NuVin.ber H, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
443 
-of the first merit, which on trial prove so good that they quite 
change the features of the garden, and give that change which is 
thought so much of in these times. Bearing on this matter is 
■distinctness in the planting and arranging of the flowers, no less 
than in the kind of plants employed. One of the very worst 
features of present day gardening is the monotony with which the 
same plants are grown in exactly the same manner in almost every 
■garden, so that one is obliged to be continually on the outlook for 
something good and novel in order to be somewhat different to 
one’s neighbours. This ought not to be. 
Coming now to a review of the plants which have been this 
year employed most largely, and taking bedding plants first, our 
two partial failures have been seedling Lobelias and the brown 
Calceolaria Sir H. Havelock. Both will be set aside for the future. 
Gur most effective plants have been large beds filled with Henry 
Jacoby Pelargoniums banded with pale blue Ageratum, and finished 
to the grass with a broad dressed edging of white Koniga. A very 
large bed was prettily filled with large plants of the good old 
Flower of Spring Geranium set widely apart, and the ground 
carpeted with light blue Ageratum. This central block was 
divided from the outside portion by a row of Dactylis elegant- 
issirna, next to which came a broad line of Mrs. Ellice Tropceolum, 
a beautiful deep orange sort, next to which came the soft-shaded 
Crystal Palace Gem Pelargonium, and a narrow edging of Koniga 
next the grass. A very nice arrangement in a small bed was com¬ 
posed of a middle block of white Lobelia Princess Royal, dotted 
with Chammpeuce diacantha and a few red Begonias ; the edging 
next the grass was Pyrethrum selaginoides, and behind that the 
good Wave of Blue Lobelia. The front of a long border was most 
effective, the plants being a line of Echeveria secunda glauca next 
to the grass, behind that alternate plants of the Lobelia just named 
and good plants of Golden Chain Pelargonium. Behind these, and 
growing among them, was Mangles’ Variegated Pelargonium, and 
next to that a broad line of Henry Jacoby. Beds planted in 
mixture and in juxtaposition with Christine Pelargonium (the best 
shade of pink we have seen) and yellow Viola mixed, and Bijou 
Pelargonium and mauve Violas mixed were very pleasing over a 
long period. Next season we shall have large beds in mixture 
respectively of Calceolaria Kayi and white Phlox Drummondi, 
Pelargonium Henry Jacoby and yellow Viola, Pelargonium 
Christine and mauve Viola, and Pelargonium Bijou and purple 
Viola, the edging in each case being a broad line of Cerastium 
tomentosum. Mixed beds are always effective when well done. 
Before leaving this part of the subject it may just be noted that 
an extremely pretty bed was composed of last winter’s flowering 
Pelargoniums, all the shoots being pegged down, and a few white 
variegated Pelargoniums dotted in among them. 
Coming now to annual flowers, some of these have been sur¬ 
passingly beautiful. Of such are single Zinnias, which have 
flowered continuously ; Asters, which were finer than usual. The 
•sorts we grew were Victoria—by far the finest—Reid’s Quilled, and 
the new white Paeony Perfection, of which latter two long edging 
lines were grown. Dwarf Sunflowers were really grand. Salpi- 
glossis, Phlox Drummondi, Gaillardias, the Crimson Flax, were 
perhaps the best of the others, but most annuals in ordinary 
cultivation are well worth growing. 
Amongst florists’ flowers Gladiolus were by far the best. In 
one border, 120 feet long, we had two lines of plants (about 
4 to 6 inches apart in the rows) of the best kinds, with an edging 
next to the walk of Asters. From the beginning of August till 
well into September these made a grand show of colour, and were 
of course, individually, of the very greatest interest. In fact most, 
if not all, visitors were as much surprised as delighted with their 
■beauty. Pentstemons were not so fine as usual, the dry season 
being very much against these moisture-loving plants. Phloxes 
picked up after the rains, but generally these were not a success. 
Dahlias were very good, Hollyhocks stunted in growth. Pansies 
we have all but discarded, keeping only a few sorts which do not 
die off. Antirrhinums have been very good ; Pinks and Carnations 
finer than usual. 
The hardy border plants, as a whole, have been finer than in 
some years. A very large number of the less effective sorts were 
■cleared out last winter, and many more plants of the sorts kept 
were planted mostly in clumps. Some hundreds of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums were dibbled into the borders in April, and these alone, 
-especially Precocity and Madame Desgrange, which were most 
largely planted, with some large clumps of Tritomas, made 
quite a show for many weeks. Tritomas have been really grand 
this year. We have them in several places, and in all alike they 
have done well. Clumps of Gladiolus—Gandavensis, Brenchley- 
ensis, ramosus, Ne Plus Ultra, and Lemoine’s hybrids—have been 
yery good in the borders. Large numbers of Delphiniums were 
planted and cut down in order to flower in autumn, but the dry 
weather had a bad effect, as few responded to this treatment. It is 
curious how a few striking flowers, planted in sufficient quantity, 
give their own individuality to mixed borders. We never saw this 
so plainly apparent as this autumn, when for weeks the main 
borders showed a broad mass of orange-scarlet (Tritoma) and 
white (Chrysanthemum) with a yellow edging (aloo Chrysanthe¬ 
mum). Looking from either end of the borders the individuality 
of the hundreds of other flowers then blooming was completely 
out of sight, and it was only while passing along the walk sepa¬ 
rating the borders that the other flowers— e.g., Japanese Anemones, 
various Michaelmas Daisies, Gladiolus, Pansies, Gailardias, Dahlias, 
Golden Rods, various early Chrysanthemums, single hardy ditto, 
Paris Daisies, and such like came under notice. Next season I hope 
to add to the beauty of these borders by having a couple of hundred 
of Aster bessarabicus to come between the Madame Desgrange 
Chrysanthemums and the Tritomas. Solidago canadensis will also 
be largely increased—it is such a beautiful and graceful plant. 
