252 FLOWER GARDEN. 
nials, not being so imposing, may retire into the more se- 
cluded situations, as they are supplanted by the superior 
brilliancy of the annuals, which then fill the vacated beds 
of florists’ flowers, or are scattered over the faded clumps 
of May and June. 
Before attempting to plant, the floriculturist would do 
well to construct tables or lists of flowers, specifying their 
respective times of flowering, their colors, and altitudes. 
These tables, when skillfully used, would prevent mis- 
takes, produce a greater facility of execution, and put the 
colors nearly as much under control as they are on the 
painter’s pallet. To diversify properly and mingle well 
together the reds, whites, purples, yellows, and blues, with 
all their intervening shades, requires considerable taste 
and powers of conception; but if success is not attained in 
the first attempt, inaccuracies should be noted, and rectifi- 
ed at the proper time next season. Certain series of colors 
have been given, but these it is needless to mention, as it 
is not very material whether the first flower in a row be 
red or white. The principal object is to preserve an agree- 
able contrast; and as at particular seasons a monotony of 
tint prevails, it is useful at such times to be in possession 
-of some strong glaring colors. White, for instance, should 
be much employed in July, to break the duller blues and 
purples which then preponderate. The orange lily, too, 
is very effective at that season. On the other hand, yel- 
lows are suberabundant in autumn, and therefore reds and 
blues should then be sought for. 
Besides mere vividness of color and elegance of form, 
there are other qualities which render plants desirable in 
the flower garden. Whoever has visited a botanic garden, 
must have been sensible of an interest excited by the 
curious structure of some plants, or by their rarity. Even 
