322 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  !4,  1898. 
IDEAS  FOE  BEDDINa. 
It  may  appear  premature  to  write  about  bedding,  but  the  air  of 
activity  in  the  potting  shed  and  propagating  houses  gives  evidence 
that  for  some  time  past  it  has  been  thought  about.  The  bright  days  of 
the  early  spring  find  gardeners  more  than  usually  busy,  as  there  seems 
so  much  that  requires  attention  at  the  same  time.  Bedding  is 
certainly  not  the  business  it  used  to  be,  as  the  methods  have  changed, 
and  fashion  now  demands  something  more  varied  and  elegant  than  the 
straight  lines  and  acute  angles  of  the  old  school.  This  change  has,  on 
the  whole,  proved  beneficial  to  gardeners,  as  it  has  done  away  with  a 
portion  of  the  nursing  that  took  up  so  much  valuable  time  and  space. 
There  is  much  about  the  old  style  yet  that  we  cannot  well  dispense 
with,  and  wh'  n  judiciously  blended  with  what  we  may  call  the  new,  the 
best  effects  are  obtained.  Advocates  for  any  lone  particular  system 
are  apt  to  let  their  enthusiasm  run  away  with  them,  and  frequently 
do  we  see  instances  of  this. 
These  notes  are  suggested  by  two  engravings  of  the  same  garden- 
one  ancient,  and  the  other  modern — and  both  taken  from  the  same 
point.  The  first,  depicted  in  the  days  before  photography  became  a 
fine  art,  shows  the  old  style.  Flower  beds  and  ribbon  borders  are  the 
principal  features,  and  in  the  faintness  of  the  picture  can  be  di-cerned 
the  boldest  of  the  outlines  of  numerous  carpet  beds.  Easy  graceful  curves 
are  conspicuously  absent,  and  straight  parallel  lines  abundant.  There 
is  a  clear-cut,  made-to-order  sort  of  look  about  everything  which  is 
carried  from  the  groundwork  of  the  flower  beds  to  the  surrounding 
Yews.  Statuary  is  dotted  about,  and  in  the  stiffness  of  the  scene  there 
appears  no  suggestion  of  ease  and  restful  ness  such  as  is  usually 
associated  with  a  garden. 
The  second  picture  clearly  shows  the  changes  brought  about  by 
modern  ideas,  though  here  and  there  may  be  seen  the  relics  of  the  old 
intermingled  with  the  new.  Half  the  flower  beds  are  gone,  and  broad 
expanses  of  turf  are  noticed  in  their  places.  Stately  trees  stand  boldly 
conspicuous  that  are  hardly  noticeable  in  the  first  picture.  Not,  indeed, 
because  they  are  not  there,  but  owing  to  the  multiplicity  of  surround¬ 
ing  objects  they  are  almost  lost  in  insignificance.  There  is  just  a  trace 
left  of  the  old  fantastic  shape  of  the  Yews,  but  soon  it  will  be  gone. 
In  the  place  of  the  geometrical  designs  in  the  flower  beds,  there  is  just 
enough  pattern  to  make  it  discernible,  and  the  rest  is  an  undulating 
outline  of  surface.  Some  of  the  walks,  too,  have  been  altered,  and 
gentle  sweeps  are  shown  in  the  place  of  right  angles.  Along  one  terrace, 
where  figured  a  long  rectangular  bed  by  no  means  in  keeping,  are  a 
series  of  round  beds  dotted  in  the  turf,  every  other  one  having  in  its 
centre  a  bushy  specimen  of  variegated  Maple  which — -though  the 
camera  refuses  to  depict  its  colour — forms  a  bright  relief  to  the  dark 
green  of  the  surrounding  foliage. 
In  spite  of  the  changes  in  forms  of  bedding  there  are  several 
features  discernible  in  both  engravings,  and  one  of  them  seems  well 
in  character  both  with  the  old  and  new.  I  refer  to  the  pyramid 
“  Geraniums,”  a  method  of  cultivation  by  no  means  common  in 
gardens,  as  in  few  establishments,  except  the  one  under  notice,  have  I 
seen  it  adopted.  It  appears  to  be  one  of  the  old  customs,  that  has  to 
some  extent  lost  itself  in  modern  changes.  The  first  requirement  in 
forming  pyramids  is  tall  plants,  and  in  most  gardens  there  are  “leggy” 
Pelargoniums  that  might  well  be  utilised  for  the  purpose.  Small 
round  beds  running  parallel  to  walks  are  good  situations  for  pyramids, 
and  they  may  also  be  placed  at  intervals  down  long  borders,  and 
thereby  break  the  flatness  that  often  prevails. 
