THE FLORAL WORLD 



AND 



GARDEN GUIDE 



NOVEMBER, 18G 



THE PICTCTEESQUE IX GARDEN DESIGNS. 



N the practical work of laying out small gardens, the 

 common diflSculty is to give them a distinctive character, 

 so many plots in a villa district being nearly alike. 

 When called in to advise on laying out a large place, I 

 expect and experience far less trouble than in dealing 

 with a small one. AYhere there is a fine property to begin with, 

 there are usually certain constitutional features which the land- 

 scapist must work up to, so that his design shall be really an adorn- 

 ment of nature, making the utmost of every good point ready to his 

 hand, and developing rather than obliterating natural scenes. On a 

 property of any extent there will, perhaps, be a water-course in the 

 low levels, and some rough acclivities on the higher grounds. By 

 judicious dressing and proper earthworks the hills may be enriched, 

 the prospect widened and beautified, and the water-course made a 

 pleasing feature to light up a varied scene. There will, perhaps, be 

 found many large trees in the place, which the wise director will 

 spare for the sake of immediate effect, and all other trees brought in 

 will be planted so as to give fuller effect to the trees already on the 

 ground. It matters not how much needs to be destroyed or altered, 

 a large expanse of ground will always aftord features of its own, 

 which should be made the most of; but a small property usually 

 needs to be dealt with as v.e deal with a sheet of blank paper when 

 a picture is demanded. Even in this case, however, the surround- 

 ings must be taken serious account of. A poor view may be 

 improved by judicious planting of the foreground, and a careful dis- 

 position of trees and clumps will make the most flat and common- 

 place spot rich and various, the apparent extent will be enlarged, 

 and a good selection of subjects will afibrd to the proprietor agree- 

 able changes of colour and effects in every season of the year. I 

 propose to select from my portfolio of plans, from time to time, 

 sucli as appear likely to be useful to readers of the Flokal Would, 

 more especially those who are building residences, and laying out 

 gardens for themselves ; and these plans will be such as I have 



YOL. II. — NO. XI. 21 



