AUTISTIC COMBINATIONS IN FLOWER GARDENING 
27 
As the plants progress through the summer (they may he set in a warm corner out of doors after 
the middle of June) take care to attend them properly with water, and pot them as frequently as 
appears necessary, hut not too late in the season. Syringe the plants frequently to keep them clear of 
red spider, and water them with weak liquid manure once or twice a-week if they are growing very 
freely. We have said nothing of staking and training, hut that must be properly attended to, for unless 
a plant is properly formed in the young state, it will never make a tine and handsome specimen.—A. 
AUTISTIC COMBINATIONS IN FLOWER GARDENING. 
F OR some years past the planting of flower beds in masses of one colour has been the prevailing 
fashion, not only in this country hut also upon the continent. That the practice is a very good 
one cannot he denied, as the violent contrasts of distinct or complementary colours has a very striking 
effect. The only drawback upon the system is a want of intricacy and variety, and hence some 
gardeners have adopted the mixed system, planting flowers of distinct and contrasting colours in 
concentric circles or distinct straight lines. In this new scheme it is questionable whether we are not 
exchanging the massive and decided for the “ little prettinesses ” of persons of small intelligence ; and 
it is quite certain that beds so arranged, though they may be individually striking and interesting, 
cannot produce the grand effect of bold masses of properly contrasted and distinct colours. If we wish 
to detract from the size of a garden, these mixed beds are well calculated to assist in such a work; but, 
if boldness and distinctness of expression is wished for, then masses of distinct colours must be 
employed. Originating in this system of planting, is what may be called “ ribbon grouping/’ in which 
a long narrow border of distinct colours are blended in imitation of the gaudy ribbons which sometimes 
garnish the shop fronts of silk-mercers, and such borders, when of sufficient length, have a very 
remarkable and striking effect. Thus, for example, a row of dark blue Branching Larkspur for the 
back, with Calceolaria viscosissima next, and then Scarlet Pelargoniums in the front, is said to look 
very fine, and, no doubt, if the border has a margin of grass, a row of Mangles’s Variegated or Silver 
Bedding Pelargonium, might be introduced in the front with advantage. 
Again Pentstemon gentianoicles coccinea with Orange Calceolaria, Purple Senecio—the dark variety, 
—Dwarf Scarlet Pelargonium and Lobelia gracilis , or any of the dark blue trailing varieties, would 
afford an excellent combination. 
Among hardy plants, the following may be planted in lines together :— Delphinium Barlowii or 
chinense, blue; Lobelia splendens, scarlet; Yellow Lupine; Crimson Antirrhinum ; Campanula 
carpatica, purple, with, if the edging is grass, Variegated Alyssum in front. 
Of annuals of a permanent character the following are suitable :—Blue Branching Larkspur, 
Eschscholtzia crocea, Scarlet Intermediate Stock, Phlox Drummondii alba, Eutoca viscida, and dwarf 
dark French Marigold. 
Mr. Beaton, a year or two back, recommended Verbena venosa, and the common Variegated Pelar¬ 
gonium to be intermixed, to form what some call a shot-silk bed; and the dark red Calceolaria, inter¬ 
mixed with Er achy come iberidifolia, and edged with Campanula rotundifolia alba, is said to produce 
nearly the same effect. Intermixed with the pink Ivy-leaved Pelargonium—a low trailing plant,— 
the blue Lobelia, with its flowers resting upon the foliage of the Pelargonium, looks very pretty; and a 
few plants of the old Verbena Favourite, with its pink flowers, look well mixed with the same Pelar¬ 
gonium. Indeed, we might multiply these combinations ad infinitum; but the rule of strong, and, as 
far as possible, complementary contrasts, once properly understood, the application of it to plants of 
all kinds is an easy matter—for Roses, Hollyhocks, Phloxes, Dahlias, Antirrhinums, and hundreds of 
our commoner plants are suitable for planting as indicated above. Of the formality of the system we 
say nothing: variety, change, and contrast must be had, and no doubt the new system will please for a 
year or two.—A. 
