THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN aUIDE. 



181 



loaded with flowei's ; aud although the 

 season is now somewhat advanced for the 

 operation, yet if proceeded with at once, 

 and a little extra attention be given to 

 watering and mulching, good plants may 

 be rooted in time to properly ripen off 

 then" flower-buds in autumn, and unfold 

 the same at their owner's bidding. Now 

 proceed to the shrubbery, and select such 

 shoots of the above-named shrubs as can 

 be bent to the ground, and such as have 

 well-ripened, sliort-jointed wood at their 

 extremities ; and having a few good strong 

 hooked pegs, and a barrow-load of good 

 fresh soil, dig out a slight trench where the 

 branches touch the ground, put in a little 

 of tlie fresh soil, and haying given tlie 

 shoot a slight twist, so that you just hear 

 it crack, peg it tightly down so that the 

 twisted part is buried in the new soil. 

 AVhen done, cover the part buried with 

 more soil, and cover that with a few half- 

 rotted leaves or dung as mulching ; attend 

 with water, clear away overhanging 

 boughs, for unless the sun have full power 

 upon the layer, its buds will not become 

 fully matured, and disappointment will 

 ensue. These may be struck so near the 

 end of the pai-ent shoot, as not to be more 



than nine or twelve inches high when 

 taken off. In October, let the most pro- 

 mising plants be potted, and for a few 

 days afterwards kept in a cool frame in a 

 shaded situation, or if that is not at hand, 

 be set under the north side of a wall, and 

 sprinkled once a day with a syringe or fine 

 rose, until they have taken hold of the 

 fresh soil, which may be in ten or twelve 

 days ; they should then be brought into a 

 suiiny situation, and placed close to a wall, 

 in order thoroughly to mature the flower- 

 buds. The pots at the same time should 

 be guarded from the sun by a mulching 

 of some kind, or the same end will be 

 attained if a board be set on edge before 

 them. Here they may remain until taken 

 in for forcing, which may commence any 

 time after Christmas, if the buds are well 

 matured, and after flowering, if house- 

 room can be given them, and attention to 

 their wants be supplied, so that their 

 growth be not checked until matured ; 

 and then be plunged in a warm situation 

 out of doors until autumn. They may bo 

 had in bloom by Christmas, the second 

 season, after which it will generally bo 

 best to use fresh plants. H. 



SHETs^STONE'S GAUDEN. 



Peioe to about the middle of the last 

 century, the gardens of our nobility were 

 laid out geometrically, according to strict 

 rules of art. A rigid stiffness everywhere 

 prevailed. Even the trees and shrubs were 

 carved into the most fantastic shapes, in 

 imitation of beasts, birds, and dragons ; 

 although we cannot say that in so doing 

 our fatiiers greatly violated the second 

 commandment, so ludicrous were their 

 imitations. 



It is remarkable, that the authors of 

 what is now called English Landscape 

 Grardening are names which shine conspi- 

 cuous in the galaxy of our Standard Bri- 

 tish Poets— Addison, Pope, and Shek- 

 STONE. These gifted " sons of song," 

 not only by their writings inculcated a 

 purer taste ; but each one by himself, 

 following precept by example, laid out liis 

 estate with freedom and beauty. Whilst 

 Addison was shaping out his walks at a 

 rural retreat which he possessed at Bilton 

 near Rugby, Pope was equally assiduous 

 in forming his garden at Twickenham ; 

 and Shenstone in cutting through his din- 

 gles and copses at the Leasowes, near 

 Birmingham. 



The Leasowes became the resort of all 

 parties, from the nobleman to the plebeian ; 

 the former with an eye to the improve- 

 ment of his own estate from this classic 

 model; and the latter to luxuriate amid 

 its sylvan shades. Often in our youthful 

 days have we rambled about its sinuous 

 walks, or rested ourselves in its se- 

 cluded arbours ; many years have passed 

 since then, yet the recollection of its be- 

 witching scenery is reviewed with vivid 

 freshness. In order that the readers of 

 the FloraIi AVorld may form some idea 

 of the beauties of the Leasowes as it tlicn 

 existed, we shall give a description of one 

 scene in this Elysium, remarking that every 

 part exhibited corresponding charms. 



Yiegil's Geove. 



This calm recess formed a liiiry scene 

 of surpassing loveliness. A plain obelisk 

 adorned its solitudes bearing this inscrip- 

 tion — 



" Genio p. Virgilli Makonis, 



Lapis Iste Com Lugo, 



Sacer Esto." 



"To THK Genius or Virgil 



Let this Stonb and Gbovb 



Be Saceed." 



