07 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 3, 1857. 
Nierembergia gracilis. —This useful little plant is 
second to none for certainty of growth and abundant 
flowering. Its compact habit also renders it invaluable 
as an edging, or for a row in the ribbon bordering. It 
4 has on all occasions done well here, this season being no 
exception. Its pale lilac-coloured flowers contrast well 
with turf, so that it makes a capital edging around beds 
of other things. It is, however, second to the following 
plant for that purpose. 
Alyssum variegatum. —This is without exception the 
best plant I am acquainted with for an edging round a 
j bed on grass, more especially if scarlet Geranium, or 
other plants of that stamp, occupy the centre of it. Com¬ 
pact, yet free growing, it speedily looks well, and though 
its flowers are not ornamental they have the good quali- 
; flcation of being the same colour as the rest of the plant, 
therefore not injuring its effect as a whole. Viewed at a 
little distance this plant appears the most showy in the 
garden for the greatest length of time, for it speedily 
grows and occupies its allotted space in early summer, 
and in autumn is amongst the last that is ornamental. 
For the bouquet, however, it is not much of a favourite, 
but its smell in sunny weather is grateful. It is easy to 
keep through the winter, and strikes root very freely 
at all times. Even late in autumn it is more easily 
managed that way than Lobelia , Nierembergia, &c. 
Cuphea strigillosa and C. platycentra. —These two 
form an excellent bed together, the first named in the 
centre and the other outside. Although they flower 
j tolerably soon it is always late in the season ere they 
are much admired, for it is the autumn rains and dews 
; that wash and brighten the colours so much, and there 
! appear more of them as the season advances, so that 
long after other flowers have ceased to be ornamental 
| this is just in its beauty. C. platycentra makes an 
excellent edging around almost any plant, but looks best 
when in contact with some light-coloured body. I often 
j plant it as an edging around beds of Calceolarias or 
Ageratum Mexicanum. C. strigillosa is only adapted for 
the centre of a bed and for autumn flowering. 
Cineraria amelloides. —This old plant is too often 
discarded from fashionable gardens, while its close, com- 
j pact habit and freedom of growth entitle it to some con¬ 
sideration. Its flowers are certainly not so numerous as 
1 those of Petunia, Ageratum, and others, but they are 
more enduring. A poor soil suits this plant best. 
Ageratum Mexicanum. —The dwarf variety of this is 
really a useful plant, and in point of colour we have 
nothing to match it. This also flowers all the better for 
the ground not being too rich. The variegated variety 
promises to be useful, but, like other variegated plants, 
is more sparing of flowers. 
Salvia splendens. —Although I cannot, in a general 
way, recommend this plant for bedding purposes, yet 
j individual jflants ought always to be planted in mixed 
borders, as this autumn (now October 20th) they are the 
most attractive flowers we have, far eclipsing any Dahlia, 
i Chrysanthemum, or Aster. The rain does not seem to 
j hurt them, but the first frost will. Plants also take up 
well, and pot and flower on afterwards. 
Double Pyrethrum. —This is, perhaps, the purest 
white of all our bedding plants when at its best; but, 
although the flowers stand longer than most others, 
there is not much succession. Thus it is better to raise 
successional crops of plants by cuttings, as occasionally 
cutting old plants down before flowering will retard 
them; but, after all, they are better adapted for a mixed 
bed than one by themselves, as it is not easy to secure a 
succession of flowers and that symmetry of growth so 
' necessary in the well-kept parterre. It is quite hardy, 
! and occasionally seeds. 
Fuchsia Riccartoni. —This I still place at the head 
of the hardy Fuchsias, as well for its abundant, brilliantly 
! coloured blossom as for its uniformly good habit and 
adaptability to suit all places. This Fuchsia for the 
centre and a good variety of the globosa for the outside 
make an excellent bed, which requires no attention at 
any time save weeding and cutting down the dead stems 
in winter. 
Lobelia ocymoides.— This and other varieties of the 
erinus breed are all useful for small beds, but only the 
upright flowering ones are suitable for edgings, unless 
the other plants be also low. With me they are liable 
to die off 1 during the summer, and are, therefore, but 
little grown. 
Besides the above there are other flowering plants 
that all deserve a place in the mixed flower garden; but 
those really adapted for the purposes of massing are 
much fewer than is generally supposed. Heliotropes 
seem to me unsuited, from the absence of any decided 
colour, and Pentstemons flower too sparingly, as likewise 
do Antirrhinums , Indian Pinks, and other things. Lan- 
tana Sellowii or its descendants do better; but in cold, wet 
seasons they make little progress, and as most admirers 
of flower gardens like to see their beds look well from all 
points of view and at all reasonable distances, those only 
which have decided colours look well a little way off. Most 
annuals I regard as too transient or flimsy; but for a 
large bed, and especially in a place where everything 
else will not grow well, the old Love-lies-bleeding and 
Prince's Feather make and keep up a good show for a 
long time. French Marigolds would be equally accom¬ 
modating if we could insure their all coming double and 
be uniform in growth ; but, as a long-continued display 
of floral beauty is the object now aimed at, a selection 
rather than a collection has been my aim. How far 
my views may differ from those of others I shall be happy 
to learn, as we all have our especial favourites, and I am 
far from asserting that I have not lauded mine too much 
and disparaged others; but reports from other districts 
will test this, and benefit all lovers of outdoor flowers. 
J. Robson. 
LIST OF TWENTY-NINE PLANTS TO BLOOM 
DURING WINTER IN A COOL CONSERVA¬ 
TORY AT WOOLLEY LODGE, BERKS. 
The blooming will last from November to March. 
Chrysanthemums of sorts. 
Scarlet Geraniums. 
Flower of the Day, ditto. 
Camellias. 
Fuchsia Dominiana, serratifolia, &c. 
Mignonette, French. 
Poinsettia pulclierrima. 
Orange trees. 
Salvia splendens and Gesnerseflora. 
Balsamina (Impatiens) Jerdonise. 
Daphne Indica. 
Ageratums. 
Heliotropes. 
Linum tigrinum. 
Tropseolum Canariense. 
Roses of sorts. 
Gesnera zebrina. 
Primulas. 
Pinks. 
Epacrises. 
Heaths. 
Epipbyllums of the Cacti tribe. 
Cyclamens. 
Wallflowers. 
Stocks. 
Cytisus. 
Calceolarias. 
Ardisia carnata—-red berries. In all twenty-nine. 
