Two of the driest and warmest seasons on record, followed by one of the wettest, most sunless, and cold in the annals of meteorology, must be regarded as extremes of the most trying order to the system of flower-gardening which for many years back has been in fashion. Such circumstances and their results must inevitably play a part in determining the future destiny of that which is popularly designated the bedding system of flower-gardening. Judging from the tone of some utterances, one would be apt to conclude that this system, instead of continuing to be what it is at present - an improving one - must be improved out of existence altogether. Judging from a somewhat extensive survey of British gardening, the conclusion arrived at is just the very reverse of such a consummation. Everywhere, in the course of a four weeks' wandering among the gardens of England, the idea most forcibly confirmed has been that flower-gardening, after the fashion of the last twenty years, is improving, extending, and gaining a firmer footing than ever it had.

Inferior plants are being discarded, and those of a more effective and suitable character are being added, while plants of an entirely different character to any that were used for grouping not many years ago have been added, with the most marked improvement in effect. We are now referring most especially to succulents, and plants with graceful and more gigantic features. This does not refer to any one particular locality, or to any special class of gardens. What we have just stated we found manifested alike among the villas and dukeries of the midland counties, in the Castle garden at Windsor, at Kew, and the public parks of London, and in the northern and wilder districts of Scotland. The two links which were so long amissing are being added wherever there is the chance of their success; and we owe much to Mr Gibson, now manager of Hyde Park, for thus inaugurating these features in British decorative gardening, which, but for him, we must have crossed the Channel to have seen. Succulent and singular-looking plants, and those with picturesque and graceful foliage, are fast toning down the vulgarities of mere colour, and breaking up the monotony of even surfaces, where such is suitable.

All this, we have no hesitation in saying, is greatly improving, modifying, and establishing the most effective system of flower-gardening which has ever existed in this country. And with satisfaction let it be said that this is going on contemporaneous with an increasing interest in hardy border plants as compared to what has been the rule for some years back. In fact, the two orders of flower-gardening are being improved and allotted their rights. In our own immediate experience of two excessively dry summers, followed by one of excessive cold and wet, we have had nothing very singular in relation to the adaptability of particular plants to the two extremes of weather. The records which we had to make of the behaviour of some Pelargoniums in 1870 is only confirmed by the experience of the past season. Our favourite Pelargoniums among scarlets are still Vesuvius, Glorious, Glow, and Violet Hill. Among older varieties, Trentham Scarlet (alias Improved Frogmore), Trentham Rose, Amy Hogg, and William Underwood, are the cream of a large collection. Among Pinks, Christine and Blue Bell do best, and are famous wet season and autumn flowerers.

Among silver variegated Pelargoniums we would not, so far as suitability for our purposes is concerned, care much if we were robbed of all, provided we were left with old Mangles's Variegated, Flower of Spring, and Fair Helen: if we were to be limited to one variety only, our choice, without hesitation, would rest on Mangles's, on account of the variety of ways in which it can be so effectively used. Our way of managing this variety is somewhat peculiar. It is kept in heat from October till the end of January, and kept constantly pinched. Under this treatment each cutting forms itself into a stool, which when potted off in spring grows into a bushy plant, with many growing points, instead of a tall ungainly plant. It grows with far more variegation in the west of Scotland than it did with us in the east. Among golden varieties, Cloth-of-Gold did so badly in the dry hot seasons that we ceased growing it so largely, and have stuck more to good old Golden Chain. But Crystal Palace Gem is the best we have seen of this section, although, owing to the more pretty and effective habit and colour of Golden Pyrethrum, it is not now considered necessary to grow so many of these more tender and labour-giving Pelargoniums. The Pyrethrum is a lovely plant when raised annually from seed and grown in rich moist ground.

It has been much too profusely used in many places this season, jaundicing in many cases gardens to a sickening extent. We suppose this is one of the consequences of its easy propagation.

