CARPET-BEDDING. 



639 



the lines made with a pointed stick. Intricate 

 designs, if not too large, should be cut out on stiff 

 paper, which may then be laid on the ground 

 and the design marked out on the soil with the 

 dry sand. A coloured plan as a guide to the 

 proper disposition of the plants is also helpful. 

 Large, simple designs may be marked on the 

 ground with the aid of lines and pegs, com- 



passes 3 feet in length, a 6-feet rod, and a T- 

 square. The planting is, as a rule, tedious 

 work, and the neater it is done in the first 

 instance the less labour is required to keep it in 

 order afterwards. Broad planks supported on 

 low stools form a bridge from which the plant- 

 ing of the central portions of large beds can be 

 conveniently performed. 



Fig. 767.— Carpet-bed at Aldenham House. 



The following are suitable plants for carpet- 

 bedding : — 



Achillea umbellata. — A dwarf compact plant of tufted 

 habit, with silvery- white foliage; good as an edging. 

 Propagated by division or cuttings in August. 



Achkocline Saundersoni. — A small plant, with silvery 

 foliage covered with silky hairs. Propagated by cuttings 

 in the autumn. 



Agath.ea ccelestis variegata. — A very pleasing little 

 plant with small variegated leaves, forming a close 

 carpet. Propagated by cuttings in spring or autumn. 



Agave Americana variegata. — Small plants of this are 

 frequently used as centre-plants in carpet-bedding. 



Ajuga reptans purpurea. — A purple-leaved form of the 

 native Bugle -flower. It requires to be fully exposed to 

 the sun, otherwise it does not colour well. Useful for 

 dark panels. Propagated by division in spring. 



Alternanthera. — Most useful of all plants for carpet- 

 bedding ; amabilis, strong grower, 4 to 6 inches high, has 

 ovate purplish - green leaves changing to a brilliant 

 orange-red ; amabilis latifolia has broader leaves, and 

 colour a shade brighter; amoena is 2 to 4 inches high, 

 and has narrow lance-shaped leaves of a rich carmine 

 colour; spectabilis is a larger -leaved and brighter- 

 coloured form, the young leaves having a decided magenta 

 tinge ; magnifica has young foliage of a deep orange-red 

 colour; paronychioides is a free grower, with a flush of 

 bronze and scarlet in the young foliage ; major has 

 broader and brighter-coloured foliage ; major aurea has 

 the same habit, but with deep-yellow and red foliage, one 

 of the showiest in favourable weather; nana aurea is very 

 dwarf, with bright -yellow foliage ; versicolor is compact, 

 with purple and rose-coloured foliage. Propagated by 

 cuttings in heat in spring. 



Antennaria tomentosa is a dwarf silver-leaved plant 

 which soon covers the ground with a dense white carpet 

 scarcely an inch high. It is perfectly hardy. 



Cerastium tomentosum is one of the best silvery-leaved 

 plants; arvense, bright-green, is close-growing, and may 

 be clipped to any extent ; Biebersteinii is a stronger 

 grower, with larger leaves not so silvery. They are 

 hardy, and are readily increased by division. 



Coleus Vcrschaffeltii splendens is a very beautiful vel- 

 vety-crimson variety of dwarf habit, and is most useful in 



large designs. Propagated by cuttings in heat in early 

 spring. 



Cotyledon (Echeveria) (fig. 746).— C. gibbiflora, C. 

 bracteosa, C. pulveridenta, 0. Pachypftyta, and C. mctallica 

 may be used as " dots " among dark-leaved plants. For 

 marginal lines, panels, or edgings, the smaller kinds are 

 invaluable. C. atropurpurea (E. san guinea) is a distinct 

 plant with purplish-red narrow leaves, and is valuable as 

 a contrast to silvery or yellow plants. C.farinosa is dwarf 

 and compact, with pointed leaves of a mealy whiteness, a 

 free grower, and well adapted for large panels or edgings. 

 C. glauca is of a grayish-blue colour ; C. glauca metallica 

 is a more robust form; C. Peacockii has light glaucous- 

 green leaves margined with red ; C. pumila has narrow, 

 green leaves of upright growth, and is useful for dwarf 

 edgings ; C. secunda and its variety glauca are small 

 compact plants of glaucous or bluish-gray colour, lines oi 

 panels of the latter have quite a blue appearance. They 

 all require protection in winter in a dry cool house or 

 frame. Propagated by offsets. 



Dactylis glomerata variegata. — An elegant silvery 

 leaved, tufted, hardy grass ; elegantissima surpasses it in 

 whiteness and permanence, and elegantissima aurea, a 

 new form with yellow leaves, is likely to become popular. 

 They are most effective when used in combination with 

 Coleus, &c. Propagated by division. 



Herniaria glabra. — A dwarf, trailing perennial, form- 

 ing a dense turf-like mass of a bright-green colour. Var. 

 aurea is a golden form of it. Both indispensable for 

 geometrical bedding on account of their neat dwarf 

 growth. They rarely require clipping, and are perfectly 

 hardy. Propagated by division or cuttings. 



Kleinia repens. — A dwarf succulent, with cylindrical 

 leaves of a bluish-gray colour. K. tomentosa is larger 

 and has spindle-shaped leaves densely covered with 

 silvery tomentum. Both are well adapted for lines or 

 small panels. Propagated by cuttings or offsets in heat. 



Leucophyton Brownii ( = Caloccphalus). — A thin sil- 

 very plant of branching habit, much used for carpet- 

 bedding as it bears cutting well. Propagated by cuttings 

 in spring. 



Lysimachia Nummularia aurea. — A golden form of 

 the common Creeping- Jenny ; very effective for edging 

 or belts to borders, or for draping rockwork. 

 by division. 



