286 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 23 , isso. 
sepals, and five to ten broad, roundish, conspicuous petals. Carpels 
two to five, many-seeded. Disk fleshy. These plants will thrive 
fairly in any good garden soil, but prefer light and rich sandy 
loam. After planting they will give little trouble, as they dislike 
the ground disturbed about them, which is another proof that the 
periodical digging in herbaceous borders is a very great mistake. 
The following is a selection well worthy the attention of all owners 
of a garden. It, however, by no means exhausts the supply. 
Pteonia Moutan Anneslei, alba grandiflora and fl. pi., atro-purpurea, 
Beauty of Canton, Candidissima, Dr. Bowring, Emperor of China, 
Glory of Shanghai, Ocellata, Papaveracea alba plena and rubro- 
plena, Robert Fortune, Rollissoni, Rosa Mundi, Rosseformis, Sama- 
rang, Triomphe de Gand and Malines, Victoria and alba, Violacea 
purpurea and fl. pleno, Zenobia. 
In the herbaceous section there are many fine varieties. Those 
here named will not fail to please every lover of hardy and 
showy flowers. Alba superba, Anemoniflora carneo-tincta, Atro- 
sanguinea, Auguste Van Geert, Candidissima, Carnea maxima, 
Centifolia rosea, Charles Binder, Edmond Lebon, Eugene Verdier, 
Festiva maxima, Gloire de Douai, Henry Demay, La Sublime, 
Leonie, Madame Chaumov, Madame Victor Verdier, Madonna, 
Marie Dhour, Prince Charles, Prince Imperial, Prince Prosper, 
Tenuifolia, The Queen.—H. G. 
THE PARKS OF LONDON.—No. 3. 
VICTORIA PARK. 
The brilliant display of bedding-out that usually characterises 
this Park during the summer season has this year fully main¬ 
tained its reputation. Tastefully designed carpet beds, fine 
masses of Pelargoniums, Coleuses, and similar plants, have pro¬ 
duced a magnificent show of colour, while borders of miscellaneous 
hardy plants have contributed to the general brightness ; and 
even now, when the beauty of the beds in other portions of the 
Park is waning, the “ mixed border” still forms one of the chief 
features. Subtropical gardening is also represented, so that there 
are examples of each style of bedding, and all are well executed. 
That assemblage of beds, commonly known as “ the Prince of 
Wales’ Feather beds,” constitutes the most attractive portion of 
the display to the majority of visitors. There the dazzling colours 
derived from scarlet, salmon, or pink Pelargoniums have been 
judiciously combined and contrasted with the deep shades of 
Iresine Lindeni and Coleus Verschaffelti, the pure white of Cen- 
taureas and the soft lavender blue of Ageratums resulting in a 
most satisfactory effect. The Pelargoniums have been excep¬ 
tionally fine, but they are now past their best, though the Coleuses 
and other plants employed continue attractive. What are chiefly 
remarkable are the neatness of the general appearance—the plants 
when they require it being kept well pinched in so as to form 
regular lines or compact clumps—and the peculiar richness of the 
colours in the foliage and flowers. The Iresines and Coleuses are 
especially noticeable in this respect, and several large beds of the 
latter are models of exactness, the surface being as even as if it 
had been mown. The Centaureas, too, are as white as possible, 
and the Ageratums have flowered very freely. In addition to the 
numerous beds containing the plants above indicated, there is a 
few on each side of the central design and near the path, which 
are tastefully planted as carpet beds ; these are of circular and 
oblong form, the ground being composed of Mentha Pulegium 
gibraltarica, upon which are raised star-shaped and other panels 
with a similar ground neatly edged with small plants of Echeveria 
secunda glauca, lined with Alternanthera paronychyoides major, 
and containing small clumps of A. arncena. The simplicity of the 
designs, the few varieties of plants employed, and the brightness 
of the Alternantheras, render these beds very neat and pleasing. 
Proceeding farther to the east we come to several carpet beds of 
great beauty, occupying a sheltered position near that portion of 
the Park devoted to subtropical plants. The one that first attracts 
attention is extremely long and narrow, of serpentine form. This 
is edged with Echeverias, and has a ground of Mentha, from which 
rise numerous small panels of Alternantheras ; single specimens 
of Sempervivum tubulasforme and Echeveria metallica with other 
similar plants are dotted at intervals in the centre. Right and 
left of this bed are beds of moderate size that might be described 
as hexagons, of which the sides have been converted into semi¬ 
circles, with the convex side turned outward. These are some of 
the best and most effective of any we have seen this year. They 
are margined with Echeverias, next to which is an edge of Alter¬ 
nanthera arncena, and then a similar line of Mesembryanthemum 
cordifolium variegatum, both these extending quite round the bed. 
