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THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
GAY GARDENS IN SPRING. 
BY JAMES EOED, 
Head Gardener, Grange Wood, Norwood. 
CH has been said in the pages of the Pboral Woeld 
in advocacy of spring flowers, and in pointing out the 
way by which the flower-garden may be made to present 
a gay and festive appearance during the spring months, 
it is not needful to say a word in praise of the materials 
with which this desirable result can be produced. Spring flowers 
are, to my mind, as necessary as those flowering in summer ; and 
there is really no material difference between the flower-beds being 
bare during the spring and summer months, for it is just as easy to 
have them gay at one time as the other. Indeed, if there is any 
difference, the spring season has the advantage, for all the spring 
bedders are of necessity perfectly hardy, and may be grown by those 
who have not any glass whatever in the garden. They are also so 
easily propagated that with but little difficulty they can be multiplied 
in any quantity by the amateur possessing but a small knowledge of 
plant culture. It must, however, be understood that having the 
flower-garden gay in spring as well as in summer, a double amount of 
work will be necessary, and a reserve ground, in proportion to the 
number and size of the beds, will be required for the accommodation 
of the plants during the summer. 
The cultural details will be as brief as possible ; but I hope, by 
arranging them under separate headings, to convey all the informa- 
tion required for making a satisfactory commencement. It may also 
be observed that in the garden here we employ the leading kinds 
by thousands : but the routine culture of a dozen is just the same as 
of a thousand. 
Altsstjm. — The yellow-flowered A. saxatile cornfactum is the 
best golden spring-bedder we have, and can be propagated from 
cuttings or seeds. The side-shoots, stripped off and inserted in a 
sandy soil, in a shady place, strike freely. The seed can be sown 
in the open border, or in boxes and placed in a frame. J uly is a 
capital month for sowing the seed and striking the cuttings ; but the 
plants will require a year’s growth before they will be available for 
the flower-garden. Therefore, when removed from the cutting-pot 
or seed-bed, plant them in nursery-beds, at a distance of four inches 
apart, in rows nine or twelve inches from each other. Excepting 
keeping them clear of weeds, they will require no further attention 
until they are removed to their winter quarters. 
Aeaeis. — The free-flowering A. albida forms attractive masses 
of the purest white, and is remarkably accommodating, for tufts, even 
without roots, planted in the autumn will flower very freely . It, 
however, cannot be strongly recommended ; for it blooms before any 
of the other things, and its beauty is gone before the main portion 
of the spring flowers are fairly in bloom. Plants broken-up and 