Suppose  we  have  such  a  bed  to  furnish.  A  stout  stake  is  first 
placed  in  the  centre,  and  others  that  will  bend  are  deposited  in 
circular  fashion  within  6  or  8  inches  from  the  outer  edge  of  the  bed, 
and  about  a  foot  apart.  These  are  then  compressed  and  securely 
fastened  at  the  top  to  the  centre  stake.  The  framework  is  now  laid, 
and  the  Pelargoniums  are  planted  at  intervals  round,  and  the  stems 
distributed  evenly,  and  fastened  to  the  stakes.  In  a  few  weeks  the 
stakes  will  be  entirely  bidden  by  foliage,  and  the  pyramid,  furnished 
from  base  to  apex  with  bright  showy  flowers,  will  continue  to  be 
attractive  till  later  in  the  autumn.  The  taller  plants  should  be 
.  placed  in  position  first  to  cover  the  apex  of  the  pyramid,  the  shorter 
ones  being  suitable  for  filling  the  base.  A  row  of  blue  Lobelia  or 
other  dwarf  flowering  plant  round  the  whole  will  add  to  the  effect. 
In  the  autumn  the  plants  may  be  lifted,  potted,  and  stood  along  the 
back  wall  of  a  cool  vinery  or  Peach  house,  where  they  can  remain 
until  again  wanted  for  planting.  So  tenacious  of  life  are  Pelargoniums 
that  they  may  be  used  for  many  years  for  this  purpose.  The  trouble 
in  commencement  is  getting  plants  tall  enough  for  the  purpose,  and 
therefore  “leggy”  greenhouse  plants  should  be  reserved,  though  in 
choosing  varieties  thought  must  be  given  to  colour  and  habit.  In 
regard  to  the  latter,  robust  growing  sorts  that  are  apt  to  make  large 
leaves  and  produce  few  flowers  are  not  much  good,  and  should  be 
avoided. 
There  may  be  those  who  are  on  the  look-out  for  fresh  departures 
in  the  forthcoming  season,  where  the  introduction  of  pyramid 
“  Geraniums  ”  might  supply  the  want.  They  have  been  features  in 
some  gardens  beside  the  one  referred  to  for  many  years,  therefore  there 
is  nothing  new  about  them.  There  are  many  things  connected  with 
gardening  that  are  old,  yet  known  to  the  comparatively  few,  and  a 
great  deal  that  bears  the  name  of  being  original  is  but  the  digging-up 
of  the  dry  bones  of  some  good  gardener’s  work,  and  infusing  them 
with  fresh  life. — G.  H.  H. 
PROFITABLE  FRUIT  OROWINO. 
It  is  not  without  some  misgivings  that  I  commence  the  task 
of  lecturing  upon  this  subject.  Were  it  the  profitable  cultivation  of 
one  particular  kind  of  fruit  I  should  have  felt  more  at  ease,  but 
profitable  fruit  growing  is  a  subject  as  wide  as  it  is  important — a 
subject  which  has  been  studied  by  the  greatest  intellects  of  our 
times,  and  recommended  as  the  sure  panacea  for  the  depression  which 
has,  and  still  affects  the  agricultural  interests  of  this  country.  While 
others  again,  after  giving  the  subject  their  consideration,  and  in  some 
cases  carrying  out  experiments,  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it 
will  not  pay,  I  may  as  well  here,  and  at  once,  give  you  my  own 
opinion  on  the  subject,  after  being  connected  with  fruit  growing  one 
way  and  another  for  over  twenty  years,  and  it  is  that  fruit  growing  in 
this  country,  either  out  of  doors  or  under  glass,  or  a  combination  of 
both,  which  is  perhaps  the  best  method,  can  be  made  a  profitable 
industry.  I  do  not  say  that  at  the  present  time,  unless  under  excep 
tional  circumstances,  and  exceptional  ability  is  displayed,  you  will 
make  a  fortune,  but  I  say  that  a  good  aud  comfortable  living  can  be 
got,  and  the  measure  of  success  will  be  according  to  the  measure  of 
ability  put  into  the  business. 
