168 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Angnst  19,  1897. 
« 
the  white  flowers  of  the  latter  contrasting;  well  with  the  former.  In 
places  where  flowers  are  wanted  in  quantity  for  decoration  the  full  length 
branches  of  these  will  be  found  acceptable. — W.  D. 
REFLECTIONS  IN  THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
It  is  quite  evident  to  people  of  cultivated  taste  how  badly  our 
flower  ganiens  are  planned  from  the  standpoint  of  colour  effect.  There 
have  been  many  declamations  against  lummer  bedding.  But  as  our 
summers  are  so  short,  we  ought  to  endeavour  to  make  them  as  brilliant 
as  possible,  and  this  can  be  Bone  if,  instead  of  so  much  imitation,  we 
behold  aright  the  way  Nature  blends  her  colours  in  the  rainbow,  the 
autumn  sunset,  the  plumage  of  birds,  and  in  innumerable  other  ways.  A 
knowledge  of  how  the  artist  mixes  his  colours  would  aid  us  ;  but 
observation  and  reflection  on  the  beautiful  combinations  of  colours  we 
may  see  around  us  in  Nature  and  Art  is  the  true  standpoint,  and  I  think 
I  cannot  do  better  than  record  one  of  the  most  effective  pieces  of  bedding 
I  have  seen  this  year. 
They  were  long  borders  in  front  of  a  noble  range  of  glass  houses  at  a 
fine  old  place  in  the  south  of  Ireland,  where  the  climate  is  more  uniform 
and  moister  than  in  England,  The  planting  had  been  done  in  straight 
lines,  and  this  was  the  only  detriment  of  what  might  have  been  pro¬ 
nounced  a  finished  picture.  The  borders  had  been  stocked  early,  and 
contained  strong,  healthy  plan's. 
There  were  two  borders  ;  the  first  had  a  permanent  edging  of  Gentiana 
acaulis,  and  the  other  plants  were  in  continuous  lines  from  front  to  hack 
in  the  order  named.  A  line  of  intense  blue  and  profusely  flowered  Lobelia, 
white  Viola,  yellow  Viola,  Centaurea  candidissima,  Tropaeolum  Fire 
King  (a  mass  of  brilliant  flowers),  “  Geranium  ”  Crystal  Palace  Gem 
(flowers  kept  picked  off),  Iresine  Lindeni,  Flower  of  Spring  “Geranium” 
(flowers  kept  picked  off),  and  Lobelia  cardinalis.  The  other  border  was 
also  edged  with  Gentiana  acaulis,  next  line  white  Lobelia,  and  others  in 
the  order  named  as  follows  : — Yellow  Viola,  white  Viola,  red  Tropaeolum, 
Sophia  Dumaresque  tricolor  “  Geranium,”  Iresine  Lindeni,  Flower  of 
Spring  “  Geranium,”  yellow  Calceolaria  (robust  and  profusely  flowered), 
and  Lobelia  cardinalis. 
These  borders  were  each  120  feet  long,  and  in  the  centre  between  the 
two  were  two  connection  borders,  intersected  by  cross  walks  filled  with 
grand  clumps  of  Alstiomeria  aurantiaca,  A.  chilensis,  and  A.  aurea,  also 
masses  of  Delphiniums  and  Gladiolus  The  Bride,  and  clumps  of  Sweet 
Peas  represented  Invincible,  scarlet  ;  Princess  May,  a  lovely  shade  of 
pale  blue  ;  Lady  Beaconsfield,  a  combination  of  salmon,  pale  rose,  and 
primrose ;  Orange  Prince,  orange  and  scarlet ;  and  Purple  Prince. 
