250 
THE FLORIST. 
supplied with moisture. This I have found the only secret in the matter. 
My mulching materials are just what I can most easily get—litter, 
trimmings and dressings of hedges and trees, long Grass, Moss, or even 
stones—anything that will arrest evaporation. 
I may, perhaps, notice the garden varieties at a future time. 
PvUSTICUS. 
SHADED GERANIUM BED, SURROUNDED BY A 
SCROLL OF YEW. 
The annexed woodcut is intended to represent a shaded mass of 
Geraniums artistically arranged in concentric bands inside a scroll work 
of Yew. The pattern, though simple, when neatly executed and judici¬ 
ously planted, must doubtless be uncommonly pretty; and it admits, as 
will be seen, of being laid down on a large or small scale, according to the taste 
or convenience of the designer. An embossed ribbon of gold Box is 
thrown gracefully across the top of the bed. This is to be shaven round, 
and—as will be seen on reference to the plan—is to be made to dip here 
and there under the fantastic windings of the Yew. The outside 
scroll of the latter is to be cut square, 12 inches in depth, and 18 inches 
in height. The narrower joinings of Yew scroll are also to be square 
and neatly cut, 10 inches in width, and a foot in height. The margin 
of the bed is to consist of Box, 4 inches high and 8 inches wide; that 
to oval bed at bottom is to be of the same dimensions. The space 
between the Box edging and Yew scroll is intended to be covered with 
finely-sifted gravel, of a're'ddish colour. This, however, might be varied 
according to taste. ‘ Outside the bed is to be neatly cut turf, which 
must come close up to the edge of the Yew scroll. The space inside 
the latter is to be filled with Geraniums, planted so as to form a shaded 
bed, from white up to bright scarlet. The first band inside the boundary 
is to be composed of the white Ivy-leaved sort; the second, Hendersoni, 
which is also white; third, Lucea Rosea; fourth, Salmon Nosegay; 
fifth. La Titian ; and sixth, J udy. The central mass is to consist of 
Shrubland Queen, a bright scarlet kind, wdth horse-shoe foliage. These 
colours will be found to blend well together, and when the plants are 
suitably selected as to height, the effect cannot fail to be truly charming. 
The oval bed at the bottom of the figure is to be. filled with dwarf 
orange and yellow Calceolarias mixed together. 
The Geranium bed must be raised in the centre, so as to permit the 
scarlet colours to display themselves to advantage over the surrounding 
Yew. The outer bands must be made to slope gradually from the 
centre to the outside, where the white Ivy-leaved Geranium should just 
be level with the rim of Box. 
It may be mentioned that in the management of a bed of this 
description some skill will be required to bring out the effect boldly. 
The plants ought to be all old blooming plants, and the whites should 
not be turned out of their pots ; but merely plunged deeply. When 
“ well done ” it is easy to perceive that a bed of this sort would be 
