130 
THE MIXED FLOWER GARDEN. 
We know of nothing more gay for the decoration of the conservatory in the early spring than well 
managed bushes of these dwarf double-blossomed Peaches would be; and there is no doubt that as soon 
as their merits as ornamental plants come to be appreciated, they will find their way into every garden 
of any pretensions. In the meantime a supply of plants is being produced, in which object Mr. Glen- 
dinning has, we believe, been particularly successful.—M. 
THE MIXED ELOWEE GAEDEN. 
m LBOL S plants generally are particularly useful as spring flowers in a mixed garden, because, whilst 
A' contributing by their gay and showy colours to produce a good display of colour up to June, they 
have mostly by that time died down, and thus afford room for plants from pots and tender annuals, 
without which the display in autumn would not be complete. 
The edges of all the beds should be planted with the various coloured Crocuses, not a few here and 
there, but continuous lines in all directions. In geometrical gardens, particularly, a grand effect may 
be produced by a skilful combination of the different colours, and I do not think a finer sight can be 
produced than that presented by a garden so arranged on a sunshiny spring day. They die away too, 
early, and will not in the least interfere with other planting operations. Snowdrops, also, those 
universally welcome harbingers of spring, should be extensively planted, but not in the open beds; 
their proper habitat is in small patches, irregularly distributed by the sides of the shady walks, peeping 
out between the recumbent branches of shrubs, or snugly ensconced in the niches of rockwork, where 
indeed they grow very large and fine. 
The Snowflake, or Leucojum vernum , also comes very fine in the niches of rockwork, or little 
sheltered corners, and is also adapted for patches in the open beds. The tuberous-rooted JEranthis 
hyemalis and sibinca, also, do well under the branches of shrubs or the shade of trees, either in 
patches or distributed over large spaces. 
As auxiliaries to these, either in shady places, little odd corners, or in the open beds, the 
Narcissus tribe deserve particular notice. Those who are in the habit of annually purchasing Dutch 
grown roots of Prima Donna, Grand Monarque, Soleil-d’or, Double Eoman, and Paper white for flowering 
in pots, should take especial care of the roots after the flowering is over, and plant them out of doors 
early in October; they will flower in great perfection. In addition plant Narcissus minor, Tazetta, 
majalis , single and double, Jonquilla, JBulbocodium, odorus Jlore-pleno, bifrons , tubijlorus, Sulphur 
Crown, Double Orange Phoenix, and Macleaii. The above will form an excellent selection from this 
interesting and beautiful tribe of plants—all well worth planting. 
The beautiful tribe of Scillas next claim notice. They are most of them very conspicuous and 
showy spring flowering plants, and may be extensively used, as they will not at all interfere with 
summer plants. The following are among the best:— Scilla. bifolia, and its varieties alba and rubra; 
with carnea, amcena, sibirica, and prcecox, all small-growing sorts, flourishing best in light dry 
soil in sheltered nooks and corners, particularly amongst rockwork. The stronger growing sorts, such 
as S. campanulata, and its varieties alba and carnea , also indica and Lilio-Hyacinthus, are well 
adapted for patches in the open beds. 
The genus Muscari affords a fine choice and desirable plants for our purpose. The best are 
Muscari botryoides , and the varieties alba and pallida, comosum, comosum monstrosum, moscliatum, 
and macrocarpum. The Allium tribe also affords a few showy and desirable plants, but due notice 
should be given to the ladies not to use them in bouquets, or even to handle them, on account of the 
strong odour of garlic which they emit on bruising: Allium Moly, acutum, nigrum, umbellatum, 
stellatum, and roseum, are amongst the best. JErythronium albidum, rubrum, and lanceolatum, 
must not be omitted; they are very useful as edgings to other beds, very showy in flower, and the 
foliage very ornamental. Camassia esculenta, a very handsome bulbous plant, flowers in June, and 
succeeds best in a shaded situation in peat soil. Anthericum liliastrum and sulphureum, Ornitho- 
galum refractum, nutans, umbellatum, montanum, and bulbiferum, are amongst the best of early- 
