46 LITTLE GARDENS 
Round beds offer many opportunities, for the gardener 
can so easily map them out, by cords and pegs, into a number of 
patterns ; the dotted lines in Fig. 11 will show some of the methods 
by which this is done. Directly the centre of the bed has been 
found by measurement, cords stretched crosswise from edge to edge 
will give a cross; as soon as this is marked out by neat little white 
pegs, or clse by making a shallow drill, if planting is to be done at 
once, another cross, made by stretching the cords just half way 
between the branches of the first one, will divide the round into 
sections. By continuing to map out in the same fashion a round can 
be cut up into many long V shaped portions, each of which may be 
filled with a different coloured flowering or foliage plant; in the 
design shown in Fig. 11 we have, however, a wheel pattern, formed 
by drawing rounds between the crosses. 
The prettiest way to plant this bed is to mark out the first 
cross boldly by setting dark foliage plants—let us say Chilian Beet 
—at 9-inch intervals; then do the second cross in a deep green plant, 
such as the useful hardy annual Ambrosia Mexicana; then the rings 
can be of the brightest flowers possible, say scarlet Geraniums, with 
Candytuft, blue dwarf Asters, and vermilion ‘om Thumb Nastur- 
tiums from centre to edge, defining and dividing these rings by lines 
of Golden Feather where the dotted lines of the rounds appear. 
Another pleasing device is to make the crosses in Chilian Beet and 
Golden Feather ; use all white flowers, of different heights, for the 
rings, and divide these by Jines of rich violet and mauve and rose 
Violas.; suitable white flowers would be Petunias, Asters, Candytuft, 
and Violas. This makes a bed of exceptional beauty. 
HINTS ON BEDDING OUT 
Spring flowering plants, especially Wallflowers, tend to impoverish 
the soil ; so that plenty of well rotted manure should be dug in 
after the beds are cleared. Dig the soil deeply, and thoroughly mix 
the manure with it. Having dug the borders, one must next pro- 
ceed to prepare the surface for the plants. Very loose soil should be 
trodden down a little, then levelled with the garden rake and all the 
large stones removed. If the soil is dry it should have a copious 
watering several hours before the plants are put out. Now, as a 
rule, amateurs do not finish off the edges of their beds as well as 
they might. A neat, full edging is very essential, and I am now 
drawing special attention to this point. 
Fig. 1 (p. 48) shows an oblong bed: A denotes the edge of 
the bed neatly formed ; B, B, B, rows of plants; C, the central row. 
These lines may be composed of separate colours, or of one colour. 
In any case the marking out of the bed as shown in this sketch 
makes the work of planting very simple indeed. The bed is one 
formed in the lawn, D showing the grass. 
Fig. 2 shows how to mark out a round bed: A, edge of border 
