Geraniums, etc., etc. This mode can be adopted here where a small green-house or frame is kept. In the absence of these, nearly the same effect may be produced by choosing the most showy herbaceous plants, perennial and biennial,

* In many English residences, the flower-garden is maintained in never-fading brilliancy by almost daily supplies from what is termed the reserve garden. This is a small garden out of sight, in which a great number of duplicates of the species in the flower-garden are grown in pots plunged in beds. As soon as a vacuum is made in the flower-garden by the fading of any flowers, the same are immediately removed and their places supplied by fresh plants just ready to bloom, from the pots in the reserve garden. This, which is the ultimatum of refinement in flower-gardening, has never, to our knowledge, been attempted in this country.

alternating them with hardy bulbs, and the finer species of

annuals.

In Fig. 77, we give an example of a small cottage or villa residence of one or two acres, where the flower-beds are disposed around the lawn in the English style: their forms irregular, with curved outlines, affording a great degree of variety in the appearance as viewed from different points on the lawn itself. In this, the central portion is occupied by the lawn; c, d, are the flower-beds, planted with showy border-flowers, in separate masses; b, the conservatory. Surrounding the whole is a collection of choice shrubs and trees, the lowest near the walk, and those behind increasing in altitude as they approach the boundary wall or fence. In this plan, as there is supposed to be no exterior view worth preserving, the amphitheatre of shrubs and trees completely shuts out all objects but the lawn and its decorations, which are rendered as elegant as possible.

Where the proprietor of a country residence, or the ladies of the family have a particular taste, it may be indulged at pleasure in other and different varieties of the flower-garden. With some families there is a taste for botany, when a small botanic flower-garden may be preferred-the herbaceous and other plants, being grouped or massed in beds after the Linnean, or the natural method. Some persons have an enthusiastic fondness for florist flowers, as Pansies, Carnations, Dahlias, Roses, etc.; others for bulbous roots, all of which may very properly lead to particular modes of laying out flower-gardens.

The desideratum, however, with most persons is, to have a continued display of blossoms in the flower-garden from the opening of the crocus and snow-drop in the spring, until the autumnal frosts cut off the last pale asters, or blacken the

stems of the luxuriant dahlias in November. This may be done with a very small catalogue of plants if they are properly selected such as flower at different seasons-continue long time in bloom, and present fine masses of flowers. On the other hand, a very large number of species may be assembled together; and owing to their being merely botanical rarities, and not bearing fine flowers or to their blossoming chiefly in a certain portion of the season-or continuing but a short period in bloom, the flower-garden will often have but an insignificant appearance. With a group of Pansies and spring bulbs, a bed of ever-blooming China Roses, including the Isle de Bourbon varieties, some few Eschscholtzias, the showy Petunias, Gillias, and other annuals, and a dozen choice double Dahlias, and some trailing Verbenas, a limited spot, of a few yards in diameter, may be made productive of more enjoyment, so far as regards a continued display of flowers, than ten times that space, planted, as we often see flower-gardens here, with a heterogeneous mixture of every thing the possessor can lay his hands on, or crowd within the enclosure.

The mingled flower-garden, as it is termed, is by far the most common mode of arrangement in this country, though it is seldom well effected. The object in this is to dispose the plants in the beds in such a manner that, while there is no predominance of bloom in any one portion of the beds, there shall be a general admixture of colours and blossoms throughout the entire garden during the whole season of growth.

To promote this, the more showy plants should be often repeated in different parts of the garden, or even the same parterre when large, the less beautiful sorts being suffered to occupy but moderate space. The smallest plants should

be nearest the walk, those a little taller behind them, and the largest should be farthest from the eye, at the back of the border, when the latter is seen from one side only, or in the centre, if the bed be viewed from both sides. A neglect of this simple rule, will not only give the beds, when the plants are full grown, a confused look, but the beauty of the humbler and more delicate plants will be lost amid the tall thick branches of sturdier plants, or removed so far from the spectator in the walks, as to be overlooked.

Considerable experience is necessary to arrange even a moderate number of plants in accordance with these rules. To perform it successfully, some knowledge of the habits of the plants is an important requisite; their height, time of flowering, and the colours of their blossoms. When a gardener, or an amateur, is perfectly informed on these points, he can take a given number of plants of different species, make a plan of the bed, or all the beds of a flower-garden upon paper, and designate the particular situation of each species.

To facilitate the arrangement of plants in this manner, we here subjoin a short list of the more showy perennial and annual hardy border flowers, such as are easily procured here, for the use of those who are novices in the art, and who wish to cultivate a taste for the subject.

No. 1, Designates the first class which grow from six to twelve inches in height.

No. 2, Those which grow from one to two feet.
No. 3, Those which are over two feet in height.

HARDY PERENNIALS.

FLOWERING IN APRIL.

1. Anemone thalictroides, pl. Double wood Anemone; white. 1. Anemone pulsatilla. Pasque flower; blue.

1. Anemone hepatica, pl. Double Hepaticas; blue.

1. Viola odorata, pl.

1. Omphalodes verna.

Double white and blue European violets.
Blue Venus Navelwort.

1. Polemonium reptans. Greek Valerian; blue.
1. Phlox stolonifera. Creeping Phlox; red.
2. Phlox divaricata. Early purple Phlox.

1. Primula veris. The Cowslip; yellow and red.

1. Primula polyantha. The Polyanthus ; purple.

1. Primula auricula. The Auricula; purple.

1.

1.

Viola tricolor. Heart's Ease or Pansy; many colours and sorts.
Viola grandiflora. Purple Pansy.

2. Saxifraga crassifolia. Thick-leaved Saxifrage; lilac.

1. Phlox subuluta. Moss pink Phlox.

1. Phlox nivea. White Moss Pink.

1.

Gentiana acaulis. Dwarf Gentian; purple.

1. Adonis vernalis. Spring fl. Adonis; yellow.

2. Dodecatheon meadia. American Cowslip; lilac.

2. Pulmonaria virginica. Virginian Lungwort; purple. 2. Alyssum saxatile. Golden basket; yellow.

2. Trollius europeus. European Globe flower; yellow. 1. Corydalis cucularia. Breeches-flower; white.

MAY.

1. Veronica gentianoides; Gentian leaved Speedwell; blue. Veronica spicata; Blue spiked Speedwell.

2.

2.

Pentstemon ovata; Oval leaved Pentstemon; blue.

2. Pentstemon atropurpureus; Dark purple Pentstemon. 2. Orobus niger; Dark purple Vetch.

1. Jeffersonia diphylla; Five-leaved Jeffersonia; white.

1. Lysamachia nummularia; Trailing Loose-strife; yellow.

1. Convallaria majalis; Lily of the Valley; white. 1. Saponaria ocymoides; Basil-like Soapwort; red. 1. Phlox pilosa; Hairy Phlox; red.

2.

Anchusa Italica; Italian Bugloss; blue.

2. Ranunculus acris, pl. Double Buttercups; yellow. Tradescantia virginica; blue and white Spiderwort.

2.

2. Lupinus polyphyllus ; Purple Lupin.

2. Iris sibirica; Siberian Iris; blue.

3. Iris florentina; Florentine Iris; white.

3. Paonia tenuifolia; small leaved Pæony; red.

3. Pania albiflora; single white Peony.

2. Lupinus nootkaensis; Nootka Sound Lupin; blue.

2. Hesperis matronalis, albo, pl.; the double white Rocket.