These  were  in  separate  clumps,  and  a  point  observed  here  was  the 
avoidance  of  stakes  too  tall.  They  were  not  allowed  to  reach  higher 
than  the  bottom  of  the  flower  stem  proper,  as,  for  instance.  Delphiniums 
3  feet  from  the  ground  instead  of  6  feet,  as  is  often  the  case  ;  for 
Alstidmerias  18  inches  would  be  ample.  By  observing  this  rule  stiffness 
and  formality  will  in  a  great  measure  be  obviated.  The  removal  of  the 
flowers  from  the  bedding  “  Geraniums  ”  in  the  borders  mentioned  is  to 
prevent  two  shades  of  red  spoiling  the  harmony. 
Another  border,  in  a  different  part  of  the  same  garden,  was  planted 
with  circles,  each  of  two  colours,  in  harmonious  contrast.  They  con¬ 
sisted  in  the  order  named  of  yellow  and  brown  Calceolarias,  French 
Marigolds  and  Perilla,.blue  Ageratum  and  Crystal  Palace  Gem  “  Gera¬ 
niums,”  Sweet  Alyssum,  Meaembryanthemum.and  Bronze  “  Geraniums." 
I  have  observea  the  plan  practised  in  the  aforementioned  borders 
followed  in  both  public  and  private  gardens — namely,  the  breaking  up 
of  what  would  otherwise  be  crude  mixture  by  the  use  of  white  flowered 
or  white  foliage  plants.  But  it  has  frequently  been  in  what  I  shall  call 
the  alternating  system,  every  alternate  plant  in  the  beds  being  white. 
This,  although  it  prevents  the  clashing  of  inharmonious  colours,  is,  to 
say  the  least,  indistinct,  confused,  and  heterogeneous.  The  ideal  flower 
garden  should  have  as  much  variety  as  possible,  ruled,  of  course,  by  its 
size.  Too  much  variety  in  a  small  space  would  be  out  of  character. 
But  all  flower  gardens  ought  to  have  not  only  beds  in  which  colour 
is  the  chief  characteristic,  but  also  those  in  which  tall,  noble,  graceful, 
and  majestic  plants  would  display  their  forms,  to  break  the  flatness  so 
frequently  seen  where  only  the  ordinary  flowering  and  low-growing 
coloured  foliage  plants  are  found.  Then,  also,  with  colour  and  form, 
plants  emitting  fragrant  odours  should  not  be  forgotten.  If  our  beds 
were  circles,  instead  of  other  fanciful  and  geometric  shapes,  they  would 
be  easier  to  plant,  and  more  effective  in  the  display  of  colours.  Beds  of 
one  colour,  or  two  colours  forming  a  harmony,  instead  of  mixture  which 
requires  nice  discernment  and  thought  to  be  pleasing. 
It  is  important  to  remember  that  all  Nature’s  variety  results  from 
the  combinations  of  the  three  primary  colours,  red,  yellow  and  azure. 
From  these  with  the  addition  of  black  and  white,  800  different  shades 
and  tints  are  formed.  To  oppose  two  primary,  as  red  and  yellow,  or  red 
and  blue,  is  crude  and  inharmonious.  The  same  effect  is  caused  by 
opposing  a  secondary  colour  with  a  primarjj  from  which  it  is  formed,  as 
yellow  and  scarlet  (scarlet  being  formed  by  the  mixture  of  red  and 
yellow).  So  to  have  a  pleasing  harmony,  let  us  have  a  primary  opposed  by 
a  secondary  formed  from  two  other  primaries,  as  yellow  opposed  by 
purple  (which  is  formed  by  the  mixture  of  red  and  blue),  A  combina¬ 
tion  of  relative  hues  is  pleasing  and  correct,  as  orange  and  scarlet,  both 
formed  from  red  and  yellow,  or  crimson  and  purple,  both  formed  from 
red  and  blue. 
