MARCH. 67 



have derived many and valuable lessons from such sources. And I am 

 fully prepared to admit that professional men, when called in, would 

 not suffer in dignity or usefulness if they would carefully and candidly 

 consider such of the proprietor's own ideas as he may submit to them, 

 rather than pertinaciously insist upon the introduction of their own. I 

 think this simple propriety, as the owner of a garden has doubtless 

 studied its wants and capabilities very much himself; and must, per- 

 force, have arrived at many conclusions which are correct in the main, 

 however much they may need to be modified by some one who has 

 made special arrangement his study. At the same time the professional 

 man will be expected not to sanction what he cannot approve of as 

 being in strict accordance with good taste. 



In the above remarks I have endeavoured to start myself right with 

 those under whose notice these articles may come. I shall merely 

 state in addition that the general subject of natural landscape will 

 scarcely come within the intention of the series, excepting where 

 mention may be made of the relation which a particular design or the 

 effect it produces has reference to the tout ensemble of which it forms a 

 part. 



No. I. — Design for a Rosary. 



As Roses are perhaps the most esteemed of our garden plants, 

 and as every one is desirous of having an appropriate place for them, 

 it occurs to me that this will be an agreeable introduction to our series. 

 For although in general — and especially in light land districts — the 

 autumn is the best time for forming a new Rose garden, still various 

 circumstances may, in special cases, make it an object not to lose a 

 season. As in such instances, therefore, it is essential that the arrange- 

 ment be decided upon, the ground prepared, and the Roses planted as 

 early as possible after the frost breaks up, I give the matter a pre- 

 ference over designs for parterres, which are intended for that class of 

 summer flowers, of which few require planting before ]\Iay. 



A Rosary, though admitting of a certain amount of geometric 

 arrangement, as the plants admit to a limited extent of artificial 

 training, should still be considered to verge upon the outer limits of this 

 class of gardening ; and even in extreme cases the artificial should rather 

 be used as a means of making the introduction of Roses allowable in a 

 particular position, than as a necessary part of any manner in which 

 they might be introduced. 



The position of a Rose garden, especially if artificially arranged, 

 should not generally approach too nearly to the mansion, and particularly 

 not to that usually regarded as the most important front. It may 

 happen, however, that the immediate foreground consists of exceedingly 

 wild scenery, when an artificially-arranged Rosary is one of the best 

 links that can be introduced ; and where the space immediately 

 surrounding the house admits of artificial arrangement in connection 

 with the architecture, and the extent is sufficient, such a provision for 

 Roses is exceedingly applicable as a quiet transition from the architec- 

 tural to the natural. In many cases it may with good taste be 

 introduced nearer home on one of the flanks, where its transitional 



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