August  15,  1895 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
157 
pleasing,  erroneons  blending  of  colours  is  a  thing  unknown,  and  it  would 
task  the  powers  of  a  more  severe  critic  than  the  writer  to  find  anything 
out  of  character.  “It  is  impossible,”  said  Mr.  Moorman,  “to  provide 
flowers  for  the  public  during  every  month  of  the  year,  but  I  endeavour 
to  keep  up  the  display  through  as  many  as  possible.”  Truly  a  good 
object  for  a  park  superintendent  to  aim  at,  and  in  this  Mr.  Moorman’s 
efforts  are  attended  with  success,  as  there  is  always  something  worth 
seeing  at  Victoria. 
It  would  be  futile  to  endeavour  to  enumerate  or  describe  even  a 
small  per-centage  of  the  many  flower  beds,  and  my  advice  is,  “  Go  and  see 
them.”  In  the  main  drive  through  the  park  the  effect  is  charming. 
On  either  side  are  round  beds,  each  furnished  differently,  so  as  to 
give  variety.  There  is  one  made  gay  with  the  tall  spikes  of  the  blue 
raising  a  large  stock  ;  in  this  he  is  quite  justified,  as  the  effect  caused 
by  them  is  very  charming. 
Variety  appears  to  be  the  main  object  in  view,  and  to  attain  this 
almost  every  plant  suitable  for  bedding  is  called  into  requisition.  Several 
oblong  beds  are  gay  with  Begonias,  intermixed  in  one  case  with  Dracsenas 
and  in  another  with  Ficus  elastica,  surrounded  by  a  band  of  Alternantheras. 
Beds  of  Castor  Oil  plants  on  a  groundwork  of  large-flowered  Musk  are 
extremely  effective.  Celosias  and  Begonias  on  a  carpet  of , the  golden 
Creeping  Jenny  cannot  fail  to  attract  attention,  and  long  beds  of 
Fuchsias,  Petunias,  and  Heliotropes,  mixed  with  Begonias  as  a  border, 
are  rendered  more  pleasing  by  having  as  a  background  a  fine  group  of 
Palms,  Ficus  elastica,  and  Aralias. 
Sub-tropical  beds  are  in  themselves  a  feature,  and  large  collections- 
Fia.  23.— HEMEROCALLIS  AURANTIACU3  MAJOR. 
Campanula  pyramidalis  surrounded  by  Coleus  Verschaffelti,  and  in  the 
next  a  pleasing  mixture  of  Pnlox  Drummondi  and  variegated  Maize, 
another  planted  with  a  mixture  of  Henry  Jacoby  Pelargonium  and 
variegated  Maize  edged  with  the  dwarf  Fuchsia  Golden  Treasure, 
while  further  on  may  be  seen  a  mass  of  white  Viola  Champion  inter¬ 
mixed  with  the  feathering  spikes  of  Celosia  pyramidalis  surrounded 
by  Coleus  Verschaffelti.  DA’arf  French  Marigolds  as  a  groundwork, 
above  which  towers  Campanula  pyramidalis,  are  very  effective  in 
several  beds,  while  in  others  tall  Fuchsias,  white  Marguerites,  and 
Heliotrope  Swanley  form  a  pleasing  mixture.  In  a  large  expanse 
devoted  solely  to  flower  beds  a  pleasing  effect  is  formed  in  the  scrolls  by 
an  outside  band  of  Pelargonium  Robert  Fish,  followed  by  Iresines,  blue 
Violas,  and  Vesuvius  Pelareoniums.  Other  large  round  beds  are  centred 
with  Pelargonium  Pink  Christine  edged  with  blue  Lobelia.  Phlox 
Drummondi  and  Carnations  also  form  a  pleasing  mixture.  Mr.  Moor¬ 
man  has  great  faith  in  Violas  for  summer  bedding,  and  is  gradually 
of  Eucalyptus,  Solanums,  Palms,  and  such  plants  cannot  fail  to  attract 
attention.  Wigandias  are  also  used  extensively,  and  mixed  with  Perilla 
nankinensis  the  effect  is  very  pleasing,  as  also  are  beds  of  Abutilon 
Thompson!,  Champion  Viola,  and  Fuchsias.  Cannas  are  extensively 
used,  and  surrounded  by  bands  of  the  creeping  golden  Abutilon  they 
form  an  excellent  contrast.  A  bright  feature  is  formed  by  graceful 
collections  of  P’uchsias,  Marguerites,  and  Verbenas  edged  with 
Alternantheras. 
Dotted  about  in  different  positions  are  beds  of  succulents,  composed 
of  large  Echeveria  metallica.  Agaves,  Sempervivums,  and  Cactus,  with  a 
groundwork  of  Lysimachia,  Antennaria,  and  Herniaria  ;  tall  Eucalyptus 
and  yellow  Marguerites  surrounded  by  Funkias  make  a  change  quite 
different  to  an3'  of  the  surroundings. 
Many  scroll  beds  are  laid  out  in  carpet  style,  shewing  beyond  doubt 
that  taste  has  been  used  in  their  formation  ;  and  though  this  style  has 
recently  undergone  severe  criticism,  yet  it  is  quite  in  character  at 
