THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Garden—continued. ` 
of lawn, with a few clumps of shrubs and trees of 
limited growth, judiciously placed, would be more ap- 
propriate in close proximity to the building from 
which the view is desired, and would not be likely 
to detract attention, as would a mass of flowers, from 
the main object of view beyond. Where such land- 
scape effects do not exist, one of the best positions 
may be chosen for the Flower Garden—supposing there 
is sufficient shelter, as the advantage of being able to 
view it from the windows in any weather, must not be 
overlooked. Some of the best-arranged and most com- 
pact Flower Gardens are those laid out on grass, in an 
inclosure of which a large conservatory forms part of 
the boundary, the other part being composed 
of trees of an ornamental character that afford 
good shelter, and do not exclude too much HRR — 
light. Shelter is most important in the selec- 
tion of a site, as the tender exotics used in 
summer, especially in carpet and sub-tropical 
beds, will not succeed if too much exposed. 
Bedding plants present but a poor appearance 
when allowed to suffer from drought in sum- 
mer; hence the necessity of an abundance of 
water. This may, in many instances, be ob- 
tained from that supplying the mansion, by 
means of pipes laid underground, and furnished 
with screw sockets, wherever desired, for con- 
necting a standpipe and hose. Carrying water 
by hand is an almost hopeless task in a large 
establishment in summer. 
Preparation of Ground, Flower Beds, §c. 
Soil which is heavy and retentive is unsuited 
for a Flower Garden; but at times there is no 
choice, and the best modes of ameliorating and 
warming it must be adopted. The first ne- 
cessary means for attaining this end is thorough 
drainage, not only for the good of the shrubs 
and flowers, but also for the whole of the land 
and walks. The state of the latter has much 
to do with the general appearance of the 
Garden, and, if undrained, it is impossible to 
pass over them with pleasure during or im- 
mediately after rain. A gravelly sub-soil will 
usually drain the lawn and open land suffi- 
ciently without pipes, especially if the position 
is a little elevated; but where the whole is of 
a clayey nature, and of a good depth, it may 
be necessary to lay them at distances not ex- 
ceeding 12ft. apart. The work of laying main 
drains, and the branches connected therewith, 
should be a preliminary operation, performed as 
soon as the various points and levels are fixed, 
and before the plan of the beds is finally laid 
out. All tender bedding plants require a rather 
light, moderately rich soil, to encourage them 
to root and grow freely so soon as they are 
— 
fii 
ER LUN 
Garden—continued. 
laying out are employed: they may be practically included — 
under two headings— the geometrical, and the free or 
symmetrical. The former is essentially formal and is 
largely employed, as being most suitable, for inclosed 
Gardens surrounded with everything more or less of a 
formal character. It admits of colours being arranged 
so that the proportion is evenly balanced when viewed 
as a whole; one-half of any correct geometrical design 
being intended as an exact counterpart of the other. 
The free, or symmetrical, style allows, according as indi- 
vidual taste may suggest, a much wider scope in the 
shape and arrangement of the beds and their mode of 
embellishment. This plan, properly executed, is preferred 
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planted. If that secured naturally to form 
new beds be heayy or retentive, it should be 
dug out about 14ft. deep, and either par- 
tially or entirely replaced with some of a lighter de- 
scription. Leaf soil is the best of all manures to use, 
as it tends to encourage rapid root action, without, as 
a rule, causing an undue growth at the top. In soils 
already light, an addition of something heavier in the 
way of loam would be advisable, otherwise leaf mould 
may be used in quantity. It should be thoroughly in- 
corporated by digging, or part of the plants will out- 
grow the others. A flower bed prepared for planting 
should be firm and raked rather fine, and should present 
a uniform nearly flat surface, about lin. higher than 
the edge of the bed, from which it should be clearly 
separated. 
Style and Mode of Laying Out. Various styles of 
FIG. 75. GROUND-PLAN OF THE TUILERIES GARDEN 
(TIME oF Louis XIII.). : 
by many, as it dispenses, in great part, with the formality 
of the other; yet, to be attractive, symmetry must, to a 
certain extent, be assured both with the beds and their 
occupants. The surrounding scenery must also be appro- 
priate, and should form the main guide in disposing of 
the space at command. Although it is scarcely possible 
to have an excess of flowers, when placed in their proper 
positions throughout an extended area, yet too much is 
frequently attempted in Gardens of limited proportions, 
with the disadvantage that the plants employed are 
unable to exhibit their true characters. Simple figures, 
as beds cut out in the turf, in a size proportionate to 
the surroundings, are invariably most satisfactory, in 
Gardens of either large or small pretensions, where the 
