THE RESERVE GARDEN. 
147 
apparent that they will not bear a very high temperature and 
bloom in perfection ; 55° or 60° may be stated as the maximum, 
and in a heat exceeding this we should expect nothing but leaves, 
a circumstance that will be understood immediately we consider 
the temperature in which they bloom naturally. 
Editor. 
THE RESERVE GARDEN. 
This indispensable adjunct to a well-kept flower garden should 
just now engage a good deal of attention, for without a proper 
stock be maintained in it the more frequented parts of the 
establishment will, in all probability, wear but a second-rate 
appearance in the course of a month or six weeks. It is but too 
frequently supposed, even by some who desire to be good flower- 
gardeners, that when the beds and borders are once filled in 
spring, they are complete for the season; this is an error, for 
how few even of our best bedding plants will continue in perfec¬ 
tion for the long period of five months; some that are really 
beautiful in summer become exhausted early in autumn, others 
get too large, and no pruning will reduce the rambling character 
to the proper bounds in the damp weather usual towards the 
close of the season ; besides, accidents may occur with the best 
attention, some may die, or get broken by high winds or other 
causes, what then is the condition of the gardener without a 
reserve, to say nothing of the charm of freshness and additional 
interest given to the garden by a change in the arrangement; .in 
short, from numberless reasons, too obvious to require mention, 
a reserve garden is necessary wherever it is desired to keep the 
ornamental portion of the establishment in the best condition, 
and to that I would now direct attention. The principal part of 
those placed in the beds in May and last month are now growing, 
and beginning to display their several beauties ; they will require 
but little attention for some time, and therefore an available 
opportunity presents to provide a succession against the declina¬ 
tion of any of the existing subjects, and those of the most 
ephemeral character should be attended to first. 
