AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 47 
Garden—continued. 
symmetrical style is adopted. Geometrical designs may 
also be cut in grass, although some prefer Box or 
other edgings. Figure gardening was for a long time 
greatly in vogue; the various scrolls were represented 
by different shrubs and coloured gravels, the numerous 
narrow walks between being also gravelled. The ground- 
plan of the Garden of the Tuileries in the time of 
Louis XIII. (see Fig. 75) may be interesting as indicating 
the extent to which the system was carried out in France. 
Its existence in this country is now almost entirely 
limited to Gardens of historic interest, the general use 
of turf having become more prevalent, with the result 
that a great improvement has been effected in the majority 
of instances, as the plants and flowers were previously 
subordinate to the edgings and walks surrounding them. 
The method of laying out will be the next proceeding, 
after the points already noticed are decided, and the 
preliminary work of draining, levelling, &c., is accom- 
plished. The design on paper, if to be accurately repre- 
sented on the ground, should be prepared to a scale that 
may be easily divided, and the enlargement calculated. 
A Garden, in the shape of a square or parallelogram, of any 
size, may be more readily laid out than one with an 
irregular outline. The necessary tools will be a tape 
measure and measuring rod, a strong line, and some 
pegs. A right-angled triangle, a pair of wooden com- 
passes, and a large T-square, are also useful instruments. 
A system of exactly gauging and marking everything, 
must be adopted where there are many figures to be 
shown in relation to each other. The outside boundary 
should be measured out into equal distances of one or 
more feet, according as it may be practicable to divide 
the plan; and if these points are marked with pegs, 
and the positions of all the walks similarly fixed, a 
foundation will be formed that will facilitate the means 
of obtaining the other references required. Where there 
are several walks, it would be advisable to mark all the 
corners, and insert a few pegs to define their bound- 
aries on both sides. If it is necessary that a main walk 
should proceed at considerable length, quite straight, an 
ordinary line is not a certain guide. Upright stakes, 
about 6ft. high, specially prepared and painted white, 
with a broad band of black or red near the top, are most 
useful, When the two ends are fixed by having a stick 
driven in at each, the intervening space may be accu- 
rately marked by others from the sight obtained from 
either end. If a long curve or sweep is to be laid out, 
the ends must first be known, and, if possible, a few 
points between. This may also be marked by similar 
stakes; but one side is usually obtained by laying a rather 
heavy line with the hand, and afterwards measuring the 
width from it for the other. Gardens vary so much in 
size, shape, and other respects, that it would be impos- 
sible to give advice applicable to all alike. The fore- 
going remarks refer to some of the principles adopted in 
laying out the Flower Garden or walks in the Pleasure 
Ground, but other methods may be necessary in instances 
where these cannot be applied. The Pleasure Ground, as 
a rule, has only one main walk, sometimes formed of 
gravel, and at others of a broad expanse of turf. The 
principal recommendation for gravel is that, if properly 
laid, it may be walked on in weather and seasons when 
turf would not be dry enough. In forming Pleasure 
Grounds, much may be done with trees and shrubs that 
not unfrequently exist beforehand, by arranging and 
grouping others, so as to more fully exhibit the true 
character of those growing in a natural state. Avenues, 
- glades, and vistas, with an irregular outline running into 
the surrounding woods, terminating with some speci- 
men tree or other object in the distance, and clumps of 
massive Rhododendrons, placed far enough from the walk 
to show their beauty when in flower: these should be 
some of the leading characteristics. The planting of 
conifers and other ornamental trees should be restricted 
Garden—continued. 
to such as are known to succeed in the locality, as 
climate and soil greatly affect them everywhere. The 
permanent positions for these should be selected, so that 
plenty of room is allowed them to develop, and nothing 
of interest eventually hidden in consequence. A group 
of conifers, planted wide enough apart to avoid over- 
crowding, and surrounded by an open lawn, always has 
a more striking appearance than when the same number 
are placed about singly over an extended area. 
American Garden. This title signifies an open space 
in the Pleasure Ground, or some other part of the Flower 
Garden, wherein a collection of chiefly American plants, 
or those whose progenitors came from that country, are 
grown. Many of the most beautiful of hardy flowering 
shrubs are included amongst these, and others, of a hard- 
wooded nature, that are usually cultivated and thrive 
under similar conditions. The Rhododendron and hardy 
Azalea are shrubs largely grown, and both are now re- 
presented in endless and beautiful varieties. Heaths in 
variety, Ledums, Kalmias, Gaultherias, and many others 
of a like character, all help to constitute a collection of 
interesting shrubby plants that cannot fail to be acmired. 
They require a light peaty soil, and will not succeed if 
chalk is present, or if the drainage be defective. For 
plants of this description, the usual and necessary plan, 
where the natural soil is heavy, is to specially prepare 
beds with peat and leaf soil, which, on the other hand, 
need not be of a great depth where the sub-soil is light 
and porous, as none of them are of a deep-rooting nature. 
Sub-tropical Garden. Where means are at command, 
sub-tropical gardening should be adopted in summer so 
far as the number of plants and suitable situations admit. 
It is imperative that the latter should be well sheltered 
from rough winds, as these soon destroy the fine foliage 
of the plants used. If a suitable site can be obtained 
in the Flower Garden, it is preferable, as forming a con- 
trast to the ordinary flowering subjects used in the other 
beds. Large plants, such as some of the hardier palms, 
tree ferns, Musas, &c., in pots or tubs, present a fine 
appearance when plunged outside; but these require 
considerably more room to keep them in winter than can 
be allowed in any except very extensive places. Many 
other plants are, however, available that may be raised 
from seed or cuttings each spring, and these form, in 
suitable situations, a commendable addition. They require 
a deep rich soil and more light than palms, &c., which 
make but little growth outside. 
such as Acacia lophantha, Cannas, Eucalyptus globulus, 
Grevillea robusta, Melianthus major, Ricinus in variety, 
Solanums and Wigandias, with many others, are all of 
easy culture, and are very effective on account of their 
varied and attractive foliage. 
Hardy Perennial Garden. After a long season of 
comparative neglect, the large and very important class 
of herbaceous and other hardy perennial plants once 
cultivated are again assuming their proper position in 
many Gardens, by having an extensive border or other 
space specially devoted to their accommodation. An 
open situation and a rich soil are preferred by the 
majority. Shelter, afforded by trees or by other means, 
is advisable, supposing the former are not near enough 
to overhang and cause shade, or for their roots to im- 
poverish the ground. Many of the choicest alpine plants 
require partial shade and thorough drainage. These 
succeed best in positions such as the nooks and corners 
of rockwork; consequently, the latter is a useful and 
oftentimes requisite addition. Herbaceous plants are not 
unfrequently disliked on account of the appearance nearly — 
always presented by some of the tops dying away. There 
are, however, always others to form a succession 
prolong the' flowering season; and it must be remem- 
bered that the decaying tops should only be partially 
removed, as they form the natural protection for the 
roots in winter. Sufficient interest should be developed 
Sub-tropical plants, _ 