The ground is composed of Herniaria glabra, as close and dwarf 
as if it had been rolled, and of a most intensely dark green tint; 
upon this is raised in the centre a star-shaped panel margined 
similarly to the outer edge of the beds, and containing lines of 
the Golden Pyrethrum and dense clumps of Alternanthera versi¬ 
color grandis. The other portion of the beds is also relieved 
by small panels of similar design. The peculiar distinctness of 
these beds is remarkable ; the lines of Echeverias contrasting so 
strikingly with the Herniaria brings out the design in bold relief. 
Of the subtropical department little need be said. Cannas, 
Ricinuses, Ficuses, Tobacco Plants, and Wigandias are well repre¬ 
sented, some beds of the latter being exceptionally fine. All are 
in most vigorous health and very satisfactory. One feature, how¬ 
ever, deserves notice—viz., a large bed of single Dahlias, which 
for brightness could scarcely be surpassed. It proves with what 
advantage these now comparatively neglected varieties can be 
employed in gardens. The borders of hardy plants have been 
already referred to, and it only remains to note that their principal 
attractions now are the Dahlias. These are freely employed ; a 
good selection of colours has been made, and the white varieties 
are sufficiently numerous to relieve the brighter tints. In one 
rather dark position—namely, that occupied by the carpet beds 
last described — the border in front of the shrubs is almost ex¬ 
clusively devoted to white Dahlias, which serve to lighten the 
slightly sombre effect considerably, and do not detract from the 
brilliancy of the other beds, as many colours would have done. 
As regards the general condition of the Park, it is as satisfactory 
as it has always been under Mr. McIntyre’s superintendence. 
HYDE PARK. 
The aristocratic Park of the metropolis as usual contributes its 
share to the pleasure and instruction of that portion of the public 
which is specially interested in that form of decorative gardening 
known as bedding-out. The chief display of colour, indeed nearly 
all the beds devoted either to carpet designs or the ordinary style, 
extend in one long series between the Park Lane boundary and 
the carriage drive. There, owing to the large number of Pelar¬ 
goniums employed and the satisfactory manner in which they 
have flowered this season, the effect has been exceptionally bril¬ 
liant. The majority of the beds are edged with Lobelias Blue 
Stone or pumila magnifica, Golden Feather, and the variegated 
Pelargoniums Albion’s Cliffs or Princess Alexandra, the centres 
being occupied with scarlet, pink, and white Zonal Pelargoniums. 
It is well known that the formality of such bedding and the repe¬ 
tition of bright colours employed constitute its chief defects, and 
consequently it is pleasant to observe some attempt to vary the 
prevailing monotony. This is shown in the introduction of a 
number of w T hat are termed “mixed beds ”—namely, such as have 
the centre composed of two or more distinct kinds of plants in 
alternate lines, which either by the harmony or contrast of their 
colours are suited for association. One combination, of which 
examples are frequently seen, is that of planting a golden-foliaged 
variety of Pelargonium with one of the bedding Yiolas in a circular 
bed near the Marble Arch end of the Park. The former is repre¬ 
sented by Yerona and the latter by Viola Blue Bell, which contrast 
very well, especially as they are relieved by the margin of Pelar¬ 
gonium Albion’s Cliffs and Lobelia Blue Stone. Another bed in 
the same style has, however, a very different effect, and is almost 
more peculiar than beautiful. This is composed of Crystal Palace 
Gem Pelargonium and Amaranthus melancholicus ruber. A third 
example contains the variegated Pelargonium Miss Kingsbury 
with Perilla nankinensis, which also has a curious effect, but 
rather more pleasing than the one previously mentioned. As a 
slight variation of the first a long bed is planted with Pelargonium 
Aristo and the same Yiola, but this does not seem to have proved 
very satisfactory, for the Viola has almost hidden its companion. 
Perhaps the most satisfactory of all is a bed comprising an 
unnamed variegated Pelargonium, probably Princess Alexandra, 
and Iresine Lindeni. Both have thriven well, and the colour 
of the Iresine is particularly rich. A neat but not very showy 
effect is produced by the combination of Pelargonium Princess 
Alexandra with Ageratum Tom Thumb. These “ mixed beds ” 
are the chief features deserving of notice, the majority of the 
others being in the ordinary style. It is perhaps worthy of note 
that, in addition to the edging already referred to, many beds are 
margined with Lobelia Omen and Pelargonium Robert Fish ; both 
have done very well, but the Lobelia has been uncommonly fine, 
the purplish mauve coloured flowers having been most freely pro¬ 
duced. A clump of Abutilons (A. Thompsoni), Lantanas, and 
Amaranthuses is fairly satisfactory, but it is questionable if the 
two latter might not have been omitted with advantage, for they 
scarcely improve the appearance of the Abutilons, which have 
their foliage brightly coloured. The carpet designs are not very 
numerous, but fairly characteristic. The one which most attracted 
our attention was neat and effective, being devoid of that intricacy 
which too frequently marks such beds. It was only 4 or 5 feet in 
diameter, four-lobed in shaped, edged with Echeveria secunda 
