Newark post., 1913-03-19
STYLES of Formal Flower Beds

Bv PROFESSOR c. A. McCUE

stripped, or i'll solid colors are most
desirable. AS Il plant it is easy to
manage and stands clipping we'll
Other plants that may be used in
carpet bedding are Lobelia. Bcgon-
la, Dwarf Nasturtillms and NeT-
bcnas
MASSfD BEDS.
Masscd beds are usually compos-
ed Of plants having large foliage
and flowers and are allowed to de
velop naturally. Plants in massed
beds are never clipped. The plants
in a massed bed are usually ar
ranged in simple masses or in cir
cles according to height. habit and
color.
The situation Of massed bed Of
flowers must be chosen with much
care. Suitable locations are often
found directly against walls Of
building or Il garden WALL fence.
etc In such cases there should be
solid back ground of some large
growing plant of tropical appear
ance like tannas, Castor Oil Plant,
Bananas, etc. The AbySinian Ban
ana (Musa Ensite) is especially de-
sirabIe. just in front of these trop-
ical foIiaged plants may be grown,
dwarf Cannas, Acalyphas, Snap
Dragons. Verbenas, Phlox, Centau-
rea. Gpranium, Pyhethrum. etc,
finishing the bed with edging Of
low growing plants like Coleus, Al
tcrnanthcra. Ageratum, etc.
Another good situation for i
massed bed is a very heavy border
about raised fountain: the basin
of the fountain to contain aquatic
plants and the borders to be plant
ed to dwarf Cannas. taladiums. etc.
A third place for the massed bed is
as Il foreground to groups Of shrubs
or low growing evcrgreens. The
massed bed must be subor'inated
to the coIors of the trees and shrubs
and must blend with them. Beds 50
located are bright, cheerful and
very effective. Especially so if
near large brick or stone buildings.
The massed bed can often be
used at the .iuncture Of drives and
walks. when there is not the proper
space for trees or shrubs. The list
Of their uses is large and varied.
and many kinds Of plants may be
used. The most important plants,
however. for masscd bed effects az"
Cannas. Bananas, Castor oil plants.
Caladiums. Acalyphor, and those
plants listed above for carpet beds.
I'm closing the matter of formal
flower. beds, attention should be
called to the fact that they are only
incidents in a landscape picture,
and are used to give emphasis. sup
ply color. and to give the effect OF
finish. We should never lose sight
of the fact that the frame work Of
a landscape picture is composed Of
lawn. trees and shrubbs.
TIIE ITALIAN GARDEN.
This style Of gardening is not
greatly i'll vogue in this country,
except by the newly rich. Its home
.and only proper setting, is i'll
| Southern Europe. There, about
palaces or in cities Of great archi-
tcctural magnificence. it is well
used. The elements of an Italian
garden are terraces on hillsidcs;
walled in ponds of water; fount-
aims brick, marble or cement walls;
balustrades; Out-of-dOOr stairways;
pergolas: statuary vases; little or
no grass; wide gravel spaces; per-
fectly straight avenues and walks:
all flower beds in formal style: and
trees and shrubs clipped into many
forms such as. statues arbOrs. cas-
tle-like ruins, etc. All of these Ie-
ments are pleasing i'll themselves,
but when taken together. they do
not make beautiful landscape:
but rather Il garden full of beauti-
full objects. In making such IA gar.
den. the attempt to follow nature
is laid aside, and all of the work is
along artificial lines.