CARNATIONS AND P1COTEES ON CARDS, 
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of ways by indentations and projections, so as to appear part of a general design, and in keeping with, 
surrounding scenery. 
In order to assist the effect of this boundary, it would be as well to throw up a mound of earth 
suited to the growth of American plants, and by planting some large specimens on the top, some of 
which should be standards, and filling up the intermediate spaces down to the ground level with 
evergreens and deciduous shrubs intermixed, an appearance will be produced which it would take many 
years to arrive at, if the plants were all started from a level surface. 
Near the interior line of the outside border I have placed crosses (x) at intervals where the taste 
of many persons might lead them to approve of a plan which would produce an unique and fine effect, 
viz., to plant at each x a strong-growing climbing Rose, to be trained up a pole twelve feet high, and 
when they reach the top to be guided across by means of a strong wire so as to meet each other, they 
would thus form a beautiful living festoon. Near this interior line also, the Chinese Paeonia Moutan, 
and varieties, should be liberally distributed ; a sheltered situation of the kind suits them well. The 
beds, No. 2, may be filled with choice herbaceous plants, to be assisted during summer with plants 
from the greenhouses and pits. Double White Rockets are very conspicuous in such a situation in 
spring, so also are the Herbaceous Phloxes in summer. Conspicuous showy plants of such kinds will 
require a certain degree of uniformity in the arrangement to be in keeping with the artificial character 
of the garden. No coarse or common plants should be admitted. The interior octagonal portion of 
the plan (No. 3) may be devoted to bedding plants in masses, in the summer and autumn, and for the 
reception of the several plants mentioned in my article on Spring Decorations, (see vol. i., p. 222,) 
during winter and spring. 
No. 4, Beds of hardy Fuchsias. 
No. 5, Beds of Roses. 
No. 6, Choice plants Rom stores, with some ornamental trellises covered with Lophospermum, Mau- 
randya, Tropseolum, and other rapid growing creepers during the summer, and Hyacinths in spring. 
No. 7, Bright dwarf Scarlet Geraniums in summer, Turban Ranunculus in spring. 
No. 8, The greenhouse. This, of course, as well as the whole plan, may be varied and modified so 
as to suit particular circumstances; as, for instance, instead of a greenhouse the garden might be 
formed in front of a cottage ornee; taste will easily suggest a different arrangement; only the style 
must not be departed from, and neither circles nor curvilinear figures admitted. 
No. 9 Affords an excellent situation for a small architectural temple, where seats may be arranged, 
or it may be formed of rustic woodwork, and covered with Roses, &c. 
In a garden arranged according to the above routine, there will be, except in severe frost and snow, 
some objects of interest, in flower all the year round; whilst, at certain times of the year, the effect will 
be truly gorgeous. 
Lastly, with regard to the formation of the walks and borders, I must observe that the walks here 
are formed of paving bricks laid flat, and the edges with a smaller brick set up end-ways; and it affords 
a dry and comfortable walk all the year round, which is a great desideratum; but they may be formed 
with gravel and edged with box or slate, or whatever the taste may fancy, except grass, which, in such a 
situation, would be as inappropriate as it would be difficult and troublesome to keep neat. 
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES ON CARDS. 
By Mr. J. T. NEVILLE. 
t T has been the custom to dress and prepare the blossoms of these flowers on collars of paper, or 
thin cardboard, so long as the memory of the oldest cultivators of the present day will serve them; 
even to a more remote date it may be traced that the same treatment was practised with the old 
crimson Clove, and other varieties in cultivation at the latter time. Miller, in his Gardeners’ Dictionary 
(second edition, 1733), when alluding to the bursting of the pods of Carnations, &c., says, “ At this time 
also, or a few days after, as you shall deem necessary, you should cut some stiff paper, cards, or some 
such thing, about four inches over, and exactly round, cutting a hole in the middle of them about three 
fourths of an inch in diameter for the pods of the flower to be let through, and when your flowers are 
fully blown, if you cut them off, you should put on a fresh collar of stiff paper cut exactly the size of 
the flower,” &c., &c. 
Thus far it appears the custom of carding the blossoms of this class of flowers, has existed upwards 
of a century. It must also be remembered, that it has been usual at all Floricultural exhibitions, to 
withdraw the cards prior to the judges deciding on the merits of seedlings or collections submitted 
