October 3, 1878. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 257 
intended for climbing Roses. These, however, in consequence | 
of being too much exposed are a failure, and are being gradu- 
ally superseded with Ivy. The base of this structure is sur- 
rounded by a bank beautifully festooned and figured with 
Pelargoniums in variety, Iresine Lindeni, Tagetes signata 
pumila, Lobelia, Alternanthera, &c. The Tagetes is kept 
pinched back, and by this treatment a beautiful green-foliage 
plant is obtained, which contrasts well with the other plants, 
and also helps to make a groundwork for the most prominent 
plant forming the festoon—Pelargonium Golden Superb Nose- 
gay. The latter variety is here considered superior in point 
of colour to the old Crystal Palace Gem. Some idea may be 
formed of the grandeur of this bank when it is stated that 
upwards of twenty thousand plants are used on it. 
On the bank immediately below the walk surrounding the 
foregoing are a series of eighteen circular carpet beds alter- 
nating with beds of dwarf Roses. These carpet beds are all 
dissimilar, and so bright and well do they look, even on the 
north side, that it is almost impossible to decide which are the 
best. Fig. 39 will help to give some idea of their effect. A 
great variety of plants are used in all the beds, which makes 
them more interesting than where two or three varieties only 
are used. Kleinia repens is a very effective bluish grey plant 
for lines, and another silvery grey plant likely to become 
popular is the Saxifraga longifolia. The Mentha Pulegium 
gibraltarica is the best green plant used. A mixture of Alter- 
nanthera amcoena and Sedum acre elegans is very pleasing 
wherever placed. Pelargoniums Golden Harry Hieover and 
Mrs. Pollock, and Lobelia pumila magnifica are freely used in 
the carpet beds and with good effect. One man only is re- 
Fig. 39. 
1, Leucophyton Brownii. 
2, Coleus Verschaffelti. 
3, Mrs. Pollock Geranium. 
‘quired to keep the carpet bedsin excellent trim. On the lawns 
near the above plain beds are placed at intervals near the 
walks. These in most instances are simply but very effectively 
planted. Beds filled with a mixture of bronze Pelargonium 
James Richards, and which are allowed to flower, with Cen- 
taurea candidissima, Gazania splendens and Lobelia Blue King, 
Amaranthus melancholicus ruber and Centaurea candidissima, 
edged with Pelargonium Crystal Palace Gem, and Verbena 
venosa and a silver variegated Pelargonium, are all very 
pleasing. 
Opposite to these in the direction of the Palace are several 
‘beds filled with bedding Dahlias. These look remarkably 
well, and will doubtless have the desirable effect of stimulating 
the use of this class of bedding plants. The following varie- 
ties are used :—Alba floribunda, white ; Rising Sun, scarlet; 
‘Titian, yellow ; Zelinda, purple; and Golden Gem, yellow. 
Near these fine autumnal beds is the only sheltered spot 
where subtropical plants can be employed, and of these there 
are only a few in number. One bed with a centre group of 
Ricinus Obermannii surrounded with Ferdinandia eminens, 
these again with Wigandia caracassana edged with Dell’s 
Crimson Beet, fringed with Festuca glauca, is highly effective, 
the purplish stems of the Ricinus being very discernible. On 
the right and left of the walk leading up to the lower terrace 
4, Golden Feather Pyrethrum. 
5, Alternanthera amabilis latifolia. 
“Crystal Palace and parks. 
6, Echeveria secunda glauca. 
7, Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica. 
8, Golden Feather Pyrethrum. 
steps are two long beds attractively filled with groups of 
evergreen, variegated, and coniferous plants. Limited space 
forbids a lengthy description of these much-admired beds, 
which contain several varieties of Retinosporas, and flowering 
groups of Sedum spectabile just now greatly enliven the 
arrangement, 
The terrace garden with its central fountains and numerous 
and well-arranged beds is also looking well, and the alter- 
ations recently effected by Mr. Thomson are a marked im- 
provement. Private gardeners would do well if, instead of 
putting their whole stock of bedding plants into one or two 
places, they followed the plan so well carried out both at the 
A combination of beds is doubtless 
very grand, but it has the effect of making the other part of the 
grounds comparatively dull. On the other hand, if the beds 
were distributed throughout the grounds the interest and 
pleasure is sustained, the beds being shown up by the turf, and 
by their very brightness improving rather than detracting 
from the appearance of the Conifers, shrubs, &c. 
Many varieties of Conifers and other shrubs from causes 
given above do not thrive in the Palace grounds, and some of 
the delicate and rather unsightly specimens are being replaced 
by hardier sorts, such as Pinus austriaca, &c. On each side of 
the grand terrace steps leading up into the Palace are two long 
