The whole of the plot is dug; and the borders surrounding it, and the beds, axe edged with thrift, or sea pink (Armeria vulgaris), and the walks gravelled. If paved, the flagstones should be laid hollow, and supported on piers, in order that the space beneath may serve as a drain for absorbing the water which falls on the beds, and also on the walks. The surface of the soil of the beds we may suppose to be 2 in. below the surface of the walk, and quite flat.

171. Planting With Fibrous-Rooted Perennials And Bulbs Alternately

The advantage of introducing bulbs in flower-gardens is, that their flowers make a greater show than those of fibrous-rooted plants generally do in spring; and as, in small suburban residences, it seems more desirable that the gardens should look well in spring than in summer (because at the latter season many families go out of town for a few months), the use of bulbs appears very desirable. The manner of introducing them may either be in beds by themselves, to be succeeded by fibrous-rooted plants when they go out of flower; or intermixed with fibrous-rooted perennials, by using only half the number of the latter, and those of larger growth; and by placing the bulbs and the perennials alternately. As the bulbs come all into flower in March, April, or May, they will have faded before the perennials have come to their full growth; and hence, notwithstanding the increased size of the perennials, the bed will not appear crowded.

The advantage of this mode of planting is, that a much greater show will be made in the months of March, April, and May; because, as already mentioned, the flowers of bulbous-rooted plants are much larger in proportion to the foliage than those of fibrous-rooted plants. The flowers also are much more conspicuous; because, in general, they expand before the leaves have attained their full size. On the whole, however, the culture of bulbs in mixture with perennials is inconvenient; except when florists' bulbs only are employed, that come into flower and fade all about the same time, and the bulbs of which may be taken up annually in June or July, and replanted in November or December. This admits of taking up the perennials every year, or every other year, stirring, refreshing, or renewing the soil, and pruning or otherwise reducing the plants, and then replanting them. On the other hand, if what may be called botanical bulbs were introduced, as these are best allowed to remain in the soil for several years, the perennials cannot be so conveniently taken up, reduced, and replanted, when they get too large

3. Plant: all the beds with evergreen perennials; each plant to be kept perfectly distinct These for the centre bed may be Saxifraga crassifolia, which is as valuable among evergreen herbaceous plants as the holly is among evergreen shrubs. The other beds may be filled with different species of evergreen saxifrages; or, what would look better in winter, with carnations and picotees in two opposite beds, and pinks and sweetwilliams in the four others, disposed symmetrically; that is, the two beds of sweetwilliams being placed opposite each other, and the pinks in the other two beds; or the centre bed might be filled with wallflowers, and the others with different kinds of stocks.

4. The beds might be planted with low evergreen under-shrubs, which would look well at every season of the year. For example, the centre bed might be filled with rosemary; and the surrounding beds with lavender, sage, hyssop, winter savory, and thyme. These plants would serve, at the same time, as sweet herbs. Or the centre bed might be filled with Cistus creticus, or any low-growing cistus, and the surrounding beds With helian-themums of different colours: or the centre bed might be filled with Iberis sempervirens, and the surrounding beds with alyssuiri, arabis, aubrietia, vesicari'a, cardamine, and barbarea.

5. The centre bed may be occupied by a cone of climbing roses; the cone to Which the plants are trained being formed by a circle 3 ft. in diameter, composed of eight rods of Kyanised wood, or cast iron, placed about a foot apart at the bottom, and brought to a point at top, about 10 or 12 feet from the ground, and there tied together by wire. One kind of rose may be planted at the foot of each rod, and trained to it; and some of the kinds ought to be evergreens, so as to prevent the cone appearing bare in winter. The roses may be selected from the lists which will be given hereafter; but, in the mean time, we may suggest that some of the most free-flowering sorts are the Boursault rose, the rose de Lille, and the Queen of the Belgians; the last being a beautiful white. Rosa ruga is also a free-flowering and most beautiful rose. There are several varieties of evergreen roses, one of the finest of which is the triomphe de Bollwyller, which has large and fragrant flowers. The surrounding beds may be planted with dwarf China roses; or with the rose des quatre salsons; or entirely with Lee's crimson perpetual, one of the most beautiful roses grown.

6. The surrounding beds may be planted with Fuchsia globdsa, which, though it dies down to the ground every winter, comes up again the following spring, and flowers most luxuriantly all summer; and the centre bed with Fuchsia microphylla, which is a hardy evergreen, and does not die down during winter; or with F. discolor, which, though it is not an evergreen, is quite hardy.

169. Where there in a reserve garden it would be easy to keep the beds in full beauty during the whole summer, by taking up every plant as it goes out of flower, with a ball Of earth attached (for which there is art appropriate tool, called a transplanter), carrying it to the reserve ground, and bringing back a plant in flower, with a ball of earth attached, to supply its place. If the plants are grown in large pots, the labour of taking up and replanting will be considerably lessened, and the success rendered certain, though there is something extremely interesting in removing plants in full flower by the transplanting machine, and Watching the result. We have known persons, who in fig. 47., or in beds bordered with box, and intersected by narrow paths of gravel, as shown in fig. 48. Fig. 47. might be planted with Fuchsia globoss, the different kinds of mimulus, Frogmore pelargonium, dwarf rosea, heliotropes, particularly the beautiful new Heliotropium Voltaireanum, petunias of various shades, cupheas, verbenas, Genista bracteolata, and Cytisus racemosus.