by the use of plants remarkable for the beauty of their foliage, where the climate is not sufficiently favourable for producing bloom on the popular bedding plants of the day. The border in question is one at Mayfield, Falkirk. It is a sunk terrace border 100 yards long-the terrace slope and walk being of grass; though we would prefer to have the walk of gravel, for bringing out more conspicuously the hues of the foliage plants used. The arrangement successfully carried out in this rather unfavourable climate last season, 1867 -one of the wettest and coldest on record-was as follows:

:

1st Row.-Cerastium tomentosum. This was kept dwarf and close by being repeatedly topped and passing a very light roller over it, always going in the same direction, and was never much over two inches high.

2d Row.-Arabis lucida variegata.

3d Row.-Gnaphalium lanatum, pegged down and kept pinched. 4th Row.-Viola cornuta, spring struck. This is a grand wetweather and heavy-soil plant.

In

Behind these, and in the centre of the border, from one end to the other, a chain of diamonds, the outline of which was Mrs. Pollock and Sunset Pelargoniums alternately, the centre of the diamond being Pelargonium Christine—a fine wet-climate Pelargonium. the centre of each diamond bed were placed plants of Coleus Verschaffeltii and Iresine Herbstii alternately, space being left in the centres of the Iresine for one plant of Centaurea Ragusina. The triangles on each side of the chain of diamonds were planted to match, and were filled in with Iresine Herbstii, with a patch of the lovely Dactylis glomerata variegata in the centre of each triangle.

1st Row.-Behind this, as a backing, Pelargonium Christine. 2d Row.―Taxus elegantissima and Queen Holly—time about; both golden, and about 3 feet in height. Between each of these, and a little in advance of them, was a specimen plant of Centaurea Ragusina.

3d Row.-A row of green yews with golden tops, and Acer negunda variegata, plant for plant, from 4 to 5 feet,-the back line of all being a row of spiral-growing Conifers.

The only blooming plants here used were the pink Pelargonium and the Viola,-the whole of the bloom. buds being picked from the others as they appeared. The opinion entertained at Mayfield about the comparative effectiveness of the golden and tricolor Pelargoniums for distant effect, corresponds with what we have always held, namely, that the Mrs. Pollock type is quite inferior to the pure golden, such as Golden Chain and Cloth of Gold.

It must be understood, as the experienced will see, that such border planting is of the highest and most expensive order; the shrubs alone testify to this. But it should afford encouragement to those who are located in climates not favourable to production of bloom, as it shows how the very gayest of parterre-work can be carried out.

Design No. 1 as a Spring Flower-Garden.

The principle on which the successful grouping of spring-flowering plants should be carried out may be said to be precisely the same, in as far as the contrast and harmony of colours are concerned, as the summer flower-garden. The plants which have been enumerated and treated of for spring-flowering, afford even more distinct shades of colour than are available for summer decoration. This can easily be seen by a reference to

the various sections of plants from which suitable ones are selected, inclusive of bulbs, annuals, and shrubs.

Supposing a group of beds represented by this design to be one which is required gay both summer and spring, the arrangement requires to be distinct from and more temporary than one required gay in spring only; for which season, looking at it as a summer garden also, it could be planted for effect in April and May principally as follows:

1. Supposing that there is no work of art as a centre, set a light rose-coloured Rhododendron of symmetrical growth (see list of Rhododendrons). Surround this with a row of dwarf Queen or silver Holly,-as a centre, a specimen plant of Yucca recurva might do graceful duty all the year round. Then plant the rest of the bed with large plants of Alyssum saxatile, yellow, or Cheiranthus alpinus, leaving room for an edging of blue Pansy.

2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3.-Planting on the concentric ring system, these would be all planted alike here also, with Myosotis arvensis (blue Forget-me-not); edged with Cheiranthus alpinus or C. Marshallii. The latter should be chosen if the former be the yellow in the centre bed.

4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5.—Arabis albida, white, and a great bloomer; edged with red Daisy.

6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7.-Scarlet or red Anemone; edged with white Pansy.

