CHAPTER II.

CONSTRUCTION OF BEDS, BEDS IN LAWN, RIBBON GARDENING, ROCKERIES.

"Oh! who can speak his joys, when Spring's young morn,

From wood and pasture open'd on his view;

When tender green buds blush upon the thorn,

And the first primrose dips its leaves in dew."

In preparing gardens to receive our flowers, it is better to avoid raised beds, with deep walks. They suffer from the intense heat of our summers; and the rains wash them down, often exposing the roots of the plants. Grass edgings are objectionable, on account of the labor required to keep the sods from spreading.

Beds that are artistically cut in the grass-plat produce a better effect; and the brilliant hues of the flowers contrast perfectly with the soft, shaven, emerald tint of the grass. One of the most attractive features about a house, is a garden tastefully cut in the lawn. It is open to but one objection-the dew upon the grass makes it rather unapproachable in the early morning, when its owner desires to feast her eyes upon its beauties.

Three designs are given for cutting beds in the grassy lawn, and an artistic eye will enable our gardeners to vary them as they please. The walks can be well trodden down, and hardened with sifted coal ashes or clay. Gravel is not so desirable, as it clings to the feet. The grass can be left between the beds, or cut out, but if the latter is done, they * can receive more care in the early hours of the day.

In the center, A, place a stocky plant of Scarlet Salvia; at B, Scarlet Geraniums; D, White Perfection Geranium; C, Heliotropes; E, Carnations; G, Asters; F, Zinnias; H and I, Stocks.

H

A

I

F

DIAGRAM No. 2.

A, Ricinus, Sanvitalia procumbens round it; B, Scarlet Verbenas; C, White Verbenas; D, Purple; E, Striped, Pink and White; F, Richest Crimson; G, Pure White; H, Brightest Pink; I, Darkest Maroon. The outer beds can be each of one kind of plant, Heliotropes, Carnations, Geraniums, Pelargoniums, Asters, Balsams, Zinnias, and Stocks, or any flowers that suit the owner's taste.

In the center mound, plant a fine specimen of Arundo donax, or one of the Pampas Grass. In each of the pear-shaped beds, put a different colored geranium, the tallest species at the stem end, and the Tom Thumb varieties at the broadest edge. In the circles plant some white flowers that will retain their beauty. In the crescents, brilliant scarlet flowers; and in the bordering of the half moon, either try ribbon gardening, or fill up with a mosaic in squares of scarlet, white, purple,

orange, blue, bright pink, crimson, and all the numberless shades that flowers afford. These beds furnish a great scope for exercising one's taste in arranging colors; and very brilliant effects may be produced without a great outlay of time or money.

The crescent-shaped garden can be approached from the main walk, and if the walks are hardened with ashes, it can be easily tended. All flower beds should be dug a foot deep; well enriched with animal or mineral manures; the lumps all finely pulverized, and the surface of the beds raked as smoothly as possible.

Portulacca, Nemophila, Thrift, Gypsophila and Dwarf Asters make very pretty edgings.

Ribbon Gardening.

Flowers may be planted in ribbon fashion, that is, by employing those of primary colors, and arranging them with the tallest for the background, or in the center. If sowed in a circular bed, be sure to have a brilliant scarlet or white flower in the center, which should be taller than all the rest. A Scarlet Geranium (Gen. Grant), for the center, White Feverfew surrounding that; Blue Larkspur should come next; Yellow Calceolarias next; and then the Dwarf Asters, of a rich crimson color, bordering on purple, would contrast well. For borderings to the plans given in this chapter, the Hyacinth-flowered Stocks would ribbon beautifully. Plant a row of the Scarlet, then White, next Lilac, then Canary Colored, then Bright Pink. They will grow to the same height, and produce a fine effect. Verbenas are also excellent for this purpose, and can be planted in concentric circles or in parallelograms, with six or seven colors, arranging them as a rainbow. A narrow semi-circle thus planted could be called the rainbow garden. Phlox Drummondii, Candytuft, Lobelias and Zonale Geraniums can all be employed in ribbon gardening. Take care to arrange the colors with vivid contrasts -orange and purple, white and scarlet, but do not let blue and purple mingle. The arrangement of the ribboning must depend, of course, upon the stock of plants you possess, and after one year's trial you will, doubtless, succeed in producing a fine effect. The only requisite rules are, to arrange the plants according to their height and coloring, always planting the outer edges with some dwarf plant that contrasts strongly. The Alternantheras, ornamental foliaged plants that grow but four or five inches high, are unsurpassed for edgings. They will receive due attention in the chapter devoted to Variegated Leaved Plants.

For planting in masses of coloring, Truffanto Asters, Smith's Prize Balsam, Dianthus florepleno, Linum coccineum, Schizanthus atropurpureus, Calceolaria and Centranthus macrosiphon make a fine show. Plant a small bed of each.

A bed of miniature flowers is always charming. Lobelia marmorata, Leptosiphon hybridus, Clintonia azurea grandiflora, Fenzleria dianthiflora and Grammanthes gentianoides are all dwarfs, and planted together with a bordering of Gypsophylla muralis, the effect is lovely! A bed of Mignonette is indispensable, and it will flourish in the shade, and in damp places, blooming luxuriantly.

Rockeries.

There are many plants which thrive much better in a sheltered, rocky situation, and thence has sprung up the fashion for constructing "Rockeries." Or it happens that some large rocks crop out on a portion of ground which is within view of the house, and it is desirable to ornament them. In the latter case, you have only to plant strong growing vines with large foliage, such as the Wild Grape Vine; the Clematis, or Virgin's Bower, that trails its white, starry blossoms, and its puffy, wooly seed pods all over the forests of this country. These two vines will render the offending rocks most picturesque. Southern ladies can entwine among them the lovely Yellow Jessamine of their woods, which throws a golden hue over all their forests. The Ampelopsis (or Virginia Creeper), or Five Fingered Ivy, and the Aristolochia (or Dutchman's Pipe), are also desirable for this purpose; also the Periplo cagræca, or Silk Vine of the Southern States.

One, or all of these vines, will soon render the obnoxious rocks a joy forever! Artificial Rockeries are usually constructed of stones of various sizes, with the soil firmly embedded betwixt them. They can be made very easily from the clinkers of the coal furnace. If large pieces can be obtained, whitewash some of them to increase their picturesqueness. Boulders, stones from brooks, or hill sides, can all be used advantageously.

Commence with the largest-sized stones, and build it up in an irregular, jagged shape to imitate nature. A Rockery can be made as a receptacle of Mineralogical Specimens, which would increase its value.

If you send to the woods and brooks for the stones, bring the soil thence, and, if not rich enough, add a little compost. but native Ferns