors. The following refer to Fig. 2 : — 



Fig. 2. 



Pelargonium Spread Eagle. 

 Pelargonium Christine. 

 Pelargonium Stella. 

 Calceolaria amplexicaulis. 



1. Gravel walk. 6. 



2. Alternanthera amcena. 7. 



3. Lobelia speciosa. 8. 



4. Cerastium tomentosum. 9. 



5. Verbena Purple King. 



The wa\'ing lines may be formed of Coleus Verschaffeltii and Golden Feather 

 crossing each other, scarlet and white pelargonium, Iresine Lindenii and Lady 

 Cullum pelargonium, Centaurea and Purple King verbena, or Cerastium and 

 Lobelia speciosa. Violent contrasts between the two lines are the more striking, 

 though there are cases when a single color, either very bright or of a neutral 

 tint, is more chaste and beautiful, as enclosing bands to the central figures. 



New Plants. — Among the novelties mentioned in our Enghsh exchanges is 

 an improved variety of that favorite flower, the mignonette, known as the Giant 

 Crimson. It is described as very robust, with very large spikes of handsome 

 flowers, of exquisite fragrance, and a free and perpetual bloomer. Seed is offered 

 for sale in this country. 



Centaurea Clemeiitii is described as of something the same character with C. 

 ragusina, but having the foliage even more prominently pinnatifid, and gracefully 

 arching in an opposite direction from the hoary stem. It is of robust growth. 



