•V 4 
206 
Rustic Adornments . 
are used as little as possible, and of the simplest form. No hard and fast rule 
can be laid down as to where beds should be permitted, because so much 
depends upon local circumstances. We may safely venture to say, however, 
that they should not be permitted in front of a large lawn, but rather at the 
sides, in angles or corners where the eye requires a little colour to brighten up 
the back-ground. And even then their outlines ought not to be the stereotyped 
circles or ovals, but made to conform to the prevailing lines of the surround¬ 
ings. In small forecourts where there is no room for borders and beds, and 
where the space is too limited to render the turf by itself of sufficient expanse 
to be interesting, a group of beds may legitimately be formed. But in the 
case of a good sized lawn it is unwise, as well as wanting in good taste, to have 
beds except in the vicinity of groups of trees or shrubs, where a good back¬ 
ground of foliage may be obtained to tone down the bright colours of the plants 
used in them. Beds are, however, permissible by the side of walks where there 
is no risk of interfering with the view across the lawn. As to the style of beds, 
any of those depicted in the accompanying plan are suitable. They should be 
4 to 6 feet in diameter, and 15 feet from centre to centre, according to the 
width of the walks. The style of bed we are most in favour of are those 
known as rock beds. These are formed by placing long burrs or stones 
on the ground so as to form an irregular outline, then filling the centre with 
soil and placing a few burrs or stones here and there on the top to create 
small beds. This plan may be varied so that a narrow bed cut in the turf 
may gradually develop into a miniature rocky promontory at the opposite end, 
conveying an impression that the stones were the result of an upheaval rather 
than an artificial arrangement. Beds of this character are best suited for 
placing near a bank or large rockery, and should never be permitted on an 
open level lawn. 
And then comes the question of what shall be planted in these beds. 
Those near the margin of a walk or building are best planted with dwarf 
plants, such as primroses, polyanthuses, scillas, crocuses, snowdrops, hyacinths 
tulips, forget-me-nots, and Silene pendula compacta for spring flowering 
with lobelia, golden pyrethrum, Mese 7 nbryanthemum cordifolium variegatum , 
variegated and zonal pelargoniums, calceolarias, etc., for a summer dis¬ 
play ; and dwarf shrubs for autumn and winter. The selection given for 
the summer months may be replaced by pansies, violets, ten-week stocks, 
china asters, Indian pinks, and verbenas, if something slightly less formal 
be preferred. Those who have a fancy for carpet bedding may appropriately 
