[J C Loudon's comment on Bedford Lodge] WE have visited this garden several times during the past year, and can bear testimony to the very excellent manner in which it is managed by Mr. Caie; and, as a result, to the brilliant display of flowers which it produces at the desired season. The last time we saw it, previously to writing this paragraph, was on July 28., when it was in great splendour. On entering, the parapet wall, with its numerous vases filled with choice specimens, and the wall itself varied by the masses of nasturtium, had a striking appearance; beyond which, the conservative wall, with its roses, fine specimens of Lonicera implexa, Clematis florida and Sieboldtii, Sollya, Maurandya, &c., had a fine effect. The large compartment to the right, in front of the drawing-room window (e in fig. 79.), was surrounded by a hedge of sweet peas, and immediately within that a row of Eschscholtzia crocea. All the beds in this garden were covered with species which do not rise above 3 or 4 inches from the ground, or are pegged down, so as never to exceed that height; chiefly verbenas, lobelias, and the dwarf phloxes. The drawingroom floor being 3 or 4 feet above the level of this garden, the symmetrical figure formed by the beds is distinctly recognised from it. In the borders which are on each side of the four cross walks, dahlias were already finely in flower, having been brought forward in pits; and many of the standard roses were still in bloom, and in very great beauty. Convolvulus americanus, which resembles C. sepium, but with a darker flower, made a fine display on the central arbour. Among plants which grow in the shade, we could not help being struck with the great beauty of �nothera speciosa, white; and Lysimachia verticillata, yellow. We were not aware that the �nothera would grow so vigorously, and flower so beautifully, in the dense shade of trees; but such appears to be the case. Crucianella corymbosa, pale pink, is a new and very desirable plant for small beds, as are �thionema and Campanula garganica; for which last species the country is indebted to Mrs. Palliser. The beds on the lawn in the front of the house struck us as having a particularly good effect; which, on reflection, we think must have been owing, not solely to their being filled with the finest flowers, all in bloom, but to their being contrasted with the naked spaces of the lawn. If the circumferential and other main walks in the large flower-garden were as broad again as they are at present, we think that, on the same principle, the effect of the rest of the garden would be improved; for all effect, whether in a picture or a garden, depends on contrast. - Cond.]