Amongst a host of bronze zoned varieties of Pelargoniums, Beauty of Calderdale and Bronze Queen are considered the best, taking most qualities into account. Imperatrice Eugenie and several other newer sorts are splendid pot varieties, but do not stand the tear and wear of exposure so well. I think it may safely be affirmed that for general usefulness Mrs Pollock bears the palm among tricolors; Louise Smith, Miss Batters, Sophia Cusack, and Lady Cullum are also good doers; but for distant effect in extensive flower-gardens, these tricolors and bronze are next to useless. From what we have seen this year, these remarks may be applied to a very wide variety of districts. But there is no doubt some varieties that do well in one place are next to worthless in others - as, for instance, Improved Frogmore is splendid at Drumlanrig, but was found next to useless at Archerfield.

Everywhere Imperial dwarf Ageratum has been most effective, and from its immense array of lively lavender flowers, it is superseding Blue lobelia for distant effect, and from its compact growth for small scroll-work. Seen at a distance, Lobelia is not worth growing as compared to this Ageratum.

Anthemis (Chrysanthemum frutescens) is unequalled for producing a perfect sheet of white flowers that withstand all sorts of weather up till November. It is somewhat tall - 1½ foot - and best suited for the centres of large beds and mixed borders; and for back-lines to ribbon borders it is first - class. This and A. grandiflorum are plants not nearly so well known and grown as they deserve. They do with the same treatment as yellow Calceolarias.

Alternantheras, especially A. amabilis and A. magnifica, have taken a very prominent place about London and the south, and from their behaviour in the midland counties of Scotland, have established a claim to a fair trial in Scotland generally. They are very easily propagated, and admirably suited for carpeting and small beds and edgings.

Centaurea ragusina and its varieties are, generally speaking, the best of the more robust-growing silver-leaved plants, although, strange to say, with us they are scarcely worth growing as compared to Cineraria maritima, an old plant which deserves more attention than it now receives. The influence of soil and climate is very marked in a case of this sort, and shows how necessary it is to select plants according to such influences.

Calceolaria Princess Louisa we regard as the best of all dwarf yellow Calceolarias; it blooms most freely and continuously, and from its dense twiggy habit withstands storm and rain the best of any Calceolaria we have ever grown. Veronica Andersonii variegata and Euonymus radicans variegata are two silvery variegated and almost hardy plants that deserve extensive culture, they are so effective and fine in habit. The same may be said of the variegated Periwinkle, which, when kept well and regularly trimmed, makes a most lovely permanent edging. A large circular bed of this Periwinkle, thinly planted with Yucca recurva pendula and edged with a massive row of Sedum fabarium (spectabilis), is one of the most effective beds we have met with this season.

Sedum spectabilis is a most effective autumn hardy border-plant, and makes a fine pot-plant.

Lonicera aurea reticulata is not nearly so much used as its merits deserve. It makes one of the prettiest edgings that can be grown. True, the frost will in hard winters cut it down, but it springs up with increased brightness and beauty; and we would recommend it to be hard cut down every spring, as it springs up with increased and more beautiful variegation. The same applies to the variegated Periwinkle. These are two plants which, with the Euonymus and Veronica already named, we would strongly recommend, especially to those who are short of accommodation for growing variegated Geraniums and other more tender light edging-plants.

Gazania splendens appears to be more a locality plant than most other bedding plants. In the south it is not nearly so welldoing as in the north, and we may say that until we saw it in full bloom here we never saw its wonderful powers of bloom. When the blooms are open they nearly meet in the bed.

We were much surprised to find Tropoeolum Cooperii, a variety raised in England, next to unknown about London; and yet we consider that of all Tropoeolums for scroll-work and general massing it has no rival, to say nothing of an equal. Everywhere, wherever we have seen it, its character for brilliancy has been the same. It is equally fine in a dry season and in a moist one, and in every sort of soil that ever we have tried it.

Our intention to refer to succulents, etc., and combinations, must be postponed, for these Notes are already too lengthy an instalment.