504 



DESIGN FOR A SMALL FLOWER GARDEN. 



Fig. 58.— A Small Arabesque Flcrwer Garden. 



to be surrounded by a boundary walk, which 

 may, or may not, be backed by a belt of 

 evergreens and flowering shrubs. In the 

 former case, it would make a complete lit- 

 tle scene by itself in a portion of the gar- 

 den or grounds. 



In designs of this kind, of course, a good 

 deal of the beauty depends on the arabesque 

 beds being filled with plants of dwarfish 

 habit, so as to enable the eye to seize the 

 elegant effect of the whole group of beds at 

 once. In order to attain this, any roses, 

 or other plants, inclined to grow above eight 

 or ten inches in height, should be pegged 

 down; that is, the shoots bent down to the 

 surface and confined there as fast as they 

 grow. In this way the whole bed will be 

 filled with foliage, and no part of the sur- 



face of the soil will be visible ; a sine qua 

 non in this mode of management. 



In making a selection of plants for this 

 little garden, we have supposed the four 

 largest beds to be filled with ever blooming 

 roses. These are, in our opinien, the gems 

 of all flower gardens in this climate ; and 

 as the finest sorts, originated within the last 

 ten years, (which may now be had at most 

 of the nurseries,) are unsurpassed in beauty 

 of form, colour and fragrance, by any other 

 flowers whatever, we think them far more 

 indispensable in a small flower garden than 

 the choicest perennials. 



The centre of this garden, 2, is supposed 

 to be occupied by a vase, or a fountain. 

 The arabesque beds are then appropriated 

 as follows : 



