312 



JOURNAL OB" HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



[ April 28, 1863. 



FLOWER-BOEDER. 



■PT.ATT POS BIBBON-BOEDBE UHDEB A Willi. 

 32 feet 6 inches. 



GRAVEL 



3, Ferilla nankinensis, 1 ft. broad. 

 2. Variegated Mint, J ft. broad. 



3, Lobelia speciosa, $ ft. broad. 



4, White Candytuft, 1 ft. 



5, Nothing. 



6, Roses. 



7, Box-e'2ging. 



" Muddiee's " questions are — What do we think of the form 

 of the border ? what of the planting in unfavourable circum- 

 stances ? and what improvements can we suggest ? 



The main features of the curved lines of the border we cannot 

 but approve, as in borders more than ten times your length we 

 have followed something of the same plan for two years. This 

 season we think we shall revert to straight lines instead, for a 

 change, though it does not look so artistic. As far as effect is 

 concerned, there is not much difference in the two systems. The 

 curved lines are, perhaps, the best as you walk along the side of 

 your border, and show more intricacy and contrast of colour 

 in whatever direction you look ; but then they do not tell so 

 well when you stand at either end and look along them as 

 straight lines do, even if all is done well, and the heights are 

 properly arranged. If there is a fault in the arrangement of 

 heights, it will be bad enough to look at it from the sides of the 

 walk ; but it will be a perfect jumble if looked at from either 

 end. This, however, has nothing to do with the mere ground 

 plan of your proposed lines and two circles in front, with which 

 we are very much pleased, as it shows how many tasteful ways 

 there are of doing the same thing. The sweeps at the ends and 

 the circles in front give an artistic charm to the waved or 

 serpentine lines of colour. There is just one thing which we think 

 would improve your plan, on the system you have adopted, and 

 that is a straight line in front, and a straight line at back, to 

 harmonise with the straight line of your walk and the Btraight 

 line of the wall. If you had not room otherwise for this, we 

 would make one waved line the less. It would give a complete- 

 ness to the design, which it at present wants, and more especi- 

 ally if there is any space for path or otherwise between the wall 

 and the triangular waved spaces at the back, marked 5. These 

 Btraight lines would be the setting for your picture — the frame, 

 so to speak, which would make you independent of trusting for 

 that either to the wall or mere edging at the walk. For instance : 

 there are your curved sweeps, 2, that touch the walk, filled with 

 variegated Mint, and there are triangular pieeeB between them 

 and the circles, 3, planted with Lobelia speciosa, which, except in 

 the curves in front of the Mint, will do admirably ; but then just 

 think of a straight line of the Lobelia taken all the way, if Box- 

 edging is next the walk, or Cerastium tomentosum, if of grass, 

 and you will perceive what a completeness would be given to 

 the setting. Mind, that is only our opinion. Some people 

 might like it better as it is. 



Now, we are well aware of your difficulties in making a very 

 showy border on a north-east aspect ; but if you have tried the 

 Perilla and Lobelia, and find them answer, we have no doubt 

 that Calceolarias and Scarlet Geraniums in pots would flourish 

 tolerably. We must say, however, that we like the plan of your 

 border better than the proposed planting. Without taking ob- 

 jection to the proposed colours, there is but little attempt made 

 to regulate them as to their heights. Last year, in some of 

 the fine borders and clumps about London, the outsides were 

 the highest, and the inside or centre raws were the lowest ; and 

 some good friends, and ladies amongst the number, have told us 

 how nice they looked, and that they would imitate them next year. 



Our own opinion is, that in these cases which were thought of so 

 favourably, the planters had been disappointed, and that they 

 were rather vexed about what other people in search after novelty 

 looked upon as an attraction. Now, if Buch be your views, we 

 can see little wrong in your planting. But if you have any idea 

 that in a border in front of a wall the rows, to be seen, should 

 have a suitable relation to each other in height, then we do not 

 see how your proposed planting is to be defended, unless you 

 make everything of much the same height by layering, pegging, 

 &c. One incongruity we may likewise mention, and that is the 

 perpetual character of the Roses in No. 6, whilst all else would be 

 only of temporary duration. Looking on the two circles, No. 6, 

 as main features, and presuming that they are to be filled with 

 low-growing China Roses, they will not only look well, but your 

 surrounding them with the belt, 2, of variegated Mint, will give 

 a completeness to them, and remove the objection to the centre 

 bed of " S. E. L.," the other week. Then, as already stated, 

 the triangular waved spaces, 3, of Lobelia Bpeoiosa, are all right 

 enough, and so would be your waved line, 1, of Perilla behind 

 all these ; and we should not greatly find fault with the waved 

 line, 2, variegated Mint behind the Perilla, because we could 

 prune down the Perilla, and let the back row of 2, Mint, grow 

 to overtop a little the Perilla. But how are we to manage the 

 back row of 3, of Lobelia again behind these, which naturally 

 will not rise above a few inches ? and then, again, the broad 

 line of white Candytuft will be a blaze while it lasts, but it will 

 seed about July or August, and leave nothing to look at. You 

 think it will be a foot in height, but then to give it its due, 2 

 and 1, the Mint and the Perilla should not be higher than the 

 Lobelia, and thus much of the interest of the sprigs of the 

 Perilla would be gone. Besides, with the exception of, we may 

 suppose, crimson Roses in No. 6, the whole of your border 

 will consist of cold colours, blue, purple, white, and white and 

 green. 



Now, on that principle we would allow 3, 2, 1, 2, counting 

 from the walk, to remain as they are, only the back, 2, to grow 

 taller to overtop the Perilla, and then the 3 behind we would fill 

 with dwsrf blue Ageratums, and 4 with double Feverfew; and 



5, unplanted, we would fill with Btrong crimson Roses, or 

 simply with masses of Lobel's crimson Catchfiy, or Lobelia 

 cardinalis. 



But, again, were we to please ourselves more, we would do 



6, 3, 2, 1, as proposed, and keep down the 1, Perilla, make the 

 second 2 behind it not Mint but yellow Calceolarias, or yellow 

 Chryseis or Eschscholtzia ; 3, behind it, Ageratum, dwarf, or 

 Delphinium formosum, planted thickly, and half of the plants cut 

 down to a few inches in height ; 4, white double Feverfew done 

 the same way, and allowed to grow to the full height ; and 5, and 

 row all along, Salvia fulgens. This would give you gradation in 

 height as well as change of colour. If such things as Catchfiy 

 are used, it would be well to sow in patcheB now, and again in 

 June, and thus the bloom might continue to the end of the 

 season. Lobelia cardinalis, well dunged, would also be brilliant 

 for 5, or even a row in addition all the way at the back. All 

 such borders should be changed every year. — R. F. 



