246 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ASD  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  11,  lm 
Hampton  Court. 
The  bedding  here  is  exceedingly  beautiful,  and 
executed  with  care,  forethought,  knowledge,  and  good 
taste.  The  keeping  of  the  gardens  in  general  is  entirely 
satisfactory.  Perhaps  in  point  of  merit  these  notes  of 
the  bedding  here  ought  to  have  been  given  a  prior 
place,  but  I  am  recording  my  impressions  in  the  order 
of  my  visits.  Mr.  J.  A.  Gardiner  is  the  superintendent 
of  this  historic  garden. 
I  need  not  attempt  to  describe  the  beds,  but  only 
name  the  subjects  used  in  the  most  effective  arrange¬ 
ments  as  follows: — Mixed  Verbenas,  mostly  of  crimson 
colour,  with  Abutiion  Thompsoni,  and  edged  with  a 
white  variegated  Ivy-leaved  Pelargonium.  Carmine 
flowei-ed  semperflorens  Begonias  with  white  Koeniga  and 
Golden  Feather  Pyrethrum  intermixed,  having  erect 
Plumbago  capensis  (4ft)  above,  and  edged  with 
G.  F.  Pyrethrum.  Another  had  Fuchsia  Scarcity  (red) 
with  Abutiion  Savitzi  mixed,  and  both  3jft  to  4ft  in 
height.  Beneath  was  Chlorophytum  variegatum  and 
Bouvardia  corymbosa  Humboldti,  splendidly  flowered 
and  choice.  The  edge  was  of  Leucophyton  Browni  and 
Bath  Show:  Side  View  of  the  Fruit  Tent. 
M  band  ”  being  about  2ft  in  breadth.  A  simple  yet  pleasing 
.arrangement  was  that  of  Lilium  speciosum  above,  and  crimson 
Celosia  pyramidalis  beneath,  edged  Alternantliera  versicolor.  In 
another  bed  the  yellow  Celosias  were  employed. 
Lantana  Drap  d’Or  (golden)  over  blue  Violas  was  good.  In  a 
round  bed  were  Lantana  delicatissima  over  white  Violas. 
Crimson  Celosias  were  also  used,  with  an  edging  of  Alternantliera 
amcena.  The  large  beds  of  foliage  plants  need  not  be  noticed  at 
this  time,  thev  having  had  due  reference  in  past  seasons.  The 
above  notes  complete  the  review  of  Hyde  Park  bedding,  but  at 
small  plants  of  Pelargonium  H.  Hieover.  A  charming 
bed — Leucophyton  Browni  (grey)  over  the  surface ; 
Begonia  La  Fayette  (crimson)  above  this;  Arundo 
Lindleyana  (like  “  Gardeners’  Garters  ”)  lending  grace, 
dotted  over  the  bed,  and  an  edge  of  Abutiion  vexillarium 
variegatum,  sometimes  called  A.  megapotanicum. 
Rich  and  bright  in  colour  was  a  round  bed  of 
tuberous  Begonias  in  named  varieties,  mostly  carmine 
and  crimson  flowered.  Laing’s  Rosy  Red  is  a  very  good 
sort.  Abutiion  Savitzi  was  used  above,  and  the  edge 
was  of  white  Lobelia.  Most  telling,  too,  was  the  con¬ 
trast  of  Kceniga  (tufted  little  plants)  below  and  between 
Begonia  weltoniensis,  grace  being  imparted  by  Eulalia 
gracillima,  and  an  edge  of  variegated  Ivy-leaved 
Pelargonium.  Again,  take  Begonia  ascotensis  in  con¬ 
junction  with  Centaurea  candidissima,  and  having  a 
carpeting  of  Mesembryanthemum  cordifolium  varie¬ 
gatum  undermost.  Decidedly  attractive  was 
Pelargonium  Crystal  Palace  Gem  (golden  foliage)  and 
starred  over  it  the  flowers  of  a  Viola  Bluebell,  standard 
plants  of  A.  Thompsoni  harmonising  with  the 
Pelargonium.  The  edge  was  Lady  Plymouth  Pelar¬ 
gonium. 
With  Pelargonium  Crystal  Palace  Gem  as  an  edging, 
and  P.  Flower  of  Spring  in  the  centre,  Viola  J.  B. 
Riding  peeping  up  all  over  among  the  foliage,  and 
standards  of  A.  Thompsoni,  another  charming  bed  was 
presented. 
