292 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
number of Heaths from South Africa were grown. Over 200 
species were described by Andrews. 1 Loudon says, in 1830, 
that over 400 had been introduced, “ the greater part by 
Masson, a collector who made two voyages to Africa at the 
King’s [George III.] expense.” Some of these had been lost, 
owing to the difficulty of their propagation, but " upwards of 
250 sorts ” were still to be obtained from nurserymen. In 1841 
Hugh Low and Co., advertising in The Gardener s Chronicle, 
offered 118 varieties for sale. All of these were largely grown, 
until plants more easy of culture than these hard-wooded 
things crowded them out. Geraniums were very much in 
favour, Fuchsias were extremely popular, and Camellias re¬ 
ceived a large share of attention. The new importations from 
Australia, or “ New Holland ” plants, were thus sometimes 
grown apart—Acacias, Mimosa, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Metro- 
sideros, Boronia, and so on. Cacti, Aloes, Mesembryanthemums, 
Crassulas, and other succulents were also largely grown. Soon, 
however, the green-houses and stoves became so overstocked 
that a new method of showing off tender plants came into 
fashion. This system, called “ bedding out,” remained practic¬ 
ally unchallenged from about 1820 to 1880. The brilliant flowers 
from tropical climes so much outshone some of the hardier 
ones that former generations had delighted in, that they were 
pushed on one side to make way for the new-comers. The 
smooth undulations of grass which the landscape school had 
pronounced the correct kind of “ garden ” to surround a house 
were straightway cut up by flower-beds, either dotted about 
or arranged in some geometrical pattern. Round and square 
beds alternately, or diamond or octagon, or some of a more 
fantastic shape, were placed anyhow on the grass, or in a circle 
or fan in front of the windows, or on either side of the gravel 
walks, and ribbon borders, with twists and c^ble patterns, 
generally formed part of the plan. Instead of “ forthrights 
and allies,” or “ elegant lawns, groves, and clumps,” the Vic¬ 
torian garden designer spoke of “ flower plots,” “ dressed 
pleasure grounds,” and extensive “ and highly diversified 
shrubberies,” 2 while the “ approach ” between Laurels and 
1 The Heathery, by Henry Andrews. 6 vols., 1804-14. 
2 How to Lay out a Garden , by Edward Kemp. Third edition, 1864. 
