86 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE., 



intend laying out an enclosure, of whatso- 

 ever shape or size : — 



In the formation of a garden plan, one of 

 the chief requisites, a good supply of water, 

 must be considered — and within reasonable 

 limits the more watering places the better. 

 Such are marked (w) in the accompanying 

 plan. With the aid of conuectable lengths 

 of gutta percha pipe they are found sufficient. 



The front garden being only separated 

 from the high road by light iron railings, is 

 principally stocked with evergreens, the 

 border being filled with geraniums, ver- 

 benas, calceolarias, fuchsias, and common 

 annuals. In sowing these latter, a rule 

 often overlooked, must be regarded— it is, 

 that border plants should be arranged in the 

 order <;/' their height. This principle, recog- 

 nized by Cowper, is constantly neglected in 

 the present day, small and delicate flowers 

 being hidden by shrubby plants in front. 

 Arrangement as to height, well attended to, 

 will produce effects otherwise unattainable. 



" Plant behind plant aspiring, in the van 

 The dwarfish, in the rear retired, but still 

 Sublime above the rest, the statelier stand." 



It will be seen from the accompanying plan, 

 that a screen of trees effectually divides 

 the vegetable garden (k g) from the flower 

 parterres and lawns (i,) ; g n the gardener's 

 residence ; H, a ha-ha, separating field and 

 plantation from flower garden ; e, in the 

 centre of the plan is a rockery, (surrounded 

 by dwarf roses fuchsias,&c.) encircling a basin 

 containing gold and silver fish, a raised cen- 

 tral vase, and fourteen grouped fountain jets. 

 This rockery contains upwards of eight}' 

 varieties of dwarf plants.* A summer- 

 house (s) is situate at the bottom of the 

 garden next the field ; this is of rustic oak- 

 work and open in the front and at the sides. 

 From hence a view of the distant railway, 

 viaduct, and open country is obtainable, 

 s u is a bed devoted to standard roses, which 

 are freely scattered over the other beds. 

 Here we may remark on the beauty of the 

 standard roses of the present day, and at 

 their marvellous prices, placed as they are 

 within the reach of most of their admirers. 

 — Nero would now have a difficulty in 

 spending £30,000 f on rose plants for the 



decoration of one banqueting hall — and the 

 Cleopatras of a.d. l.So.s, will find it no easy 

 matter to lay out £200 at one time in pur- 

 chasing these flowers. The old Greek 

 poet, Anacreon, was alive to the beauties of 

 the rose when he sung : — 



" Nymphs who hannt the embowering shades, 



Poesy's enchantin? maids 



Woo thee, Rose ; thy charms inspire 



All the raptures of the lyre. — 



Cull we straight the inviting Hose; 



Shielded by the thorn it grows. 



Cull the rose : what boots the smart ? 



Countless sweets regale the heart." 



To return to our plan, d g, shows a Dutch 

 garden situate near the greenhouse ; f, is a 

 fernery with rock-work arches. The circles 

 on the lawns denote positions of favourite 

 trees : O, is an octagonal greenhouse, painted 

 Crystal Palace style.J In the centre are 

 tables and chairs, and the gas being laid on, 

 it is a favourite resort for summer evenings. 



At the side of this conservatory is another 

 fountain and fernery, the former being sup- 

 plied from a tank hidden among the trees. 

 A waste pipe in the upper vase, forms the 

 means of supply to a small overshot water- 

 wheel in the rockwork. From this wheel 

 the water flows to a lower basin, g, is a 

 greenhouse in connection with the residence 

 — at one end is a collection of exotic ferns, 

 ten jet fountains, miniature cascade and tur- 

 bines — at the other end is an ironwork foun- 

 tain, with ornamental basin. 



The forcing and orchid houses are to the 

 extreme right, and hidden by a screen of 

 trees and shrubs. In this garden, I am in- 

 formed, there are 2G varieties of thorns. 

 A shows the position of American beds 

 stocked with rhododendrons, azaleas, and 

 bordered with heaths. In conclusion, let me 

 observe that much is to be learnt from a 

 flower garden, however small it may be. 

 Among other things, we are reminded that — 



Mankind are fleeting as the flowers — 



Grief is their tempest — tears their showers ! 



Hearts, like buds, are nipp d by cold, 



Ere they their tender leaves untold : 



But though they fade 'neath falsehood's blight, 



Kind Heaven shall shed restoring light. 



Let dark despair oppress thee never, 



The setting sun is rising ever .' 



Bellefield, Essex. 



E. A. CorLAND. 



* A list of these shall appear if desirable.— [Very desirable. Ed. P. W.] 



t Sec Suetonius. 



Concave surfaces, blue; convex, yellow; horizontal planes, red; vertical planes, white. 



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