240 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 17,1891. 
yellow, and lilacy-blue. This block of colouring is encircled with a 
band of Crystal Palace Gem Pelargonium, this again with a band of 
Ageratum ; then outside of this a narrow line of Mesembryanthemum 
cordifolium variegatum, and the edging of Lobelia Lady McDonald, 
the idea of ton ; ng down the yellow and blue with the last two plants 
being successfully compassed. 
A series of beds very simply planted is also very effective. The 
centres are Koniga variegata dotted thinly with Pelargonium Flower 
of Spring, and Burrounded with a band of Lobelia Brighton Blue, and 
this, again, edged with Lobelia Lady McDonald. The colouring of 
the series of bed.3 of which the above form a portion is provided mainly 
by Henry Jacoby Pelargonium, but the combination of light blue, 
emphasised by the deeper shade of blue, which stands out from the 
block of soft white and deep rose, to which it lends character, is what 
I mainly wish to make a note of here. 
I am sure that the designers of flower beds fail more often in pro¬ 
viding a suitable finish in the shape of edgings than is generally thought. 
I have had many opportunities of inspecting flower beds in different 
parts of the country during the present season, and I could not help 
noting this defect. A soft finish is generally the best, but this is not 
always necessary, and even bright yellows or deep scarlet may on occa¬ 
sion be employed. The main reason for edgings in summer bedding is 
to provide a harmonious finish, and either to tone down the principal 
colouring, to emphasise its effect, or to carry the general character on 
to other beds or borders. The subject, however, is too wide for dis¬ 
cussion in this short note.—B. _ 
The interesting notes on this subject contributed by “ E. M.” show 
that this matter is receiving the attention it deserves in some quarters, 
and the effective combinations he so well described should stir others up 
to attempt the grouping of plants in mixed beds on the lines your 
correspondent indicates, so that we may have abundant variety of form 
and elegant growth as well as bright colours in our flower garden 
arrangements. I have long held the opinion that in the majority of 
plant and flower decorations too much attention has been paid to bright 
colours without giving sufficient weight to the effect produced by 
associating with them plants of graceful habit of growth. This not 
only applies to flower gardening but also to groups of plants and flow r ers 
arranged in glasses. By all means let us have bright colours, but as 
showy flowers so often have a somewhat formal outline let their 
beauty be enhanced by association with those which possess what 
they lack—viz., grace and beauty of outline. Zeas, Abutilons, Humea 
elegans, Fuchsias, the many varieties of ornamental Grasses, Acacias, 
and Maples are all useful for the purpose, and a further record of 
favourite beds worked out in various gardens would, I am sirre, prove 
very instructive.—D. VY. G. 
HARDY FLOWERS AT EDGE HALL, MALPAS. 
One day in the last week of August a solitary pedestrian w r ith 
umbrella overhead might have been seen wending his way from Malpas 
Station, Cheshire. Rain was falling heavily, the roads were wet and 
anything but pleasant, and two uncomfortable thoughts would persist 
in intruding themselves upon his mind. The first that the Rev. 
C. Wolley Dod, the well-known owner of Edge Hall, might be from 
home; and the second, that the heavy rain might prevent his accom¬ 
panying the writer through the gardens, in which are grown his famous 
hardy flowers. Had either of these uncomfortable ideas resolved them¬ 
selves into actual facts great would have been the writer’s loss. As it was, 
however, he need not have entered the domains of Doubting Castle, as 
fortunately Mr. Wolley Dod was at home, and, as fortunately, the rain 
ceased when we were about to begin our round of the flowers. I ques¬ 
tion much if the rain would have put a stop to our inspection, as Mr. 
Wolley Dod did not mind it, and it would have taken a torrent to have 
quenched my enthusiasm to such an extent as to have prevented my 
viewing the flowers. The fine old hall in itself would have been worthy 
of a visit, but there was so much to be seen among the plants that the 
time flew all too quickly, and I had eyes for little but flowers, 
which were magnificently grown, and which far surpassed my 
anticipations. 
With so much to write about I must confess to feeling some difficulty 
as to where to begin. To the rockeries on the grass, however, we first 
directed our steps, and there perhaps we had better start. I shall make 
no attempt to describe these, as I noted more particularlj 7 the plants 
grown upon them than the style of their construction. All, however, 
were built and planted with exquisite taste and skill. No attempt at 
formal arrangement is made, but mounds of Saxifrages, sheets of 
Campanulas, masses of Alpine Pinks, Drabas, Androsaces, Dryas, and 
countless other plants grow in a manner I have never seen surpassed. 
“It is too late to see this; it is a May and June rockery,” said my 
courteous guide. Late it was to see the flower, but not too late to see 
the magnificent growth of the plants. Nor was it too late to realise in 
one’s mind what must be the beauty of the rockwork when these grand 
rrsettes of Saxifraga longifolia uprear their spikes of bloom; when 
Dryas octopetala unfolds its white blossoms, or when D. Drummondi 
expands its yellow flowers, and when countless other “ stars of earth ” 
shine from the rockwork like in beauty to the stars which bedeck our 
winter’s sky. Nor is it yet too late to see some plants in flower. A 
number of plants of that beautiful Campanula—isophylla alba—were in 
full flower, and like everything else was beautifully done. A very 
beautiful Sedum—S. maximum—was also very fine, and it was all the 
more interesting as I had not seen it before. The heads of flower are 
large and of a fine deep crimson. The habit is more erect than is that 
of many of the other species, and it is a plant well worthy of growung if 
it can be procured anywhere. Several other Stonecrops w r ere in flower, 
but this w r as the most attractive to me. Very remarkable, too, were the 
many magnificent plants of Saxifraga longifolia. They had been raised 
from seed by Mr. Wolley Dod, and varied much in form. Some had the 
leaves more incurved than others, some were much broader in their 
leather-like foliage, but noticeable in all was their great size, some two 
rosettes in particular being of such an immense size that I shall refrain 
from attempting to put on paper my estimate of their diameter. This 
Saxifraga abounds at Edge Hall, and adds much to the beauty and 
interest of the rockeries. I have no time to speak of the many other 
Saxifragas grow r n, but must pass on to speak of other things. 
