BEDDING-OUT

The temporary placing out of doors of greenhouse and other tender plants during the summer months. It is considered by some to be the showiest, most expensive, and most unnatural of any style. The geometrical arrangement of gaudy colours is not at all times satisfactory, and under the most favourable conditions the design is rarely retained more than two or three months, say, from July to September. The method is, however, so extensively adopted as to demand due notice in this work. Bedding usually commences in May. An important consideration is the proper preparation of the soil for the reception of the plants. It will be found to materially a ist the growth if the soil is well dug over a fortnight before the plants are put in. By this means, it will acquire a certain amount of solidity, a point of great importance with fibrous-rooted plants that are subject to injury from the fine roots not taking a firm hold of the soil. Having decided upon the arrangement of the plants, proceed to work with the planting. With round, oval, or, indeed, almost any shaped bed, begin in the centre and work towards the edge; in borders, commence at the back and finish with the front row. Plant with a trowel, disturbing the balls as little as po ible, and when in the holes pre the soil moderately firm. After the Bed is finished, give a good soaking of water to settle the soil at the roots. Manure for Flower-beds should always be perfectly rotten, such as that from a spent hotbed. When the plants are thoroughly established, water must only be given if they show signs of distre ; and then a good soaking should be applied. A careful hoeing of the surface after planting will be most beneficial, leaving it smooth and tidy. A Dutch hoe will be the best to use. Injudicious use of manure and water will only cause a foliaceous growth. The proper treatment of the various Bedding Plants will be found under their respective headings. For spring decoration, the Beds may be filled with Dutch bulbs, and spring-flowering annuals and perennials ad infinitum; or, after the plants are removed in autumn, the Beds may be filled with evergreens plunged in pots, such as Aucuba, Arbor vitæ, Euonymus, and various little Conifers, which have a bright appearance through the winter, and can be removed at any time. With the relative value, or advisability of adoption, of either or any system of gardening, it scarcely comes within the province of this work to deal. No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down as regards "style," and each individual may follow his own taste and inclination. IMG:7081556231692414330_i_165a.jpg: F IG . 214. D ESIGN FOR C ARPET B EDDING . IMG:7081556231692414330_i_165b.jpg: F IG . 215. D ESIGN FOR C ARPET B EDDING . Carpet Bedding. This mode of gardening, although not so generally employed as it was some few years ago, has many admirers, and small plots, geometrically arranged in multi-coloured beds on lawns, are frequently seen. In our large public parks, the system is largely adopted, and evidently proves very gratifying to the multitudes who visit these places; but probably no system is more unnatural or expensive, as such a large number of plants are nece ary in order to produce a desirable effect. The illustrations (Figs. 214 and 215) represent two designs for Carpet Beds. The numbers placed in the various compartments indicate the way the different colours should be arranged, repeats being marked by the same cypher. A very varied and large selection of plants can be used for Carpet Bedding, some of which are quite hardy, such as Herniaria glabra and Veronica repens , two of the best dwarf green plants; Sempervivum californicum , Sedum lydium , S. glaucum , Antenna ria to mentos a , . These may be planted early in the season, with Golden Feather, and are especially valuable, as they are generally employed to a great extent. Other plants, not quite so hardy, are Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica and Echeveria secund a glauca , both of which are extensively used; while the tenderest subjects are Alternant her as of various kinds, Coleus Vers chaff elt i i and Mesembryanthemum cord i folium variegatum . These latter should not be planted till the first or second week in June. As the plants are usually small, and require to be planted thickly, the work is best accomplished with the fingers, pre ing the soil moderately firm. First of all, work out the design, and plant the leading lines; afterwards fill in the "panels." IMG:7081556231692414330_i_165c.jpg: F IG . 216. D ESIGN FOR B EDDING . Sub-Tropical Bedding. This term is applied to the arrangement of tropical plants in Beds or groups outside for the summer months, and if discriminately adopted a very attractive and unique display may be made, depending greatly upon position, and mainly upon the material at command. If a sheltered and partially shady situation is of tree and other large ferns with palms, Cannas, Aralias, Dracænas, ., avoiding, of course, formal arrangement, and yet, when finished, a symmetrical appearance should be produced. In more open positions, palms, Castor Oil Plants, Cannas, Humea elegans , Aralias, Phormiums, Wig and i as, Nicotianas, ., may be employed, the result being, if properly arranged, most gratifying. Sub-Tropical Bedding should not be done till the middle or end of June, and the Beds should be well dug and freely manured for those that are to be planted out. IMG:7081556231692414330_i_166a.jpg: F IG 217. D ESIGN FOR B EDDING . Fig. 216 represents a Border or long piece of ground, which may be either marked out permanently with Box edging, dwarf-growing silver or golden leaved plants, tiles, stones, or pebbles, and filled in with silver sand or bright-coloured stones or gravel; or the lines may be widened out into walks. The whole of the small circles not numbered are intended for specimen foliage and other plants, such as Fuchsias, Yuccas, Aloes, Cannas, Solanums, variegated or plain Reeds, Gra es, Maize ( Zea ), . No. 1, tall plants of Echeveria metallica , edged with E. glauca ; 2, 2, yellow or orange Calceolaria; 3, 3, Mrs. Leavers Pelargonium; 4, 4, Triomphe de Stella ditto; 5, 5, purple or blue Verbena; 6, 6, white ditto. The narrow border round the side may then be filled in with Golden-feather Pyrethrum, blue Lobelia, or Alternant her a amabilis . This same plan may also be treated in quite a different manner, according to the taste of those adopting it, or the stock of plants at command. IMG:7081556231692414330_i_166b.jpg: F IG . 