34 We ^arlren's Storg. 



we find those who are content with a geranium- 

 bed as the means of outward embellishment ; 

 more often a finer perception of external adorn- 

 ment is manifested, though Bacon's statement 

 remains apposite to - day. The objectionable 

 forms of gardening, however, are being super- 

 seded by a more natural style a revival of the 

 old-fashioned hardy flower-borders, masses of 

 stately perennials, the hardy fernery, the rock 

 and bog garden, the azalea and rhododendron 

 beds. Poor indeed is the city veranda which 

 has not its Clematis Jackmani to flutter the 

 purple of royalty, and lonely the door-yard with- 

 out its clump of madonna lilies or perpetual 

 roses. A comparison of the flower-catalogues 

 of to-day with those of fifteen years ago shows 

 beyond contradiction the advancement of the 

 cultivation of hardy plants. Notably the case 

 with new varieties of roses and flowering shrubs, 

 progress is also observable with perennial flow- 

 ers. The tendency of the age to cast aside poor 

 for better forms, to resurrect or improve the old, 

 includes the flower-garden among the many 

 things to feel its quickening influence. Material 

 we have in abundance ; it only remains for us to 

 utilize it and adapt it to the ends in view. To 

 create the ideal in landscape floriculture, to sur- 

 round ourselves with lovely forms of nature, with 