While  saying  this,  I  am  well  aware  of  the  many  disadvantages 
the  fruit  grower  of  the  present  day  has  to  contend  with,  and  which 
were  unknown  to  our  predecessors  twenty  years  ago.  Foreign 
competition,  and  over-iiroduction  in  some  things  at  home,  have  brought 
prices  down  of  late  nearly  50  per  cent.  Four  or  five  years  ago.  Grapes  for 
instance,  would,  during  December  and  January,  bring  3s.  per  lb. 
Now  the  samples  must  be  exceptionally  fine  to  bring  more  than  Is.  6d, 
Foreign  competition  is  getting  keener  every  year.  New  and  improved 
methods  of  storage  are  being  employed,  that  now,  such  perishable 
fruit  as  the  Peach,  which  we  thought  beyond  the  power  of  a  distant 
grower  to  put  upon  our  markets,  are  seen  in  midwinter  retailing  in 
our  shops  at  8d.  each,  and  hailing  from  South  Africa.  Some  of  the 
finest  of  what  we  call  hardy  fruit  are  brought  a  distance  of 
4000  miles.  We  have  to  face  competition  from  every  quarter  of  the 
globe.  Each  year  we  hear  of  new  lands  iti  many  distant  parts  being 
brought  under  fruit  cultivation,  principally  for  the  British  markets, 
and  each  year  we  see  improvements  in  storage  and  fast  transportation. 
The  fruit  grower  of  to-day  and  those  who  may  think  of  starting  this 
industry  may  make  up  their  minds  to  face  in  the  near  future  even 
lower  prices  for  many  things  than  what  is  the  standard  now.  Still, 
with  all  this,  I  hold  that  British  grown  fruit  can  hold  its  own,  and 
when  properly  gone  about  can  be  made  to  pay. 
The  best  of  our  home  produce  still  tops  the  market  by  a  long  way. 
No  foreigner  has  yet  been  able  to  approach  our  home  Grapes.  What 
tasteless,  insipid  things  foreign  Tomatoes  are  compared  to  our  own.  I 
may  here  say  that  not  only  do  Scotch  Tomatoes  command  the  highest 
price,  but  some  that  are  grown  in  Ayrshire  have  maintained  a  record 
price  during  the  last  few  years.  I  have  seen  these  Tomatoes  fetch 
9d.  per  lb.  when  Covent  Garden  quotations  were  5d.  I  have  seeu 
also  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  saleroom,  hothouse  Grapes 
sold  by  the  cwt.  at  5d.  per  lb.,  4d.  less  than  the  Tomatoes.  Straw¬ 
berries  cannot  be  brought  long  distances  and  maintain  the  rich 
flavour  of  fresh  gathered'  fruit.  The  same  could  be  said  of  many 
other  things ;  even  the  splendid  Apples  which  come  to  us  in  ever 
increasing  quantities  from  across  the  Atlantic  have  not  the  rich 
flavour  of  our  home  fruit,  and  if  we  are  here  beaten  by  the  States 
and  Canada,  as  we  undoubtedly  are,  it  is  because  they  are  put  upon 
the  market  in  quantity  of  uniform  quality  and  attractive  appearance. 
Not  that  the  fruit  is  itself  superior  in  any  way  to  the  best  that  can 
be  grown  in  this  country. 
I  think  the  growth  of  the  enormous  trade  in  American  Apples  is 
very  much  the  same  as  that  of  the  Danish  butter.  We  can  say  of 
Danish  butter  that  it  is  good,  very  good,  but  it  has  not  the  real  hutter 
flavour  the  best  home  produce  has,  which  still  commands  the  top 
market  price,  but  this  best  can  scarcely  be  had.  It  has  not  been 
produced  in  sufficient  quantity  to  supply  the  demand,  hence  the 
foreign  has  stepped  in  with  a  good  all-round  article,  which  has  had 
no  difficulty  in  displacing  the  inferior  butter,  which  is  still  too 
common.  It  has  been  the  same  with  the  Apple  trade.  I  will  not 
say  that  in  Scotland  we  will  ever  be  able  to  compete  with  the 
Americans,  but  I  cannot  see  why  in  many  parts  of  England,  if 
properly  gone  about — growing  only  the  best  sorts,  and  bestowing  the 
same  taste  and  care  in  gathering,  grading,  and  packing  as  the 
Americans  do — home  growers  should  not  be  able  to  hold  their  own, 
