SEPTEMBER. 261 



LAYING OUT SMALL GARDENS. 



The following common -sense observations on this subject are abridged 

 from an American publication devoted to gardening ; they may not be 

 without interest to possessors of villa gardens in this country : — 



" Persons who have small places are often puzzled as to the best way 

 to lay them out. A too common error is to attempt too much. Having 

 read of fine specimens of taste, or imbibed a love of the art from some 

 superior work on landscape gardening, or some friend's extensive country 

 seat, it is quite natural to wish to make the most of a limited plot. And 

 this making the most of the thing implies a good deal, while it leads into 

 many errors. The relation of the means to the end should never be 

 lost sight of, and nothing attempted that has not some well-defined 

 object. 



" When a house is built, the first object is to connect it with the 

 public road, with the stable, and with the offices. In laying out these 

 roads convenience and beauty must be consulted. The first suggests to 

 go ; straight on ;' the last whispers, ' curve gracefully round.' Con- 

 venience being the chief object, must be respected ; and whatever 

 deviations from the straight line are allowed to the importunities of 

 beauty, should be done from a seeming compulsion. Hence the curve 

 should have its salient point filled with a heap of roots or rocks, or a 

 thick mass of shrubbery ; or, what is still better, the soil should be 

 raised to form a rise or knoll, as if the road had been taken around to 

 avoid the obstruction. Much may be done for a small plot by this plan 

 of making the surface irregular. A dead level or a regular plane look3 

 smaller than it really is. Around the house it should be so, as a sudden 

 transition from the delicacies of art in the building to the roughness of 

 nature in the grounds is offensive ; but at a little distance off very 

 lively effects may be obtained by taking off a little soil here and adding 

 there, so as to make the surface broken and irregular. The effect may 

 still further be increased by planting the rises and leaving the lower 

 surfaces bare. To still further give the idea of extent, shrubbery should 

 be planted in irregular masses to conceal the fences and boundaries, and 

 many objects on the place itself may be partially concealed by planting 

 all with a view of exciting the curiosity to know ' how much more is 

 beyond.' Besides the mere purposes of shade from the sun and screen 

 from winds, large growing trees should not be employed in decorating 

 the property, as all large objects lessen the apparent size of the place. 

 Besides, small and medium growing trees afford a greater variety. 



" The walks being decided on with a view to convenience and beauty, 

 and the general idea of giving the plot the appearance of as much extent 

 as possible being kept in view, it may be useful to give some details 

 respecting the preparation of the grounds. It should be remembered 

 that Grass and trees are not only required to grow therein, but that 

 they must grow well. The top soil is often covered by refuse from 

 the excavations, trusting to heavy manuring to promote fertility. But 

 this is a too slow and expensive process. The surface soil should in all 

 cases be saved, and replaced. Also, where it is necessary to lower a 



