218 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 4, 1884. 
thing else. Ixoras are also very subject to thrips. Where Orchids are 
not grown in the same house as plants green fly and thrips can easily be 
got rid of by fumigation, hut it is very injurious to the foliage of most 
Orchids. Cyperus alternifolius variegatus, Fittonias, Panicum variegatum, 
Peperomia, Phyllottcuium Lindeni, Pilea, Sonerila, and Tradescantia 
should he grown in quantity, as they will be found to come in very useful 
during the dull winter months,—A Woeker. 
THE LONDON PARKS. 
Wbathee has a great effect upon the appearance of the bedding in 
the public parks as everywhere else, and, the present season having been 
an exceptional one as regards heat and absence of rain, it is not surprisiog 
that some deficiency is observable in even the most favoured. The three 
distinct styles of planting now followed have, however, been differently 
affected ; in some cases the season has evidently been beneficial, in others 
quite the reverse. For example, the plants employed in carpet-bedding 
need a high temperature and exposure to sun to ensure the development 
of those rich tints which form the chief attractions of this method; accord¬ 
ingly they have been exactly suited this summer, and in the majority of 
cases such beds have been and still are in admirable condition. The 
designs are well filled up, and the clear bright colours of the Alternan- 
theras appear to excellent advantage in contrast with the neutral-tinted 
Sedums or Mesembryanthemum cordifolium. The ordinary Pelargonium 
style of bedding has, on the contrary, somewhat suffered. Even with the 
most careful and constant attention to the supply of water the plants 
have made less growth, produced fewer flowers, and have not retained 
them so long as in other seasons. The sub-tropical plants, too, have 
made less growth in most instances, except where their position is low, 
moist, and shaded. In such a season the Superintendents have many 
difficulties to contend with, and their success in making the displays 
effective is the more praiseworthy. But in comparing the parks it must 
be borne in mind that they are very differently situated, and this has much 
to do with their relative merits. In the east of London Victoria Park is 
in the centre of a densely populated and smoky district, one of the least 
favourable to gardening imaginable. Eegent’s Park, again, at least that 
portion of it devoted to bedding, is not much better—indeed in some 
respects it is worse than Victoria Park, as the beds are so closely over¬ 
shadowed by trees that the plants often become drawn, weak, and com¬ 
paratively flowerless. Finsbury Park is a decided improvement ; it is 
partially out of the smoke range, elevated, and consequently enjoying a 
purer atmosphere, though the position is much exposed. Hyde Park also 
shows the advantage of its western situation in the freer growth of the 
plants and brighter colour of the flowers. The low and proportionately 
moist position occupied by Battersea Park can be fully appreciated in a 
season like the present, while Hampton Court is quite beyond the evil 
influences of the London atmosphere. When visiting and criticising the 
respective displays these facts must be borne in mind, as they will assist 
the observer in forming a more accurate judgment of the taste and care 
shown in their arrangement or management. 
It often becomes a matter of importance with visitors to London to 
accomplish as much as possible in a short time, and a day devoted to a 
tour of the parks is, perhaps, all they spare. In this case strangers often 
find it difficult to plan their journey satisfactorily, and for their benefit it 
may be briefly indicated how all the London parks can be included in 
one day’s journey. Starting from Liverpool Street station, the Great 
Eastern terminus, Cambridge Heath is the nearest station for Victoria 
Park, a few minutes’ walk bringing the visitor to the principal gate. By 
leaving the park at the opposite end train can be taken from the North 
London station to Finsbury Park. Returning to King’s Cross a ’bus will 
convey the traveller to Regent’s Park, and a similar conveyance will take 
him thence to the Edgware Road for Hyde Park. There the principal 
flower beds are parallel with Park Lane, so that by entering at the Marble 
Arch gate and quitting it near Apsley House, the most important part of 
the display will have been seen. From there it is a short walk to Victoria 
station, from whence Battersea Park can be reached by train. By starting 
in good time in the morning no difficulty will be experienced in accom¬ 
plishing this tour, and if it is desired to occupy another day in a similar 
manner Chiswick, Kew, and Hampton Court can be easily visited. 
Following this plan the chief features of the establishments mentioned 
may be pointed out, commencing with 
VICTORIA PARK. 
When this park is entered by the gate nearest the station already 
named the best mode of seeing the most effective portion of the bedding is 
by turning sharp to the right, and a short distance from the gate the first 
path to the left leads through the sub-tropical garden. This is sheltered 
by continuous mounds of shrubs and small trees, has a lake good size, and 
pleasant winding walks, rendering it one of the most pleasant portions 
of the park in hot weather. This season the shrubs and trees have suffered 
very much ; the deciduous species are already fast losing their leaves, 
and the others have a browned withered appearance that is far from 
agreeable. Abundant beds of Gannas, Eicinuses, Acacia lophantha, 
Wigandia caracasana. Ficus elastica, and Solanums afford, however, a 
welcome relief in their freshness, and by liberal watering the turf has 
been kept in excellent condition—a point of much importance, for nothing 
mars the beauty of bedding on lawns so much as a surrounding of withered 
grass. One feature is very notable, and, simple though it be, it is worthy 
of imitation in other places. In the majority of the shrub borders near 
the margin, where it is moderately sheltered, Mignonette has been 
most abundantly sown, and as a result there is a continuous carpet which 
fills the air with its delicate fragrance. Springing from this the Gladio¬ 
luses now furnish a most acceptable brightness of colour, and with a few 
other flowering plants add much to the beauty of the department. 