Pentstemons I hope to plant very largely in the front portion of 
the border, also a greater number of Gaillardias, especially the 
double Lorenziana. I shall also try a number of Cannas, a few 
hundreds of Pink Mrs. Sinkins and of Anne Boleyn, and possibly 
some one or two good annual flowers, and shall expect to tide over, 
with their help, the period between the break-up of the summer 
herbaceous plants in July, and the commencement of the autumn 
display six weeks later.—B. 
VIOLAS. 
I WAS delighted to read Mr. Jenkins’ remarks on page 402, and 
frankly apologise if I have in any way disturbed your correspondent’s 
feelings. When a discussion is commenced upon any subject we are all 
open to criticism, and as I could not find in Mr. Jenkins’ quotations 
any practicable information, I was led to ask how such a description 
could guide us. I do not think your correspondent need accuse me of 
any carelessness in reading his communication; on the contrary, I 
must ask him to withdraw the word “ absolute,” which he has thought 
necessary to introduce before exclusion, and which entirely alters the 
meaning of my quotation. I have not thrown out any insinuations as 
to the absolute exclusion of any Violas, and if simply quoting your 
correspondent’s own words does not please him, he ought to have thought 
of it before sending his article to the Journal. I admit that Mr. Jenkins’ 
language is rather difficult to understand. For instance, he says “ if 
I had read his communication rightly I would not attribute to him any 
desire of absolute exclusion of any Violas; ” and further, he says if I 
were to read his note again, at page 323, I should find that he “ merely 
excludes ” those varieties with rounded flowers formally, and refers 
them to the bedding Pansies ; but if Countess of Hopetoun, be ause of 
its rounded tendency, floriferousness, and dense habit, is an example of 
your correspondent’s judgment, I do not agree with either him or Mr. 
Dean, as I do not consider these at all essential characters in distinguish¬ 
ing the Viola from the bedding Pansy. Moreover, it is admitted by all 
florists that these are essential points, equally binding on the Viola and 
bedding Pansy, and have nothing to do with their classification. 
But to return to your correspondent’s quotation, “ calyx with unequal 
sepals,” I should like to have an explanation of these words, and also I 
should like to know the difference between the calyx and sepals of the 
Viola from that of the Pansy. If, as your correspondent says there is 
no difference botanically, where does he get his authority for asserting 
that all those with a rounded tendency ought to go to the bedding 
Pansies? This is certainly not a line of distinction I can support, for the 
rules laid down for my guidance were—First, colour ; second, form ; third, 
size (not too large). Of course, floriferousness, with a dense habit, aie 
essential points either in the bedding Pansy or Viola, especially with 
those who grow them as decorative plants, but there are others again 
who grow them for the exhibition table also, and if they cannot find in 
the Viola the points I refer to, they would certainly never stage these 
blooms on the grounds of floriferousness or habit. Mr. Jenkins does not 
see the neeessity for such a classification as I ventured to suggest, and 
thinks the whole might be more conveniently grouped under two heads 
—viz., Violas and bedding Pansies, and adds, beyond this, if occasion 
required, they may be grouped to colour, while the miscellaneous varie¬ 
ties may be grouped as fancies. I have no objection to this ar¬ 
rangement, as they would still remain in their respective classes 
according to my classification, and merely be arranged as t - e show 
Pansy — viz., Dark Self, White Self, and Yellow Selfs ; while 
class 3 in each family would be composed of the miscellaneous 
varieties spoken of by Mr. Jenkins. Thus, although your correspondent 
does not admit the necessity of my classification, he is rather inclined 
to favour my opinion, and I am much obliged for the hint he has 
thrown out, but he also takes care to remind me that although I take ex¬ 
ception to the answer he gives to my question, I do not myself advance 
anything more obvious. I will, therefore, venture to make another sug¬ 
gestion which I hope Mr. Jenkins will support and help me to carry out. 
It is a fact admitted by all florists that a dense well cut blotch is an 
essential character in all Pansies, whether show, fancy, or bedding ; I 
would, therefore, make this the distinguishing character between the 
two families, and while we hand over to the bedding Pansies all those 
with a dense well cut blotch, we would retain all those with pencilled 
or rayed flowers, as Violas. I have followed this course in my classifica- 