Remarkable as are the Saxifrages equally so were the Ramondias. I 
w 7 as quite surprised at the many fine plants of R. pyrenaica growing so 
luxuriantly. We find it difficult to manage well in this locality unless 
covered w r ith a frame or handlight to retain the moisture about the plant. 
At Edge Hall this was not done, but Mr. Wolley Dod keeps his plants 
as dark as possible, but in what one would call a natural way. They 
are planted behind a large stone, which gives the necessary shade. The 
only approach to artificial protection from the sun appeared in one 
place where a low close fence kept the sun’s rays from reaching the 
rockery on which a large number of plants were growung, and which 
sloped downward from the fence. Here a considerable number of seed¬ 
lings of R. p. alba were growing well but had not yet attained a flower¬ 
ing size, so that it had not been ascertained if they would come true 
from seed. R. serbica and the allied Haberlea rhodopensis were grown 
in a similar manner. Many of us might, with profit, endeavour to 
imitate Mr. Wolley Dod’s method. I w r as particularly pleased with the 
use made of Sempervivum arachnoideum and various Sedums by plant¬ 
ing them in fissures and hollows of the stones of the rockery. As in 
nature many stones are adorned with various mosses and lichens, so in 
cultivation we might well adopt other mediums for a similar purpose, 
and thus add to the interest and beauty of our gardens. This little 
Cobweb Houseleek seems a great favourite at Edge Hall. 
We now 7 pass into what may be called the herbaceous garden proper, 
and here I was quite unprepared for the scene of beauty which presented 
itself. I was almost transfixed with surprise and admiration at witness¬ 
ing a splendid clump of Bocconia cordata. I have seen it well grown 
many times, but I had never supposed it capable of forming such an 
ornamental object in the garden. This mass was taller than any 1 had 
ever seen, but I do not mean to estimate its height, for truth to tell, one 
had little inclination to descend to feet and inches with such a splendid 
plant. The great spikes of Oak-like leaves with the wealth of creamy 
coloured flowers will remain imprinted upon my memory for many 
years—should these years remain to me. But here we were passing from 
one object of interest to another. Asters, say you ! Well, Mr. Wolley 
Dod has a great knowledge of Asters (what hardy flowers does he not 
know 7 about ?) and he tells me, to my great regret, that it is almost 
impossible to determine the names of many of our perennial Asters. 
Those of us who are at our wit’s end to name our Michaelmas Daisies 
would be glad to give the Chiswick Conference in October almost a 
carte blanche in the way of the names of these plants. One magnificent 
Aster in Mr. Wolley Dod’s large collection of this family is a com¬ 
paratively new one, A. Thomsoni, and is so fine as to be w r orth looking 
after. The flowers are very large, of a deep purplish blue, and the plant, 
although attaining a good height, is very neat and compact. Another 
good flower closely related (although relegated to another genus) is 
Boltonia asteroides, synonymous, according to Asa Gray, with B. glasti- 
folia. This is not nearly so fine as Aster Thomsoni, but there are many 
inferior plants of the Asteracese in our gardens which might well give a 
place to this Boltonia. 
Very fine, too, in this garden are the yellow-flowered Composites. 
Many of this family are, it is true, closely alike in appearance, but our 
gardens w 7 ould be sadly deficient in colour if they were deprived of 
their welcome shades of yellow. The Edge Hall collection is a large 
and select one. Helianthus doronicoides is very good, w r ith tall 
slender stems surmounted by good yellow 7 flowers w r ith dark centres. 
Imposing, too, is a very tall variety of Helianthus multiflorus, 
probably the one growrn as H. multiflorus maximus. The Edge Hall 
variety of Heliopsis lsevis is now known to be distinct from another 
offered by the trade. A large clump of this had a fine effect, and 
I admired it very much. The exigencies of space must make me 
leave unnoticed several others of this family, but mention must be made 
of one not often met with, Chrysogonum virginicum. This is a neat 
little plant, growing about 1 foot in height, w r ith small bright yellow 
flow r ers, and is of a somewhat prostrate habit. 
Among the many fine effects in garden arrangements which w r ere to 
be seen in passing through the gardens, none, I think, surpassed that 
produced by a line of Anthemis tinctoria pallida planted at the base of 
a hedge. Some of the plants drooped gracefully forward, touching the 
ground with their flowers, while others growing through the branches 
of the hedge were upright, and their flowmrs projected from its surface. 
The effect was a charming one ; the pale yellow flowers showing beauti¬ 
fully against the dark foliage of the hedge. Mr. Wolley Dod informed 
me that he had had it photographed, and such a beautiful arrangement 
was well worthy of permanent preservation. Close to this were large 
numbers of plants of A. tinctoria, and a white variety, A. t. alba. 
Noticeable, too, on the same hedge w r as Lathyrus tuberosus (Sibthorpi ?) 
a good climbing Pea with small but bright purple flowers. I w 7 as 
