These parks have so often been described as to render it unnecessary for me to attempt a description of them. Instead of this I propose to enumerate some of what I considered the most "taking" arrangements, effective plants used, etc, in the hope that my remarks may prove of service to some of your readers who have not had an opportunity of visiting these parks this season.

Although my remarks will be confined principally to "good bits," it must not be imagined that there were no failures, for failures there were here as elsewhere, and they are perhaps equally as instructive as successes. Of course, where innumerable tastes have to be met, and the fashion, as it were, to be set, experiments must be tried that sometimes end in failure.

I will commence with what I conceive to be a very palpable mistake - viz., the extreme dulness of many of the large subtropical beds. Cannas, Ricinus, Giant Hemp, Polymnia grandis, Tobacco-plants, Funkias, etc, are very effective associated with other brighter foliage-plants, but when grouped without the latter (I am thinking now more especially of a very large bed in Hyde Park), the surroundings being of the same hue, they are certainly very tinat-tractive. During hot and dry seasons, when their growth is more luxuriant and the turf sun-scorched, their effect may be somewhat better; but even then a few of such plants as Solanum marginatum, Arundo donax variegata, variegated Maize, Abutilon Thompsonii, and an improvement on the latter useful variety, Abutilon Darwinii tessellatum, Phormium tenax variegatum, etc, mixed in, would brighten them up. A useful plant seldom seen in the parks - viz., the variegated Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara variegata) - ought to be more used for the margins of large subtropical beds, etc. Funkias are largely used for this purpose, but are much too green. Gardeners, where they have the power to do so, would do well to imitate the arrangements of the beds themselves in the parks.

They are not arranged in one or two large and fanciful designs, but are distributed throughout the grounds in some instances, and in others near the principal walks and roadways. The beds, too, are large and plain, and as a consequence are much more easily and effectively planted. By this mode of arranging the beds a much greater variety of plants can be used, every variety of style imitated, or a new one attempted without endangering the general appearance; and added to this, the interest is sustained throughout, and not a flash and all over, as is the case where the beds are concentrated. Carpet-bedding, in spite of the prognostics of adverse critics, is still in the ascendant, and is, with the frequenters of the parks, the most popular form of planting. A few well-done carpet-beds in private places are equally as certain to be the most admired, and for this reason should be attempted, however objectionable the style of planting may be to the operator. Many of the plants used are quite hardy, oftentimes to be found in the old herbaceous borders, etc. Alternantheras, largely used in the carpet-beds, have grown but little this season; but they still answered their purpose, as they were planted thickly and kept their colour well.

Green-foliaged plants are not so much used as they were, and opinions vary as to the best variety. Herniaria saxatile is preferred by Mr Graham at Hampton Court (a good authority), but the Mentha pulegium gibraltaricum is the most generally used, and is, I think, the most pleasing green; but the former is the less troublesome after being planted. Succulents are largely used in various ways, and are very effective, especially as single specimens worked into the circles, etc., of the designs. At Battersea Park, Sempervivum tabulaeforme was used for clothing the sides of some sunken beds. These beds, although well planted, and, I believe, original, were not so attractive as were many of the beds planted in other styles in the same park. The surfaces of some were perfectly fiat, and are, I suppose, most strictly speaking, carpet-beds; but I am inclined to give the preference to those designs which included specimen plants of Aloe filifera nana, Dasylirion acrotrichum, Agave americana, Bonapartea gracilis semilifolia, Chamaepeuce diacantha, Chamaepeuce Cassabonae, a great variety of succulents, etc. The season was much against the subtropical plants at Battersea, the hailstorm of 2d August being very damaging.

Cannas, Ricinus, etc., were much smaller than usual, the few notable exceptions being the Polymnia grandis, Solanum macrophyllum, Aralia papyrifera, and Grevillea robusta. A number of the latter dotted among well-coloured plants of the variegated Vine (Vetis heterophylla variegata) were very effective. Grevillea robusta is easily raised from seed, and, if plunged in pots where required, comes in admirably afterwards for winter decoration of conservatories, etc. A few plants of Nilanthus grandulosus disposed at intervals among Cannas, etc, showed with good effect; and some of the hardy Aralias are well adapted for the subtropical garden. One of the most effective beds was filled in the centre with a dark-leaved Canna, surrounded with Abutilon Darwinii tessell-atum, alternating with Amaranthus melancholicus ruber, and edged with Dac-tylis glomerata mixed with a blue Lobelia. Large numbers of Palms and other foliaged plants were, as usual, grouped and plunged about Battersea Park - the most conspicuous being Pritchardia pacifica, Cycas revoluta, Areca sapida, Dicksonia antarctica, Pothos acaulis, Seaforthia elegans, Pandanus utilis, Latania borbonica, Phoenix dactylifera, etc.

