February 113, 1871. ] 



JOTJENAL OP HOKTICULTUEB AND COTTASE GAEOENER. 



123 



may be introcluced into the circle with distiQct-coloured, erect- 

 growing, fine-foliaged plants, so that each compartment or 

 division of the design may stand oat clearly and distinctly, 

 however intricate may be the pattern. There are a large nnm- 

 ber of figures suitable for sncla a purpose, a knowledge of geo- 

 metry enabling one to introduce them in an almost endless 

 variety ; but I would always prefer simple forms rather than 

 very intricate ones, not to avoid any diificulty of colouring, but 

 because a design composed of a few simple lines is certain to 

 produce the more pleasing effect. 



By way of illustration I append four examples, each having 

 two distinct arrangements of colour. All these designs are 

 suitable for circles of from 10 to 20 feet in diameter. 



AEEANGEIIENT OF COLOURS. 



Fig.1. 



1. Semperviviim californicum 



2. Lobelia Trentham Blue 

 8. Coleua Verschaffelti 



4. Pelargoniam Lady Cullam 



Or— 



1. Pyiethram Golden Feather 



2. Iresine Lindenl 



3. Pelargonium Hiss Kingsbury 



4. Purple King Verbena 



Fig. 2, 

 Gnaphalium lanatum 

 Iresine Herbstii 

 Gnaphalium lanatum 

 Iresine Herbstii 

 Chrysanthemum Sensation 



Or— 

 Cerastium tomentosum 

 Lobelia speciosa 

 Vinca major elegantissima 

 Iresine Lindeui [Gem 



Pelargoniam Crystal Palace 



Fig. 4. 



1. Alternanthera amceua 



2. Pyrethrum Golden Feather 



3. Pelargoniam Miss Kingsbury, 



with the flowers hept picked 

 off. 



4. Heliotrope Beauty of the Bou- 



doir 



5. Pelargonium Maid of Kent 



Or— 



1. Santolina incana 



3. Alternanthera amceua 



3. Pelargonium Crystal Palace 



Gem 



4. Lobelia Little Gem 



5. Coleus Verschaffelti 



Fig. 3. 



1. A ramp faced with one rbw of 



Sempervivum californicum 



2. Alternanthera amoena 



3. Variegated Japanese Honey- 



suckle 



4. Santolina incana 



5. Lobelia pumila elegang 



6. Alternanthera amcena 



Or— 



1. Cerastium tomentosum 



2. Lobelia Trentham Blue 

 S. Santolina incana 



4. Iresine Lindeni 



5. Pelargonium Pearl (Pearson's) 



6. Polemonium cferuleum varie- 



gatum 



I have thus combined a few choice bedding plants, but it 

 should be remembered that the position of a bed and the nature 

 of its surroundings must be known before any suitable arrange- 

 ment of plants can be given for it. Take, for instance, a circle 

 or number of circles situated on a broad, extensive lawn, or 

 near a lofty mansion, or where there are large specimen shrubs, 

 the planting of these beds should certainly be massive in cha- 

 racter, even if the beds are 10 or 12 feet in diameter. One 

 bed might be a mass of crimson with a broad band of yellow ; 

 the next might have three colours— white, pink, and purple ; 

 then we might have a grand mass of Golden Tricolor Pelargo- 

 nium Lady Cullnm surrounded by^ broad band of Trentham 

 Blue Lobelia ; and so I would go on to the end with these 

 alternating masses, just sufficiently varied to avoid monotony. 

 Fancy a chain of such beds on a wide-spreading lawn, the beds 

 surrounding yet well away from a fountain of an architectural 

 design, and with fine masses of shrubs, or noble specimens of 

 these, forming an enclosure or background, and you have a 

 scene of rare loveliness — simple it may be in form, yet so 



graceful, rich, and dignified, that it might bear favourable com- 

 parison with the most complicated geometrical design. No 

 objection could be taken to it on the score of heaviness, for the 

 waters of the fountain would impart lightness and animation,, 

 and would also serve to agreeably break up or relieve the othar- 



Fig. 3. 



wise flat surface. It is in the few beds of small gardens or 

 grounds that I would introduce a more mixed style of colouring 



Fig. 4. 

 throughout, aiming to combine as much of interest and beau'y 

 as the space would admit of. — Edward Luckhursi. 



WHAT IS A ^VEED? 



At a meeting of our Mutual Instruction Club last Monday, 

 the question was asked by one of our members, Is not any plant 

 a weed that is growing where it is not required ? This led to a 

 dispute, and many were the answers as to What is a weed? 

 Failing to reach to a unanimous answer, it was resolved to ask. 

 for your definition. — A. R. 



[No plant in the estimation of the botanist is a weed, but 

 with the gardener any herb that is not cultivated for its utility, 

 beauty, or fragrance is a weed. Your member's definition is 

 too wide. Mignonette sprung up among Cabbages would not 

 deserve the epithet of a weed — it would only be a flower in th& 

 wrong place. Whilst writing we have had the following extract 

 from the Philadelphia Ledger brought to our notice:— "It is 

 stated that there are now no less than 214 weeds which have 

 been introduced into the United States from foreign countries^ 

 and principally from England. As a proof of the rapidity with 

 which useless plants are accidentally brought over the seas, it is 

 said that in 1837 there were only 137 foreign weeds known ic 

 this country. As far back as 1672 a curious little volume, 



