66 THE FLORIST. 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING.— No. I. 



[Our esteemed correspondent, Mv. Davidson (late head gardener to 

 Sir Wm. Middleton, Bart., of Shrubland Park), of whose correct taste in 

 matters of ornamental gardening, and practical and scientific knowledge 

 concerning garden structures and general cultivation we entertain a high 

 opinion ; has promised to furnish us with a series of designs of different 

 styles and patterns of flower gardens. And as the season is now opening 

 when alterations and improvements in gardens are generally contem- 

 plated and carried out, we hope this additional special aid which w^e 

 have secured will prove useful and interesting to our readers. Ed.] 



Having been requested to give a few designs for geometrical gardens, 

 accompanied by descriptions, &c., in the pages of the Florist, I shall 

 premise them with a few remarks as to what amplification of the sub- 

 jects embraced may be brought within the fimits of cursory detached 

 articles, so as to make them useful to those under whose eyes they may 

 fall, or at least that they may be illustrative of the principles which 

 may be taken as guides in any alteration and improvement as ladies 

 and gentlemen may contemplate. 



In this series of designs it will be better to introduce such as I 

 have laid down or recommended, and to accompany them, as far as is 

 practicable, with the circumstances, general and special, by which, in 

 each case, the arrangement of the design was governed. As, however, 

 the governing circumstances and desirable objects in artistical arrange- 

 ment are rarely similar in any two cases, though they may resemble in 

 some of their bearings, I feel it specially necessary to draw attention 

 to the fact that every individual instance requires special consideration 

 in adapting and arranging general principles to suit peculiarities of 

 position, purpose, or dimension. 



It may with some be a matter of surprise that, avowedly living by 

 my profession, I should freely give my designs and my reasons for their 

 arrangement. As a matter of course I should generally recommend the 

 employment of professionals, not that I might myself be selected, but 

 that what is done to beautify the gardens of our land may be done in 

 accordance with good taste, and that they may afford real and lasting 

 gratification to their owners, and be objects of delight to all beholders. 

 However, as there are many who prefer prescribing for their own 

 wants in landscape gardening, as well as in medicine, I most respect- 

 fully offer them what assistance these articles may afford freely and 

 candidly, and shall feel gratified if I have reason to believe that they 

 have been of service : feeling assured that in the end my motives will 

 be appreciated, and the obligation will be mutual. 



I may, however, be permitted to mention that we do not arrogate to 

 ourselves more professional skill or judgment than that which is con- 

 sequent upon natural taste carefully cultivated and practically experienced, 

 much less to infer that cases do not exist — or even that they are rare — in 

 which the proprietors of gardens will not be benefitted by my advice. 

 We know, on the contrary, that many ladies and gentlemen possess and 

 display the most admirable taste in design, as well as general knowledge 

 of practical adaptation ; and I feel it no disgrace to acknowledge that I 



