Es(^lanatory. 



been a gradual rooting out of all the old favourites 

 in favour of the bedding system. This was carried 

 to such an extent that of late it has not been un- 

 common, indeed it has been the rule, to find the 

 largest gardens in the country without a single hardy 

 flower, all energy and expense being devoted to 

 the production of the many thousand exotics re- 

 quired for the summer decoration. It should be 

 distinctly borne in mind that the expense for this 

 system is an annual one ; that no matter what 

 amount of money may be spent in this way, no 

 matter how many years may be devoted to perfect- 

 ing it, the first sharp frost of November merely 

 prepares a yet further expense and labour. 



Its highest results need hardly be described ; 

 they are seen in all our great public gardens ; 

 our London and many other city parks show them 

 in the shape of beds filled with vast quantities 

 of flowers, covering the ground frequently in a 

 showy way, and not unfrequently in a repul- 

 sively gaudy manner : every private garden is 

 taken possession of by the same simple beauties. 

 Occasionally some variety is introduced. We go 

 to Kew or the Crystal Palace to see what looks 

 best there, or the weekly gardening papers tell us ; 

 and the following season sees tens, of thousands of 