In  the  planting  of  beds  with  tall,  graceful  and  noble  foliage  plants, 
I  advocate  only  one  variety  in  a  bed,  planted  thinly  so  that  their  indi¬ 
vidual  character  may  be  seen,  with  a  groundwork  of  some  low-growing 
creeping  plant  to  cover  the  earth.  In  addition  to  the  many  half- 
hardy  and  subtropical  plants  of  ornamental  form,  permanent  ibeds 
might  be  made  of  many  plants  seen  only  in  herbaceous  borders,  as,  for 
instance,  the  Plume  Poppy  (Bocconia  cordata),  H;jacinthus  candicass, 
Tritoma  Uvaria,  Polygonum  sachalinense,  Sedum  spectabile,  Echinops, 
Eryngium  amethystinum,  Fnnkia  Sieboldi,  Funkia  ovata  variegata. 
Fuchsia  Biccartoni,  Hollyhocks,  Rudbeokia  hirta,  Radbeckia  Newmani, 
Acer  Negundo  variegata.  Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora,  Farfugium 
grande,  beds  of  Marguerite  Carnations,  and  such  free  -  flowering 
sorts  as  Raby  Castle,  Duchess  of  Fife,  and  Redbraes  Picotee,  and 
Mrs.  Sinkins  Pink ;  also  plunged  in  pots,  Lilium  longiflorum,  Lilium 
lancifolium  rubrum,  and  the  varieties  of  Lilium  speciosam  for  ground¬ 
work  or  edgings,  many  hardy  plants  as  the  blue  Shore  Grass  (Elymus 
arenarius),  Dactylis  ,  glomerata,  Cerastium  tomentosum,  Heuchera 
Richardsoni,  Sedum  glaucum,  Sedum  Lydium,  Herniaria  glabra, 
Antennaria  tomentosa,  and  common  Musk. 
Of  course,  the  use  of  tall  and  noble  foliage  plants  in  the  flower  garden 
must  be  regulated  according  to  the  size  of  the  same,  as  proportion  and 
balance  is  to  be  observed  in  Nature  and  Art,  avoiding  formality,  stiffness, 
rigidity,  and  disjointed  colour.  Flowering  Cannas,  Fuchsias,  and  Begonias 
will  be  most  effective  in  beds  of  one  variety. — F.  Street. 
BRIEF  NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
{^Continued  from  page  121.) 
Ac.ena  argentea. 
The  Silvery  Acaena  in  its  flowering  season  suffers  in  comparison  with 
the  rosy-spined  one  by  reason  of  Its  flower  heads  having  no  special 
colouring  to  give  them  beauty  in  the  eye  of  the  casual  observer.  It  is 
not,  however,  in  these  that  its  charm  exists,  but  in  the  silvery  appear¬ 
ance  of  its  leaves.  These  are  not  like  bright  polished  silver,  but  are,  as 
it  were,  dulled  over  so  as  to  give  the  plant  a  more  subdued  tone  of 
beauty.  The  leaves  are  larger  than  those  of  A.  microphylla,  which  was 
mentioned  on  page  120,  and  the  whole  plant  is  more  rambling  in  its- 
ways.  This  is,  in  truth,  its  principal  failing,  as  if  placed  among  choice 
plants  it  is  apt  to  overgrow  and  destroy  them. 
The  best  positions  for  the  Silvery  Acaena  are  on  a  sloping  bank,  hanging 
over  a  rocky  shelf,  or  among  the  steps  of  the  rock  garden.  It  appears 
to  flourish  better  in  a  dry  place  than  A.  microphylla,  and  to  require  less 
moisture.  Another  feature  is  its  apparent  indifference  to  sunshine  or 
shade  from  its  rays,  A.  argentea  is  very  readily  increased  by  means  of 
division.  It  is  a  native  of  Chili,  but  is  quite  as  hardy  as  its  New  Zealand 
relatives. 
BeLLIS  ROTUNDIFOLIA  VAR.  CCERTTLESCENS. 
