THE AGE R AT IT M. 



S c'xc'i'y (jnestiiiu ]ias two bii.les, 

 si] tli(j (jiicsliuu whether the 

 masking- of ])hint,s in Ihe 

 Hewer — cij., the " bcddiiiy 

 s\-steiii" — is worthy of respect 

 as a feature in garden art, lias 

 not only two Lut many sides, 

 There has been niucli said 

 against it, and mueli that is 

 true. Its advocates have not 

 lacked argument and demon- 

 stration in its favour. One 

 thing- may Le said in its de- 

 fence, wliile the hgure of the 

 ag'eratum is before us, and it 

 is tjiat the bedding system has 

 brought into repute many 

 pdants that Avere imkuown 

 until it was discovered that they were adapted for massing, 

 and while it has accomjalished thus much, it has also imjiroved 

 them for the purpose. AgeratiDii 3Ie.ricaiiniii, as figured in 

 Sweet's " Mower Garden," 18.33 (/. S'.J), is a poor thing 

 as eonn)ared with the varieties that have been raised within 

 the i)ast few years for bedding purposes ; and, indeed, as 



