The Beauty de Neige. Borders, which once contained only Calceolarias and 
of the Lobelias set out in stiff lines, have been revolutionised by planting 
Autumnal 2 background of white and pink Sweet Peas, and dividing the 
Flowers rest of the space into alternate divisions of China Roses and free- 
growing Carnations, such as Rady Castle, Queen of Bedders, 
Duchess of Fife, etc. Sometimes a whole border is given up to 
one colour. A delightful one, I remember, was composed of a 
background of Golden Elder, with groups of yellow Chrysan- 
themums, Tritomas, and the Montbretia, Vu/can. Sometimes 
plants of distinct colours are grouped together to show each 
other off, such as clumps of Pafaver somniferum, or its variety 
Sutton’s Chamois Rose, sown thinly among white Madonna 
Lilies. 
But our flower borders do not attain their best till the month 
of August, and though in July we have to yield the palm to 
the Roses of England, the brilliancy of colouring and beauty of 
our autumnal display surely can be surpassed nowhere. It is 
characteristic of Scottish gardens that spring flowers are hardly 
over before summer has begun, and every season seems to 
overflow with the flowers of another, summer lending those 
peculiar to herself to swell the train of autumn. 
Our cottage gardens do not compare favourably with those 
of England. Too often, perhaps owing to the thrift of the 
Cannie Scot, of flowers there only “ grows a bonnie briar bush 
in oor Kailyaird,” and homely vegetables usurp the chief part. 
Sometimes, however, this is not the case, and beside the Scarlet 
Tropeolum speciosum with its lovely blue purple berries, which, 
growing like a weed in the North, clothes the white-harled walls 
of the cottages in scarlet and purple, and “flames the Yews in 
glory,” Ayrshire Roses and Yellow Briars trained on rustic 
48 
