204 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Spring Flower Beds — Planting. 



A poor, hungry soil is not suited to the majority of spring bedding plants. If 

 moved into poorer ground than that in which they were prepared, root action will 

 be slow and progress generally unsatisfactory. Strong manure is not needed, but 

 if road-side trimmings, and sweepings, leaves, grass from the mowing machine, and 

 soft vegetable refuse generally were stored together and turned sufficiently often to 

 insure steady decay, a valuable heap of compost would be available for the beds. 

 This would be further improved if all hard, consumable, rubbish were reduced to 

 ashes in a slow fire and added to the heap. Such material would lighten heavy 

 soils, making them work better at all times, and also enrich poorer ground. All 

 bedding plants thrive where it is used. The flower beds should be planted late in 

 September or the early part of October, but not in wet weather. After digging, 

 break down the soil into a fine state, and make it firm. Before moving the plants see 

 that they are in a thoroughly moist state at the roots, and bo content to save a 

 moderate-sized ball of soil about them rather than attempt to retain a large one, and 

 the greater part of it break away in transit. 



If plants are sufficiently plentiful, they should be disposed rather thickly or only 

 just clear of each other, as it is not possible for them to make much further growth 

 before flowering time ; if scarce, thin planting may be resorted to, and bulbs inserted 

 between them. Plant firmly, and unless the ground is already moist enough, give a 

 watering afterwards. If severe frosts are experienced during the winter, these will 

 have the effect of upheaving many of the plants, and they must be refixed directly the 

 state of the ground permits, subsequently lightly loosening the surface of the beds with 

 a Dutch hoe. 



The arrangement of the various sections of spring bedding plants must always 

 depend upon the stock of each kind available, due regard likewise being paid to the 

 rules regulating the harmonizing or blending of colours. There is also another phase 

 of bedding out to be taken into consideration, namely, that of largely using dwarf 

 handsome conifers, fine-foliaged shrubs, and a few other plants for effectively furnish- 

 ing flower-beds during the winter, and which will be discussed under an appropriate 

 heading. The best results are obtained by a combination of conifers, shrubs, fine 

 foliaged plants, perennials, biennials, annuals and bulbous-rooted plants. Perfect little 

 specimens of conifers and shrubs may be placed in the centre of circular beds, or dotted 



