Sprmg Beddmg.~For this description of bedding, hardy plants only must be used, but even then the choice rs tolerably extensive. l-or example, there are the Alyssums, of which A. saxatzle and A. gemonense are in cultivation; Anlennarza tomentosa; the double white Arabzs albrda; Aubrretias, of which the best sorts are A. Campbellrae and A. grandrflora; the double Bellrs perenms or Dais; the Wallflow ers, rncludrng Cherranthus Chezn (the Common Wallflower), C. alpma and C. Marshallu; Hepatrcas, the principal of which are the varieties of H. trzloba, and the blue H. augulosa, lberrs or ('andytuft; Lrthospermum fruucosum; Myosotrs or Forgetme-not, including M. alpestrrs, M. drssmjiora, M. azorwa and M sylvestrzs, Phloxes, like P. subulata, with its varieties setacea, Nelsom, mvalzs; the single-flowered varieties of the Primrose, Przmula vnlgarzs; the Polyanthuses; Pyrethrum Parthemum aureum, called Golden Feather; Sempervwum calcareum; the pink flowered Srlene pendula; self-coloured varieties of the Pansy, V trrcolor, and of V. lutea and V. cornuta, as well as some recent hybrids Besides these there are the various spring-flowering bulbs, such as the varieties of H acinthus, Tulilpa, Narcissus, Frrtrllaria, Muscarr or Grape Hyacintli, Crocus, Scrl a, Chionodoxa and Galanthus or Snowdrop.

Summer Beddmg.-There is great variety amongst the plants which are used for beddrng-out in the garden during the summer months, but we can note only some of the most important of them Amongst them are the Ageratums, the old tall growing sorts of which have been superseded by dwarfer blue and white Howered varieties; Alternantheras, the principal of which are A. amoena amoena spectabrlrs, magmjica, paronychwzdes major au/rea and amabdrs; Alyssum marmmum varregatum; some of the dwarf

arretres of Anurrhmum majus; Arundo Donax varregata; Begonias;

Calceolarras; Cannas; Centaurea ragusma; Clematises, of which the hybrids of the Jackmanm type are best; Dalzha varrabzlrs, and the single-Howered forms of D. coccmea; Echeverras, of which E. secunda and E. metallic are much em >loyed; Gazanias; Helrotropes, Iresines; Lantanas; Lobelras; .ivlesembryanthemum cordzfolzum varregalum; Pelargoniums, of which the various classes of zonal or bedding varieties are unapproachable for effect and general utility; Petunras; Phloxes; Polemomum coeruleum varregatum; Pyrethrum Parthemum aureum, the well-known Golden Feather, especially; useful as an edging to define the outline of beds u on grass; ropaeolums, especially some of the varieties of T. fobbrauum; and Verbenas, the offsprrn of Tweedzeana, chamaedrrfolra and others. Few bulbs come into the summer flower gardens, but amongst those which should always be well represented are the Gladrolus, the Lrlxum, the Trgridra and the Montbretia. Subtroprcal Beddmg.—Foliage and the less common Howering plants may be used either in masses of one kind, or rn groups arranged for contrast, or as the centres of groups of less imposing or of dwarfer-flowering subjects; or they may be planted as single specimens in appropriate open spaces, in recesses, or as distant striking obiects terminating a vista.

Carpet Bedding consists in covering the surface of a bed, or a series of beds forming a design, with close, low-growing plants, in which certain figures are brought out by means of plants of a different habit or haung different coloured leaves. Sometimes, in addition to the carpet or ground colour, rndnrdual plants of larger size and handsome appearance are dotted symmetrically over the beds, an arrangement which is very telling. Some of the best plants for carpeting the surface of the beds are: Antennarza tomentosa and Leucophytum Browm, whrte; Sedum acre, dasyphyllum, corszcum and glaucum, grey; and Sedum Lydrum, Mentha Pulegrum grbrallarzca, Sagma subulata and Hermarza glabra, green. The Alternantheras, ~maranthuses, Iresines and Coleus Verschajfelu furnish high and warm colours; while Pyrethrum Parthemum aureum yields greenish yellow; Thymus crtrwdorus aureus, yellowish; Mesembryanihemum cordzfolrum 'r/arzegatum, creamy yellow; Centaureas and others, white, Lobelra Ennm, blue; and the succulent Echeverias and Sempervrvums, glaucous rosettes, which last add much to the general effect. In connexion with the various designs such fine plants as Agave Americana, Dracaena mdwrsa are often used as centre pieces

GREEHOUSE PLAITs.—These are plants requiring the shelter of a glass house, prouded with a moderate degree of heat, of which 45° Fahr may be taken as the minimum in winter. The house should be opened for ventilation in all mild weather in winter, and daily throughout the rest of the year. The following is a select list of genera of miscellaneous decorative plants (orchids, palms and ferns excluded, climbers are denoted by*; bulbous and tuberous

