PLANTS SUITABLE FOR GROUPING 
109 
Take for example any of the botanic or physic gardens, where herbaceous and other 
plants are arranged according to their genera or orders, and contrast them with a 
flower garden managed upon the best acknowledged principles of grouping, and we do 
not hesitate to say this will be sufficient to cause many to become converts to what 
we recommend. What we have just stated respecting public gardens was merely given 
as an example of the general effect produced by plants mixed indiscriminately, and 
not to insinuate, as might be supposed, that these arrangements are wrong or in- 
compatible with such institutions ; we know to the contrary ; neither do we suppose 
that botanists would consider a flower garden, managed as we propose, so fraught 
wdth interest, notwithstanding which they would certainly acknowledge the 
superiority in general effect and beauty ; but these are not the objects sought after 
by scientific men, who, with microscopes, examine and admire, with as much satis- 
faction, a new form of lichen or moss, as others would a bed of roses ; indeed so 
changeable are the tastes and fancies of human nature in general, that any thing 
called new and beautiful to-day, will probably, in a short time, be termed only pretty. 
The most beautiful plants and colours cease to be interesting or charming to 
the eye when they have become familiar, or, at least, cease to cause the usual 
emotions felt at seeing any new or beautiful form ; in course of time, we view them 
with the same indifference as we do the most common things or colours ; we pro- 
pose to obviate this by grouping the most approved colours in beds, changing their 
position at every re-arrangement, which would in some instances occur thrice 
in the season ; and thus the monotony of seeing the same plant spring, flower, 
and die, would, we conceive, be in a great measure remedied. 
We may now mention such plants as we have found most suitable in the earliest 
months of the season. The varieties of crocus, Hellehorus niger, or Christmas rose, 
and the blue and white Russian violets, are among the first harbingers of returning' 
spring. Edgings of crocus, particularly where the garden is in the geometrical style, 
are in our opinion preferable to filling any of the beds entirely with them ; they 
should be planted in September when taken up, which need not be oftener than' 
once in three years. 
Groups of the following may be had from January until April : — 
Hellehorus niger should be planted from the reserve garden, either in the autumn, 
when some of the beds have become vacant, or just before flowering; they should 
be taken up immediately after flowering, which is the time for their propagation 
by division of the roots, and planted in good soil until again wanted. 
Russian violets, single white and blue, may be treated in the same manner. 
Hepaticas, blue and peach blossomed ; Primula acaulis, the red, white, and 
puce coloured varieties, may be treated as recommended for Hellehorus ; a shaded 
part of the reserve garden should be chosen for the last two, or close under a north 
wall in the kitchen garden, which is generally unoccupied. 
Viola tricolor, (as recommended in a former number). 
Draha nivalis makes a beautiful white mass, and may be planted just before 
flowering without injury; it is propagated in May by cuttings, under a north 
aspect. 
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