January 11, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
297 
judges. Iu arguing on this line I have no desire to 
exclude the yellow seifs from competing in stands of 
self Carnations. This position is quite consistent with 
my advocacy of a class for true yellow seifs. I think 
they are a beautiful section of flowers, but they suffer 
ty comparison with some of the huge “pod-bursters ” 
shown among the yellow grounds, which are simply 
coarse and ugly until they are brought into line by a 
free use of the tweezers. But I scarcely think with 
“AV. L. W. ” that the “matter will receive attention 
in the immediate future.” I am afraid that I am in 
danger of being regarded as a fussy meddler, whose 
bent is mischief rather than benefit to floriculture. — 
II. D. 
-- 
WINTER BEDDING. 
Having read the brief comments on this subject in 
your issue of December 21st, 1889, may I say that, in 
my opinion, winter bedding should be considered quite 
apart from what is known as spring bedding. In the 
former the effect is immediate ; in the latter it is pros¬ 
pective, the beds for a few months looking little 
different from those which are merely dug and touched 
up. In winter bedding, if the beds are well filled with 
a good selection of small Conifers and shrubs, the effect 
will he very pleasing, if not so gay as their predecessors. 
The shrubs for this kind of bedding need only be small, 
and therefore not very costly ; and with careful man¬ 
agement most of them may be used several years in 
succession. Some kinds, however, will naturally have 
to be placed in different positions in the beds in after 
arrangements. 
An advantage which shrubs have over perennials and 
other soft-wooded spring-flowering plants is that they 
can be removed at any time to allow of the beds 
rec-iving the necessary preparation for the summer 
occupants. I have often seen beds of spring-flowering 
Conifers. 
Abies excelsa Clanbrasiliana, A. e. com pacta, A. e. 
pumila, A. e. pygmea, and A. e. Remontii, all useful 
as centre or dot plants ; Cryptomeria 
elegans, a beautiful bronze colour in 
winter ; Cupressus Lawsoniana alba spica, 
C. L erecta viridis. C. L. lutea, C. L. nana, 
C. L. pyramidalis alba, and C. L. p. 
argentea ; Juniperus Sabina tamariscifolia, 
very dwarf, and a pleasing shade of green ; 
Retinospora leptoclada, good for centres ; 
It. obtusa aurea, a striking plant, and 
useful for groups ; R. plumosa and It. p. 
aurea, first-class plants for winter bedding, 
and can be had in a very small state for 
edges; R. squarrosa, silvery grey, very 
good ; Taxus baccata, the common English 
Yew, makes a good green ground-work. 
The old gold-striped variety, T. b. elegan- 
tissima, and golden seedlings are all good 
bedding plants, and may be had of sizes 
to suit all positions. Thuja occidentalis 
aurea and T. Yervseneana are both worthy 
of a place, so, also, will be found Thujopsis 
compacta. 
Shrubs. 
Of Hollies for centres and large groups, 
three of the best will be found in the 
Gold and Silver Queens, and in the very 
compact-growing one known as Wattrer’s. 
Aucuba Japonica is useful for large arrangements ; A. J. 
vera is very dwarf, with shining green leaves. Ilerheris 
or Mahonia aquifolium is one of the dark foliage 
plants, either used small in bands, or as larger plants 
in patches. Of Box, a number of varieties may be 
used while in a small state, notably the Myrtle-leaved, 
the new silver-striped, and the Buxus sempervirens 
variety will also be found serviceable. Skimmia 
iaponica (Fortunei), if well berried, is an excellent 
addition planted in patches ; S. oblata (japonica) is a 
plants cleared away almost before they were at perfec¬ 
tion. It is much too late for winter bedding to be 
attempted this season ; but the present time is a good 
one to procure subjects for future operations. In doing 
this it will be found best to visit a good nursery where 
such plants are grown in quantity, and selecting them 
of a size suitable for the purpose. The different shades 
of colour will there be seen to the best advantage. 
Plants can be obtained much smaller than those cata¬ 
logued, and sent out in the ordinary way of business. 
The following is a list of those shrubs best suited for 
winter bedding:— 
B 
obcordata-variegata. Cotoneater microphylla is one of 
the best dark-leaved plants for planting in bands or 
patches ; C. thymifolia is another good plant, dwarf 
green. Cassinea fulvida, known in nurseries as 
Diplopappus chrysophyllus, is very 
neat, and may be called the Gold Dust 
Plant. Euonymus microphyllus, small¬ 
leaved, dwarf, green ; E. radicans 
variegata (silver variegated), one of the 
very best plants for edgings or car¬ 
peting ; Osmanthus illicifolius, a use¬ 
ful dark-leaved plant, the variegated 
lively green, but does not berry in a small state like 
S. j iponica. Santolina chammcypaiissus, light grey or 
white, is very useful. Veronica Traversii, very neat 
for this purpose, may he used in various sizes. 
Yuccas are very characteristic plants for this kind 
of bedding, but none are more satisfactory than 
Y. recurvitolia. The narrow-leaved Portugal Laurel in 
a small state is also very effective. Erica carnea 
and E. carnea alba, generally known as E. her- 
bacea, with E. Mediterranea alba, are grand 
plants for winter bedding ; so also will be found 
Calluna vulgaris aurea as a carpet plant. 
Daphne cneorum major may also be included in 
the list; it is low growing, pink flowered and 
sweet scented. I purposely omit creeping Ivy 
and Periwinkles, as they require some time to 
establish themselves. Tree Ivies may be used to 
good purpose as single specimens ; and although 
Daisies are, strictly speaking, subjects for spring 
bedding, they may be used to great advantage in 
the system under consideration ; they are of 
various colours, viz., white, red, and pink. As it 
J s difficult to describe in writing how to carry out 
what is recommended, a reference to the accom¬ 
panying diagrams will give a better idea than words. 
Reference to Diagrams. 
A.—1, Golden Queen Holly, single specimen, 2 ft. to 
2J ft. ; 2, Berberis aquifolium, about 1 ft. ; 3, Retino¬ 
spora squarrosa, single specimens, 1J ft. ; 4, R. plumosa 
aurea, 1 ft. ; 5, Cupressus Lawsoniana lutea, 1 ft. ; 6, 
