Several of your correspondents protest against the present system of bedding out tender exotic plants, etc, in several recent numbers of the Gardener's Monthly; also in Harper's Magazine of March, page 517. The writer says (having reference to the material used at present): "Yet even these, beautiful as they are in their prime, make for half the summer a colorless, disagreeable blot on the lawn. Planted in June, they rarely cover the ground until August, and for the intervening time the bed in which they are planted is a mass of almost naked earth. Before the middle of October they succumb to the frost, and for eight months more they do nothing to hide the bare earth in which they are planted. Eight months of ugliness is too high a price to pay for two months of beauty. Yet these bedding plants have become the fashion, and fashion is uncompromising in its demands. The gardeners naturally encourage people to buy them, because they bring a good price, and are easily propagated. Thus the continued use of exotic plants for bedding is likely to increase rather than diminish, unless the taste is subjected to rigorous criticism. The only remedy is for men and women of true taste to insist on a better example on their own premises and among their friends.

They should not inveigh against color, but should persistently demand from their gardeners permanent plants of color which would be beautiful for a large part or for the whole of the year." The writer gives a number of names which he suggests - dwarf evergreens, vines, etc, less perishable, would be very good and more permanent.

I have no desire to criticise his good article, but would like to reason or make some little inquiries. The gardeners are not to blame, surely, for encouraging people to buy what they have raised to sell; for what business man does not encourage the sale of his merchandise? But that the fashion must be followed under all circumstances is certainly folly. There is no law, either in Canada or the United States, to prohibit ladies or gentlemen from planting their own pleasure ground or garden as their means and taste direct. This would be common sense. In one of our local papers the editor quotes from a Paris paper, which will illustrate my meaning. Each leading dressmaker of Paris makes dresses according to his or her own fancy, and if possible different from all others. Hence the variety in styles. Those who wish may apply this to gardening. As between ladies' fashions and flower garden fashions, I think the former are the neatest. So with reference to the present style of flower gardening, it is neat, rather than gaudy - a modest style. There is the Golden Dwarf Feather, which stands the winter here 300 to 40° below zero.

Also the Golden Thyme Sage variegata will stand out from the middle of May to November. The dwarf variegated grass - Poa rivalis variegata does well for sections; it stands out here until November, as do several kinds of Dusty Millers. These are used in quantity in the present style with pansies. The various kinds of Echeverias may be planted out here from the middle of May to the latter end of October, are easy to winter propagate, make pretty patterns with other things of dwarf kinds. These, with others, are hardy enough and make the season quite as long as the flower garden is appreciated. Of course there are the Coleus, Canna, Alternanthera, Geraniums, etc, which are bedded out in quantity, though not in their beauty, all through the season. But from my own experience in bedding out some of the dwarf Retinosporas enumerated in Harper's Magazine for bedding do not give satisfaction here. They are slow in growth. They may do better with you. As to these hardy herbaceous plants being recommended for general cultivation, I think that day is past. There seems to be a craving in human nature for that which we have not. Rarities, new forms and colors and exotics are more appreciated than those hardy things. But all are good in their place.

Every garden of any extent should have aspiring double Hollyhocks, improved perennial Phloxes, tall, hardy ornamental trees, lilies, roses and early spring bulbs, as one of your correspondents mentions. In conclusion, I think the gardeners do not fear our friend's rigorous criticism in reference to easy-got money. In my very small way of selling, I aim to raise what the people want, tender or hardy. When the people cease to want these tender plants the gardeners will soon stop raising them. My experience in selling generally has been that those who buy in any quantity want to spend as little as possible. They all would like a very nice, neat, well-kept garden. But their means are often an obstacle in the way; so that the garden must be furnished as a matter of course each year. But it is not so much quality as quantity with most that have to buy. Coleuses look showy, and we can sell them cheap. Such has been my experience with the sale of material for the flower garden. Those who are able to keep gardeners do things in a different way.

[The improvement of style in flower gardening is a very interesting topic, and our correspondent's views will attract the attention which they deserve. There is much to be said both for and against the present favorite massing system, and for the herbaceous plants, permanent vines and shrubs and other methods of adorning grounds. But we must not forget that the human mind loves variety and change, and some will be perfectly willing to have flower beds bare for months if the result is something unique which they have not seen before in the other half. - Ed. G. M.]