ON THE SPRING DECORATION OF FLOWER BEDS. 223 1' 
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pJ redolent witli Ileal th and beauty, has probably been the subject of anxious care for many months 
previous. Now, these remarks are equally applicable to the flower garden, and have been made with 
a view of di-awing attention to a much-neglected subject, the details of which, from the simple (I may 
add, common) nature of the materials ojierated upon, may be termed trifling, yet contain suflicient 
elements for the production of a great amount of beauty, and consequent gratiflcation, and that, too, 
at a season when theii- beauty is well appreciated — I mean, the decoration of flower beds during 
March, April, and May. 
It must be admitted, that, if a method can be pointed out by which the ban-en and desolate 
appearance of empty flower beds can be relieved dm-ing the above period, it is, at all events, a very 
desirable thing ; and as I feel well convinced that it is attainable by a very smaU amount of labour, I 
■\vill make no apology for offering a succinct detail of the culture of the plants I would bring forward 
as specially appUcable for that pm-pose ; and as the season is at hand when theii- culture must be 
attended to, there cannot be a better time to bring the subject foi-ward. 
It is necessary to observe, that there must be a space of ground set apart for the cultivation of a 
portion of these plants, which, for the convenience of planting, cleaning, and watering, should be 
divided into beds ; if it be shaded fi-om the mid-day heat, so much the better ; but I would rather it 
were fully exposed than wholly shaded, as the sun is a necessary agent in the production of a 
flowering habit. 
Fii'st and foremost, both as regards beauty and utility stands the Viola arborea ; a bed now before 
me, nine feet long by three feet wide, is a complete carpet of deep purple, and, on a moderate calcula- 
tion, there are, at the time I am writing (April), 3600 fully expanded blooms on it. The Violet may be 
cultivated to any extent by dividing the roots, and the latter end of May is the best time for the 
pm-pose, at which time they should be di-s-ided into single pieces, either rooted, or as cuttings, and 
planted in the reserve beds six inches apart each way ; the most suitable soil is a fresh sandy loam, 
and rotten leaves. In dry weather in the summer, they are very much benefitted by copious supphes 
of water. By October they will be very nice plants, and may be taken up with a ball, and trans- 
ferred to the (by that time) empty beds in the flower garden. I would next suggest the diflerent 
varieties of double priiiii-oses, plants of very easy culture, and exceedingly appropriate for spring 
decoration ; the colours I possess are white, yellow, pale red, buff, and deep crimson, the latter rare, 
but veiy beautiful. These also should be divided at the end of May, and planted in the reserve beds, 
and will bear moderate shade ; soil, fresh sandy loam and leaf mould. 
Polyanthuses and Alpine Auriculas, of which there is an infinite variety, ■^vill come under the same 
remarks. 
Hepatica ; white, red, blue. These pretty plants are very abundant flowerers, and universal 
fovom-ites, and are easily increased by division after flowering, but being of slow growth, there had 
better be a double stock kept in the reserve garden, as they are best to remove into the flower beds 
at two years growth. 
Puhnonaria angustifoUa, violet, ofiicinalis, pink, azm-ea, blue. Some of our searchers after 
novelty "^tII smile at my recommending these plants, the two fii'st being indigenous, but smile or not, 
they are very pretty, and being abundant flowerers, are very appHcable to oui- purpose, ai-e readily 
increased by dirision, and not particular as to soU. 
Erythronium dens canis albidum, white ; longifoKum, rose ; both so beautiful that too much cannot 
be said in praise of them ; very showy indeed in a mass. These are bulbous plants, which increase 
very fast. By the end of May they may be taken up and laid into a light soil in a warm situation, to 
ripen the bulbs. "When ripe take up and store. 
Anemones ; double and single, many shades of coloiu' ; very beautiful. Plant early in November, 
pre^-iously dressing the bods well with good fresh loam. In very severe weather they should have a 
covering of three inches of rotten leaves. The best of their flowering is over before the beds are 
wanted for summer plants, and they may be taken up and laid in to rijJen as before dii'ected for 
Eiythronium. The Anemone steUata, a bright scarlet, is excellent for our purpose, and remains in 
the gi-ound aU the year. It is increased by division, and beds may be made in the reserve garden. 
Hyacinths many coloui's, remarkably showy and beautiful, and desii'able in every sense of the 
word. Plant early in November, rather deep ; after flowering they will ripen well, laid in, in a 
warm situation. 
Turban Ranunculi ; scarlet, dark crimson, and yellow. Nothing can exceed the beauty of these 
plants ; their dazzKng brilliancy of colour renders them universal favourites. Plant early in November, 
in rows six inches apart, and thi'ee inches plant from plant. They dehght in fi'csh sandy loam and 
leaf mould, and require a covering of rotten leaves in severe weather. Jl 
