BEDDING.— FREE AND FORMAL. 



to keep in their proper form. By distributing them, throughout the grounds at 

 points where they would be seen to advantage, opportunities are afforded for 

 employing a greater and more pleasing variety of hardy as well as half-hardy plants, 

 not forgetting the hardy or herbaceous sections of bedding-plants, thereby relieving 

 the strain upon the resources of an establishment, at a time when relief is most 

 needed. When the beds are thus arranged and planted all the flowers in a garden 

 are not seen at a glance, but the interest and pleasure is well sustained throughout 

 the survey. 



Those long " ribbon " borders, so called from the ribbon-like arrangement of 

 colours used in filling them, are no longer fashionable. Showy lines of purple ver- 

 benas, yellow calceolarias, scarlet, pink, and variegated zonale pelargoniums, rich blue 

 salvias, and scarlet and crimson dahlias, have to a large extent given place to mixtures 

 of herbaceous plants, of which there is a great and excellent variety, admirably adapted 

 for the purpose — something to cut from as well as to admire where growing. 



Carpet beds are fast becoming obsolete. For a time this form of filling beds was 

 popular, crowds of visitors to Hampton Court, Battersea, Hyde, Yictoria, and other 

 London parks, collecting round and wearing out the turf about such beds. The perfect 

 way in which the designs were laid down, the brilliancy of the colouring of the plants 

 used in filling the panels, with a more sober groundwork, reminding onlookers of a 

 beautiful Turkey carpet, all contributed to sustain the enthusiasm. For a time, or 

 while the novelty held its sway, artificiality and cost were overlooked. A limited 

 number of these beds will probably always meet with favour, especially when their stiff- 

 ness is relieved by the introduction of elegant " dot " plants. One or, at the most, 

 two carpet beds are enough in a private garden, and, unless they can be well done, 

 ought to be omitted altogether. 



Judging from what is taking place in various parts of the country, not much 

 prompting in the direction of turfing down fanciful flower-beds, and breaking up 

 elaborate designs where these can be well spared, is needed, as evidently a free expanse 

 of perfect, closely-shaven turf is more appreciated than ever. It is equally satisfactory 

 to note that stiff terraces are giving way to gentle grass slopes, and terra-cotta vases 

 to ordinary flower-pots and tubs, containing plants that are worthy of the prominent 

 positions assigned them. Another outcome of this welcome change in fashion is a 

 greater recognition of the merits of alpine and other rock plants, herbaceous plants, hardy 

 ferns, also bog and aquatic plants, better facilities for the cultivation of which are 