Mr Rogers, the able superintendent, also uses a number of flowering plants in mixed beds, etc, which is a step in the right direction, as they are much admired and are enlivening. Large flowering Begonias were scarcely so good as usual, neither were the Fuchsias looking well. Tigridia grandiflora was very showy; some Kalosanthes also had been very bright. A bank of Clematis .lackmannii was very fine, and numbers of the neat-growing and free-blooming Yucca flaccida were to be seen in groups.

I cannot understand why Dahlias are not more used in the parks, as they would brighten up many a dull place. The bedding varieties are largely used in the Crystal Palace grounds; and very effective they are, the present season appearing to suit them. At Hyde Park more of the commoner bedding-plants, such as Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, etc, are used. Most of the beds are inside the rails following the road known as Park Lane. Some of the arrangements were very good, but there was a great sameness about them, many being banded and edged with the same varieties. This may be correct planting, but is very uninteresting nevertheless. Mixed centres were the most effective - notably those containing Calceolaria amplexicaulis and Ageratum americanum, Viola Golden Gem and Iresine Lindenii, Pelargonium Ariosta and Viola Bluebell, mixed Lantanas, etc. Good Pelargoniums used were Mrs Miles, good pink; Mrs Turner, deep pink; and John Gibson, very fine scarlet, - all excellent bedders. Lobelia Owen, a peuce-coloured variety, was particularly good and distinct; and the Mazarine Gem, a deep blue, with large white eye, was very conspicuous. The carpet-beds were fewer in number, but were remarkably well done.

Sedum acre elegans, creamy variegated; Antennaria tomentosa, silvery white; Sedum lividum, green, - were all effectively used in the carpet-beds, and are quite hardy. A great variety of succulents were used. Some of the subtropical plants in tubs and pots in different parts of the park are grand specimens; more especially the plants of Latania borbonica, Seaforthia elegans, and Chamaerops excelsa. Musa ensete was very effective wherever used - i.e., either as single specimens or in groups. Erythrina crista-galli, as grown and bedded out at Hyde Park, is very fine and attractive. Victoria and Regent's Parks were again very creditably planted; one of the attractions of the former being a long well-arranged herbaceous border. Although Hampton Court is not, strictly speaking, a London park, it is still much frequented by Londoners, especially since it has become famous for its flower-beds, in addition to the oft-described monster Vine. In spite of the adverse season, the beds - the carpet-bed especially - were very bright and attractive.

To keep off the crowds from the carpet-beds on some occasions, it was found necessary to put up stakes and cords; and Mr Graham, the very practical superintendent, has also had canvas covers made for them; and by a judicious use of these their beauty is prolonged long after the breaking up of the other beds and distribution of their occupants among the working classes. Mr Graham's ' Guide to the Gardens, etc.,' which he annually issues, is extremely useful to visitors generally, and to gardeners and amateurs in particular - as, in addition to the key to the bedding arrangements, it contains several excellent diagrams of carpet-beds and how to plant them; lists of plants suitable for the various modes of summer bedding and how to propagate them, etc. The house room at his command is very limited; to all appearances quite inadequate to "turn out " the 195,000 plants used. As before stated, the carpet-beds were remarkably well done, the designs being very artistic and original, and without diagrams indescribable. A great variety of plants were used, many of them being hardy - notably several varieties of Stonecrops, Veronica, Incana, Pyrethrum, Mentha, Herniaria saxatile, Antennaria tomentosa, Sempervivums, etc.

Mixed centres were in the ascendant among the other beds, and they certainly were very effective. Another good feature in these beds was the unusually broad edgings of some, and the "inner edgings" of other beds. Several good arrangements consisted as follows: centre, Mrs Pollock Pelargonium, mixed with Viola Tory (a good purple), and broadly edged with Coleus Verschaffeltii; centre, a mixture of Pelargonium Crystal Palace Gem and Viola Blue Perfection, broadly banded with Iresine Lindenii, edged with Euonymus radicans variegatus; centre, Pelargonium Bijou and Dactylis glo-merata, broadly banded with Iresine Lindenii, edged with Stellaria graminea aurea; centre, Pelargonium Lucius, banded with two rows Abutilon vexilla-rium variegata, edged with Alyssum saxatile variegata; centre, a mixture of Pelargonium Crystal Palace Gem and Viola Blue Perfection, banded by Iresine Herbstii, edged with Symphoricarpus montana variegata; centre, a mixture of Pelargonium Bijou and Viola Favourite, broadly edged with Coleus Verschaffeltii. The best bronze Zonal Pelargonium used was Black Douglas, and Dr Denny's Commander-in-Chief was pointed out as being the best and most enduring scarlet-flowering variety.

W. Iggulden.