TOWK GAEDENS. 



9 



lings of innumerable colours. If you do not indulge in 

 box edging in your garden behind, you should have it 

 here if you grow flowers, it adds so much to the neatness 

 and completeness of your outlines.' ' 



Symmetrical gardens in towns offer the advantage of 

 small, regular, corresponding beds, which may be kept 

 gay by flowers grown in masses, many of which may 

 be replaced by others soon after their bloom is over. 

 Bulbous flowers are invaluable for this purpose ; the first 

 season, they are almost always sure to blossom well, 

 because they have formed their flowering germs else- 

 where, under more favourable circumstances. The White, 

 Tiger, and Orange Lilies, as well as the Crown Imperial 

 and the Hemerocallis, may remain permanently, if the 

 situation is not altogether too close. Van Thol, Parrot, 

 Bizarre, Double, and all the robuster Tulips ; Hyacinths, 

 Crocuses, Snowdrops, and Narcissuses, will all bloom 

 exceedingly well, if grown in town and country in alter- 

 nate years. Those who have a town-house and a country- 

 residence, or who can even make an arrangement with 

 some country market-gardener, may thus maintain a 

 collection of bulbs in serviceable condition for many 

 years. With only a moderate double set, a few beds in 

 town may be made gay every successive spring and 

 summer. But in carrying out this, or any other like 

 floricultural expedient, be it remembered that the plants 

 must be set in proper soil. Townspeople are apt to 

 fancy that earth is earth, and that nothing more is to be 

 thought or said about it. Whereas, the soil of town 

 gardens is not only exhausted for want of manure, but 

 is often actually poisoned by deposits of soot, and other 

 causes that have been in action for centuries past. Con- 

 sequently, if you wish your flowers to thrive, provide 

 them with a healthy medium for the reception of their 

 roots, cart away as many loads as are requisite, and 

 replace them with soil that is pure and fresh, whether 

 from meadow, field, or, heath. Small azaleas and rhodo- 

 dendrons render useful service in town, from the ease 

 with which they may be transplanted in spring, with 