Close to the margin of these beds there may be a row of some dwarf-growing bulbous plants, such as Crocus, Erythronium, or Scilla, which bloom and grow without interfering with the edging plants we have named; and after these earlier flowering things are done blooming, the edging will extend to the extreme margins and take up their place.

These are all very effective plants, and last in bloom a long time. It will be observed that there are no Tulips, or Hyacinths, or upright stiff-growing bulbs

mentioned in this arrangement for beds. In beds by themselves they have a stiff and somewhat formal appearance, and do not keep long in bloom, although nothing can excel the splendour of the colours. We recommend, as mentioned elsewhere, that they be introduced thinly among the plants which have better capabilities for covering the ground. In this case, let No. 1, dwarf yellow, be sprinkled with a tall-growing, brightcoloured Tulip, such as Imperator rubrorum.

In the blue Forget-me-not, in beds Nos. 2 and 3, a white or yellow Tulip-we should choose a white, the centre bed being yellow, as the edging here; Lacandeur would come in well, or the striped Royal Standard Tulip would do very well. In the white beds, Nos. 4 and 5, Arabis albida, it being a dwarf-grower, a Hyacinth might be dotted in; a red or bluish variety would tell well with the white. The outside beds of scarlet Anemone may be interplanted with the Narcissus tenuifolius or A. albus-plenus.

By the time these and the outside lines of variouscoloured Crocuses, Snowdrops, Scillas, etc., were done blooming, the things planted for the permanent display would be coming into full beauty; and as the blooms of the Tulip, etc., last into the tolerable full bloom of the plants which covered the bed, they form an interesting contrast in character, colour, and habit; and the bulbs, if desired, can be removed at once from the beds as soon as their bloom fades.

To plant this design on the alternate principle. 1.-White Forget-me-not, or white Silene pendula; edged with dark purple Pansy; and sprinkled with a crimson or scarlet Tulip. 2, 2, 2.-Imperial Blue Pansy; edged with yellow Alyssum or Limnanthes Douglassii; and having white-coloured Hyacinth mixed in.

3, 3, 3.- Cheiranthus alpinus or C. Marshallii; edged with Nemophila insignis; and Belle Alliance Tulip mixed in the Cheir anthus.

4, 4, 4.—Silene pendula, pink; edged with purple Primula; with yellow and red Tulip, such as Brutus, mixed in.

5, 5, 5.—Blue Forget-me-not; edged with yellow Pansy; with white Tulip or Narcissus mixed in.

6, 6, 6,—Anemone coronaria, scarlet; edged with Dactylis glomerata variegata; with Narcissus tenuifolius mixed in. The Dactylis, in March, April, and May, in its young state, is exquisitely beautiful.

7, 7, 7.—Purple Primrose, single; edged with white Daisy; and having white or light-coloured Hyacinth mixed in.

For the sake of variety, it is easy to put a third edging line to these beds, in which case the edgings named above should be double rows, and the finishing line a single row, quite independent of early dwarf-growing bulbs near the margins.

To plant these beds with Annuals and bulbs, which can be quickly produced, and from which category Pansies and Daisies-the chief glory of the spring garden-must not be excluded, plant as follows:

1.-Lasthenia Californica, annual, yellow; banded with blue Pansy; edged with white Daisy; having a row of blue Crocus at the edge. 2, 2, 2.-White Forget-me-not; edged with Silene pendula, rose, banded with purple Pansy; and edged with red Daisy; having a row of yellow Crocus at the margin.

3, 3, 3.-Silene pendula; banded with Calandrinia umbellata; edged with variegated Arabis lucida; having a band of Scilla bifolia at the edge.

4, 4, 4.—Purple Pansy; banded with Limnanthes Douglassii; edged with red Daisy.

5, 5, 5.-Yellow Pansy; banded with Nemophila insignis; edged with Cerastium tomentosum or variegated Daisy; with white Crocus round the edge.

6, 6, 6.-Blue Forget-me-not; banded with Limnanthes sulphurea odorata; edged with red Daisy; with a band of blue Crocus.