Plate 227 . 
CALCEOLARIA, BIRD OE PARADISE. 
The modern style of gardening known as the bedding-out 
system has had a severe trial during the past season, the ex¬ 
treme dryness of the summer having in many cases entirely 
spoiled the effect, and especially where laid out in grass, as 
this suffered perhaps more than anything from the want of rain. 
Thus, at the Crystal Palace, where the system is carried out in 
perfection, the beds appeared as if set in brown soil, rather 
than in the bright green they usually do. 
There are two methods in which this system is carried out; 
one, where the effect to be produced is obtained by the em¬ 
ployment of large quantities of only a few flowers, arranged 
and combined in various methods. This we have seen in its 
perfection in the beautiful grounds of Lord Holmesdale, at 
Linton Park, under the able direction of Mr. Robson, whose 
skill in this department is unrivalled. His large and magni¬ 
ficent bed, which at once strikes the eye as the very perfection 
of colouring, is composed of only some six or seven different 
flowers. The other method is the employment of a large num¬ 
ber of plants, with differing shades and tints of colour, giving 
greater beauty to the parterre, although perhaps not producing 
so good a general effect. Each system has its advocates, and, 
we may add, its advantages. 
To those who adopt the simpler system, the flower which we 
now figure would be useless; for one rule connected with it is, 
never to employ those with two shades of colour; while to 
those who adopt the more complex plan it will be a great 
acquisition. Some years ago flowers of this shade of colour 
were raised by Mr. Cole, but, owing to their delicacy of consti¬ 
tution, they were found to be of little use. The flower which 