Clianthus Ficus Nerinef

Clrvra Fuchsia Nerium

Cobaea* Grevillea Pelargonium

Coleus Haemanthusf Petunia

Coprosma Heliotropium Pimelra

Cordyline Hibiscus Plumbago*

Correa Hoya* Polranthesf

Cu phea Hydrangea Primula

Cyclamenf Impatrens Rhododendron

Cyperus ]asminum* Richardia (Calla)f

Cytisus ]usticia Salvra

Darwinia (Genetyllis) Kalosanthes Sarracenia Diosma Lachenaliaf Solanum

Dracaena Lantana Sparmannia

Eccremocarpus* La pagerra * Statice

Epacris Lrlrumf Strelitzia

Epiphyllum Lophospermum* Streptocarpus Erica Mandevrllea* Swainsonra

Eriostemon Manettia* Tacsonia*

Erythrina Mutisra * Tecoma

Eucalyptus Myrsiphyllum* Tradescantia

Eupatorium Maurandya* Vallota'f

Eurya

STOVE PLANTS.-For the successful culture of stove plants two houses at least, wherein different temperatures can be maintained, should be devoted to their growth. The minimum temperature during winter should range at night from about 55° in the cooler to 65 in the warmer house, and from 65° to 75° by day, allowing a few degrees further rise by sun heat. In summer the temperature may range 10° higher by artificial heat, night and day, and will often by sun heat run up to 90° or even 95°, beyond which it should be kept down b ventilation and frequent syringing and damping down of the pathways. During the growing period the atmosphere must be keipt moist by damping the walls and pathways, and by syringing the plants according to their needs; when growth is completed less moisture will be necessary. Watering, which, except during the resting period, should generally be copious, is best done in the forenoon; whrle syringing should be done early in the morning before the sun becomes too powerful, and late in the afternoon to admit of the foliage drying moderately before night. The following is a select list of genera of stove plants (climbers are denoted by 'Z plants by T) .

Abutilon Aspidistra Brugmansia

Acacia Asystasra (Mackaya) Calceolarra Agapanthus Azalea Camellia

Agathaea Bauera Campanula

Agave Begonraf Carina

Alonsoa Blandfordia Celosia

Aloysia Bomarea* Cestrum*

Amaryllrsf Boronra Chorizema*

Ardrsra Bougainvillea* Chr; santhemum

Asparagus Bouvardra Crnerarra

bulbous and tuberous plants by T):

Acalypha Cyanophyllum Musa

Achimenesf (Miconia) Nelumbiumf

Aeschynanthus Cycas Nepenthes

Allamanda* Dieffenbachia Nymphaeaf

Alocasiaf Di pladenia * Oxera *

Amaryllisf Dracaena Pancratiumf

Anthurium Eranthemum Pandanus

Aphelandra Eucharrsf Passrflora*

Aralia Euphorbia Pavetta

Ardisia Ficus Pet raea *

Arisaemaf Franciscea Pleroma*

Aristoloch ia * Gardenia Poinsettia

Ataccia Gesnera Rondeletra

Begonia Glorrosa * Sanchezia

Bertolonia Gloxrniaf Schubertia*

Brgnonia* Heliconraf Scutellaria

Bromeliads Hoffmannra Stephanotis

Cactus Ipomaea* Tabernaemontana

Caladiu mf Ixora Terminalia

('alathea jacobinia Thunbergia

Centropogon jasmrnum* Torenia

Crssus* Luculia Thyrsacanthus

Clerodendron* Maranta Tydaea

Crinumf Medinrlla V inca

Codiaeum (Croton) Meyenia

Oncmns.-For the successful cultivation of a mixed collection of tropical orchids, it is necessary that two or three houses, in which different temperatures can be maintained, should be provided. The greater number of them are epiphytes or Elants that grow on others without absorbing nourishment from t em. and heat and moisture afford all or nearly all the nourishment they require. At one time rt was thought the plants themselves were better for being associated with such objects as ferns and palms, but they are best grown by themselves.

The East Indian orchid house takes in those species which are found in the warm parts of the eastern hemisphere, as well as those from the hottest parts of the western, and its temperature should range from about 70° to 80° during the summer or growing season and from 65° to 70° during winter. The Mexican or Brazrlran orchid house accommodates the plants from the warm parts of South America, and its temperature should range from about 65° to 75° during summer and from 60° to 65° in winter. A structure called the cool orchrd house is set apart for the accommodation of the many lovely mountain species from South America and India, such as odontoglossums, masdevallras, &c, and rn this the more unrform the

temperature can be kept the better, that rn summer varying between