A  .long  name  for  a  little  plant  is  this,  and  it  is  little  wonder  that 
those  who  grow  it  are  content  with  calling  it  simply  the  “  Blue  Daisy,” 
or,  if  more  inclined  to  use  Latin  names,  “  Beilis  coerulescens.”  The 
more  correct  English  name  would  be  the  “  Bluish  Daisy,”  not  only  as 
more  nearly  approaching  the  word  coerulescens,  but  also  from  the 
colouring  being  so  pale  that  it  cannot  be  called  blue.  In  some  soils 
the  bluish  tint  is  more  pronounced  than  in  others.  The  plant  is  a  neat 
little  one,  with  roundish  green  leaves  and  pretty  single  Daisy-like 
flowers.  It  comes  from  Algeria,  and,  like  a  good  many  other  plants 
from  Northern  Africa,  is  not  absolutely  hardy  in  a  good  many  gardens. 
In  light  soil  and  mild  districts  it  is  not  only  truly  perennial,  but 
increases  very  quickly  at  the  root,  so  that  it  soon  forms  a  good-sized 
plant. 
Seeds  can  be  obtained  from  some  seedsmen,  and  the  question  of  the 
possibility  of  increasing  the  depth  of  colouring  in  the  flower  by  means 
of  selection  is  one  worthy  of  consideration  by  some  amateur  who  has  the 
time  and  space  requisite.  It  might,  and  probably  would  be,  possible 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years  to  raise  and  fix  a  deeper  tint,  so  as  to  make 
the  name  of  “  Blue  Daisy”  an  accurate  description  of  the  colour  of  the 
blooms.  Six  inches  is  its  normal  height,  and  this  is  seldom  exceeded  on 
suitable  soils.  B.  r.  coerulescens  grows  freely  in  sandy  soil  on  a  sunny 
rockery.  In  colder  districts  it  may  be  preserved  in  a  cold  frame  in 
winter. 
Campanula  alliariaipolia. 
This  Bellflower  is  more  frequently  grown  as  a  border  plant  than  as  a 
rock  garden  one;  It  is,  however,  better  adapted  for  the  rockery  than 
the  border,  as  its  Foxglove-like  habit  looks  more  effective  on  an  elevated 
position  than  on  the  level.  It  is  not  often  found  mentioned  in  gardening 
books,  but  is  to  be  met  with  in  gardens  occasionally,  sometimes  under 
the  name  of  C.  lamifolia.  The  name  of  C.  alliarisefolia  is  the  one  under 
which  it  is  grown  at  Kew,  and  is  that  applied  to  the  plant  by  Willdenow. 
It  is  a  native  of  the  Caucasus  and  adjoining  districts.  It  does  not  appear 
to  possess  a  trivial  or  “  popular  ”  name,  and  “  Alliaria- leaved  Bellflower” 
is  not  likely  to  commend  itself  to  those  in  search  of  a  pleasant  name  for 
the  plants  they  care  for.  If  I  might  suggest  one,  it  would  be  the  “  Fox¬ 
glove  Bellflower,”  although  this  has  the  demerit  of  leading  some  to  think 
that  the  flowers  are  purple  instead  of  white. 
C.  alliariaefolia  grows  from  12  to  18  inches  high,  and  has  leaves 
rather  resembling  those  of  the  Foxglove  in  general  appearance,  but  in 
form  more  approaching  those  of  the  Lamium,  whence,  one  would  sup¬ 
pose,  the  name  Lamium-leaved  has  been  applied  by  some.  The  spike  of 
pretty,  long,  bell-shaped  flowers  droops  forward,  and,  perched  well  up  on 
rockwork,  is  very  attractive  to  many.  This  Bellflower  is  perfectly  hardy, 
and  a  true  perennial.  It  may  be  raised  from  seeds,  and  is  also  increased 
by  division  of  the  roots.  Its  habit  is  good,  and  as  it  gives  little  or  no 
trouble,  it  deserves  a  place  in  more  gardens  than  at  present. — Alpinus. 
(To  be  continued.) 
