WINTER AND SPRING BEDDING IN FLOWER GARDENS. 69 



luxuriant growth, as the chief object in view is to have small, 

 compact plants of good foliage and colour. Of course, after the 

 spring replanting into the nursery, an ample supply of water is 

 needful in dry weather, and special provision should always be 

 made for that purpose. Now as I have appended at the end of 

 this paper a list of conifers, shrubs, &c, specially suited for 

 winter bedding and frequent transplanting, I do not propose to 

 introduce names largely. I may say, however, that in compiling 

 the list, I am greatly indebted to Mr. Howard, Messrs. Veitch & 

 Sons' able foreman at Coombewood, for efficient revision of the 

 contents. It will be seen that the range of selection of conifers 

 only is very great. Whilst size is a matter for the planter to 

 determine, nature has furnished in golden, silver, green in 

 shades, and even almost red or coppery hues, ample variety in 

 colour. Many of these conifers seem to show their special hues 

 all the more fully when somewhat restricted in growth, and 

 they, effectively employed, or blended, are most pleasing during 

 the dullest weather. Of shrubs such as Aucubas, Boxes, Hollies, 

 Euonymuses, Mahonias, Ivies, Elaeagnus, &c, there is great 

 variety, having diversely coloured leafage ; and of really compact 

 growing, effective, green-leaved varieties, there are great 

 numbers. Then there are some that berry freely, and in that 

 sense alone are most effective. Skimmias, frequently trans- 

 planted, are at Glen Eyre, Southampton, literally loaded with 

 red berries all the winter, the birds doing no harm. In the 

 same way the compact habited Aucubas will berry marvellously, 

 and wear a very bright aspect all the winter. Then Pernettyas 

 also, if grown specially in peaty soil, berry abundantly, and thus 

 become very effective. But we need not be limited entirely to 

 evergreen shrubs, for most beautiful for early spring blooming 

 are the Forsythias, flowering currants, scarlet Pyruses, the 

 yellow-tufted Mahonias, and the pretty Daphne Mezereon. 

 All these, carefully treated, may be employed to decorate beds in 

 the spring. 



Very valuable too are the Vincas, whether green or silvery. 

 These with some ivies, planted to form carpets or rings, may be 

 used to cover or enclose clumps of hyacinths or other bulbs, 

 whilst there are several hardy heaths that bloom early, and form 

 very charming features. In planting conifers and si i rubs in 

 beds, if the plants be small, I should prefer grouping them into 