218. D ESIGN FOR B EDDING OR C ARPET B EDDING . Fig. 217 illustrates a design admirably adapted for a rosery or small flower garden. Its only fault is the number of sharp angles at the corners of some of the Beds; but this can be counteracted by the predominance of curved lines. It is easily formed, and the effect is good if furnished in the following manner: The circle in the centre, 1, Centaurea ragus in a compact a , edged with a double line of Coleus Vers chaff elt i i ; the four figures 2, 2, 2, 2, scarlet Pelargoniums, such as Vesuvius, Bonfire, Triomphe de Stella, or others; 3, 3, Mrs. Pollock, golden-zoned Pelargoniums, edged with Alternant her a amœna ; 4, 4, Lady Cullum, ditto, ditto, edged with ditto; 5, 5, Lobelia speciosa , Imperial Dwarf Ageratum, or Purple King Verbena; 6, 6, white Verbena or white Ivy-leaved Pelargonium. IMG:7081556231692414330_i_166c.jpg: F IG. 219. A RRANGEMENT OF N URSERY FOR R OSE T REES AND S HRUBS. IMG:7081556231692414330_i_166d.jpg: F IG . 220. A RRANGEMENT OF N URSERY FOR R OSE T REES AND S HRUBS . The group of Beds illustrated in Fig. 218 is effective on gra or gravel. If on the latter, the lines should be defined with Box, Golden Thyme, Cerastium, or Santolinas. The design is pretty on level, but is still more effective on sloping ground; in the latter case, it should rise from the straight walk (dotted line). Thus each Bed may be seen to the best advantage, and the group may be extended to any length. The circular Beds should be planted with two distinct colours, such as good pink and scarlet Pelargoniums of similar habits of growth, placing the colours in alternate Beds. The Beds, a , a , a , Flower of Spring, or another silver-leaved Pelargonium; b , b , b , Purple King Verbena, or Imperial Dwarf Ageratum; c , c , White Perfection Verbena, and silver-leaved or white-flowered Ivy-leaved Pelargonium; d , d , Alternant her a magnific a ; e , e , Blue Lobelia. The long border, Alternant her a paronychioides , edged with Antenna ria to mentos a ; or Iresine Linden i i , edged with Pyrethrum, Golden Fleece or Crystal Palace Gem Pelargonium. The two sides may also be planted alike. The colours are reversed above to produce a greater variety and a more striking effect. This design is also well adapted for Carpet Bedding. IMG:7081556231692414330_i_167.jpg: F IG . 221. B EDDING - OUT D ESIGNS . Nursery Bed. This is merely a reserve ground or nursery for a large stock of plants of various sorts, such as Roses, . One of the first requirements is an easy acce to the individual plants, and with the least po ible waste of space. This may be obtained by arranging the Beds in regular geometric figures, as shown in Figs. 219 and 220, and, by exercising a little care and taste, the whole can be so contrived as to present an ornamental appearance. We are indebted to Me rs. Cannell and Sons for the diagrams of Bedding-out designs shown at Fig. 221, which may be made very effective: Bed A. This Bed may be planted with the following: Summer-flowering: 1, Gain's Yellow Calceolaria or Ageratum Lady Jane; 2, Geranium Vesuvius or another scarlet; 3 and 4, Viola Blue-bell or Purple King Verbena; 5, edged with Gnaphalium lanatum , or Antenna ria to mentos a , white foliaged plants. Summer Foliage: 1, Coleus Vers chaff elt i i ; 2, Centaurea ragus in a compact a ; 3 and 4, Mrs. Pollock Geranium; 5, band of any of the Echeverias, or Kleinia repens . Bed B. Plants mentioned for A will do for this. Bed C. This is really intended for a Carpet Bed. 1, Alternant her a amabilis , with a narrow line of amœna for the edge; 2, Mentha , or Herniaria glabra ; 3, band of Mesembryanthemum cord i folium variegatum . Flowering: 1, Any kind of Scarlet Geranium; 2, Golden-leaved ditto; 3, Blue Lobelia (edge). Spring: 1, White Arabis; 2, Myosotis di it i flora ; 3, Golden Feather. Bed D. Summer: 1, Pink Geranium; 2, Iresine Linden i i ; 3, Golden Feather. Carpet: 1, Alternant her a versicolor grand is ; 2, Mesembryanthemum cord i folium variegatum ; 3, Alternant her a magnific a , edged with Sempervivum montanum . Bed E. 1, Scarlet Geranium; 2, Pink ditto; 3, Lobelia speciosa ; or, 1, Alternant her a amœna ; 2, Mesembryanthemum cord i folium variegatum ; 3, Echeveria secund a glauca . Bed F. 1, Dracæna , Chamæpeuce , or any other graceful foliage plant for the centre; 2 and 4, Alternant her a amabilis , the divided lines, 6, being filled with Mentha or Echeverias; 3 and 5, Alternant her a amœna ; and the outer edge, 7, with Sempervivum californicum . This bed would look well if planted with any of the above-mentioned spring flowers. Spring: Bed might be raised to a mound, and lined out with hardy Sedums, or Sempervivums, placing a larger growing one in the centre; and 2, 3, 4, and 5 divisions may be filled with any spring-flowering dwarf-growing plants. Bed G. 1, Small plant of Yucca; 2, Coleus Vers chaff elt i i ; 3, Aly um variegatum ; 4, Lobelia pumila magnific a . Bed H. 1, Golden Feather; Mesembryanthemum; 3, Mentha; 4, Alternant her a amabilis ; or 1, Coleus Vers chaff elt i i ; 2, Centaurea ragus in a ; 3, Calceolaria Golden Gem; 4, Ageratum Lady Jane.