A large bed of the single white Dahlia White Queen is particularly* 
attractive, the large pure white flowers being produced in great abund¬ 
ance, and contrasting well with the rich dark green foliage. An unpre¬ 
tentious rockery well clothed with Sedums, Saxifrages, and miscellaneous 
succulent plants, amongst which the Agaves are prominent, is materially 
brightened by a number of richly coloured and varied Portulaccas. These- 
are dotted about in good-sized clumps, especially at the base of the- 
rockery, where they grow most freely and flower profusely. Some mixed 
beds of Ficus, Tobaccos, Variegated Maize, and Eucalyptus globulus are- 
effective, the last two plants being very striking, the Eucalyptus with its- 
fine glaucous foliage and the Maize with regularly and boldly striped 
green and white leaves. A few small carpet beds in which Alternantheraa 
aurea and versicolor form the chief features are also noteworthy. 
Quitting the sub-tropical garden and crossing the carriage road we- 
have in front of us a large semicircular turfed space occupied with the 
principal carpet beds. The background is formed of shrubs, a consider¬ 
able breadth in front of them being devoted to miscellaneous flowerings 
plants, such as Phloxes, Gladioluses, Tagetes, Veronicas, Statices, and 
Pelargoniums. Between these and the carpet beds are a few circles of 
Pelargonium, the two best being one planted with a mixture of the white- 
edged Princess Alexandra and Violas, and the other with Pelargonium 
Nimrod, which has large brilliant scarlet flowers in dense trusses, very 
effective. The pink-flowered Christine is also employed, but is in poor 
condition. The carpet beds are tastefully planted, but there is rather too 
large a proportion of the Mentha Pulegium as a groundwork, the- 
majority of panels being small, and in some cases almost insignificant. 
The Gibraltar Pennyroyal has a fresh bright green tint, but it is somewhat 
too near the colour of the grass to be employed largely in beds cut out in 
the turf. As a groundwork the Herniaria glabra has a much better 
appearance, as can he well seen in Hyde Park, where it is this season 
almost exclusively employed. In one of the beds near those above- 
mentioned it is, however, employed with excellent effect. This is what 
may be termed asix-lobedbed—namely, a circle with six small half-circles- 
projecting from the sides. In the centre is a raised circle of Herniaria, in 
which are dotted small Agaves and Sempervivums, with bands of Fuchsia 
Cloth of Gold and edge of Echeverias. On a lower level there are- 
triangular panels of Alternanthera versicolor margined with Golden 
Feather and Echeverias, while the whole bed is edged with the last-named 
plants. In another circular bed there is a central cross of Alternanthera 
aurea edged with A. amoena and Echeverias, a ground of the Gibraltar 
Pennyroyal with small bands of Alternanthera versicolor. The principal 
bed is long serpentine scroll about 3 feet wide, which is carpeted through¬ 
out with Mentha and margined with two rows of Echeverias. It is to- 
this that a previous remark respecting the minuteness of the designs more 
especially refers, for the Alternantheras, such as aurea, amoena, and 
versicolor are mostly in circular patches of small dimensions, with central 
plants of suitable succulents, as Echeverias and Sempervivums. The 
preponderance of green gives the bed a rather dull appearance, and 
though it is so narrow a bolder system of planting would be much more 
effective, particularly as the bed occupies a prominent position near to the 
road. 
Following this road to the left conducts the visitor to the brilliant- 
display of Pelargoniums in a series of oblong parallel beds. There the 
object is always to produce as grand a show of colour as possible, and those 
who admire such effects can there see enough to satisfy them. Pelargoniums- 
are freely employed, and the plants seem to have succeeded better there 
than they have in many other places, being until last week well furnished 
with blooms, though doubtlessly the rains have now somewhat lessened 
their beauty. The colours are so bright and are so densely massed that 
the effect is quite dazzling at first glance. Pelargonium Henry Jacoby i» 
in first-rate condition, its rich dark flowers standing out prominently 
amongst all the others. For such methods of bedding-out this variety is- 
unequalled in darkness of colour. As a fine clear true scarlet Lucifer is 
also very striking, the trusses being large and bold, while the best pink 
variety employed at Victoria Park is Cleopatra, which has obtained favour 
in several gardens as a free robust grower. Centaureas, Gnaphaliums> 
and ornamental Beet are used as marginal band, or, in the case of the 
Beet, as a central block, a few Iresines and Coleuses being similarly 
employed. Several handsome carpet beds are also noteworthy in this 
portion of the park, but the general plans are similar to those of the othera 
already mentioned. The ground is of Mentha, with crosses or raised 
squares of Alterantheras aurea, versicolor, and amoena, lined in with 
Echeverias and Golden Feather. They are well filled and carefully 
planted, and the plants having coloured well gives them a very pleasing 
ppearance. 
VIPER'S BUGLOSS. 
Viper’s Bugloss, as the Echiums are commonly termed, is a showy 
genus of Borageworts. Unfortunately most of the species are either 
annual or biennial; and although they have been in cultivation from 
time to time they are generally lost sight of, owing probably to their 
shyness in ripening seeds in damp wet seasons, and also the partiality 
birds have for them. 
Among the annuals E. creticum and E. violaceum are really hand¬ 
some plants, and worthy of a place in every garden where a little time 