In  a  round  bed  were  noted  Fuchsia  Mrs.  Marshall 
(or  one  like  it),  with  Begonia  weltoniensis  under,  with 
Viola  Countess  of  Kintore,  the  edge  being  Euonymus 
radicans  variegata.  Mixed  crimson  flowered  tuberous 
Begonias  over  yellow  Musk,  and  having  half-standard  A.  Thomp¬ 
soni  with  them,  was  bright  and  attractive.  Crimson  Celosias 
contrast  grandly  with  the  Musk.  Quite  one  of  the  finest  was  a 
mixed  Begonia  bed  (La  Fayette,  weltoniensis,  ascotensis  and 
crimson  tuberous)  with  dwarf  Centaurea  candidissima,  and 
Pyrethrum  Golden  Feather  intermixed.  Arundo  Lindleyana  was 
used  above,  and  the  edge  was  of  Mesembryanthemum,  banked 
outermost  with  Echeverias.  The  bed  was  oblong,  18ft  by  12ft. 
Very  simple,  and  yet  very  fine,  was  a  bed  of  Bouvardia  corymbosa 
Humboldti  (white)  with  Viola  J.  B.  Riding  (violet-purple) 
beneath.  Antirrhinum  Pride  of  the  Morning  (white),  mixed, 
though  not  crowded,  with  Henry  Jacoby  Pelargonium,  and 
having  an  edge  of  P.  Harry  Hieover,  was  good. 
One  of  the  larger  beds  contained  Agapantlius  umbellatus 
mixed  with  Campanula  pyramidalis  (the  blue  and  the  white),  and 
Marguerite,  undermost,  edged  also  with  Pelargonium  Little  Trot 
(like  Lady  Plymouth),  and  was  handsome.  Another  fine  combina¬ 
tion  included  Mrs.  Pollock  Pelargonium  and  Viola  J.  B.  Riding 
filling  the  centre;  Lobelia  splendens  shooting  up  above,  with  fine 
plants  of  Fuchsia  Sunray,  and  an  edging  of  Veronica  Andersoni 
variegata. 
The  foregoing  notes  include  references  to  the  best  efforts  and 
effects  in  the  general  bedding,  but  the  larger  sub-tropical  beds 
are  not  particularly  inspiring.  One  large  oblong  bed  contained  a 
great  variety  of  plants,  including  Musas,  Cordyline  indivisa, 
Gannas,  Latania  borbonica,  Phormium  tenax,  Abutilons  in 
variety,  Ficus  elastica,  8ft  high;  Melianthus  major,  or  Honey 
Ravenscourt  Park, 
near  Chiswick,  Mr.  Gingell,  the  superintendent,  has  also  one  or 
two  charming  arrangements.  Such  simple  beds  as  those  with 
crimson  Celosia  pyramidalis  over  Antennaria  tomentosa,  or 
yellow  Celosias  over  J.  B.  Riding  Viola,  are  sweet.  A  larger  bed 
with  bays  and  angles  is  entirely  filled  with.  Abutiion  Thompsoni, 
each  a  specimen  plant,  staked,  and  with  large  foliage.  Coleus 
Verschaffelti  and  Kceniga  maritima  (outermost),  is  also  very 
handsome.  Grevillea  robusta  over  a  bed  of  Begonia  semperflorens 
edged  with  Euonymus  radicans  variegata  is  noteworthy. 
Rather  too  dull,  but  novel,  is  a  bed  of  C’yperus  alternifolius 
with  blue  Lobelia  beneath,  and  edged  with  a  golden  leaved 
Fuchsia.  White  Antirrhinums  below  a  dark  red  Fuchsia,  edged 
with  Funkia  ovata  marginata,  commends  itself  at  once.  There  is 
much  to  admire,  too,  in  two  small  round  beds  near  one  of  the 
gates.  These  are  filled  with  Begonia  semperflorens 
rosea  and  blue  Lobelia  mixed,  edged  by  Sedum 
tabuheforme.  Throughout  the  park  there  are  many 
beautiful  foliage  and  flowering  shrubs,  and  I  know  that 
Mr.  Gingell  has  chosen  these  with  a  view  to  having  a 
continuance  of  bloom  the  whole  season  through.  The 
keeping  of  Ravenscourt  Park  is  in  very  capable  hands. 
Mr.  Cave’s  Gros  Maroc  Grape. 
1 
