GARDEN OKNAMENTS. 



rabbits and liaros have access. The flowers, being phaced beyond their readi, may be 

 cultivated where otherwise they couM not. 



Another ehiss of decorations for this style is rustic baskets. Their funns and cliar- 

 acters are endless, depending entirely on the ingenuity of the maker. They are 

 usually formed of young Larch trees, having the bark left 

 on, the form and substance. of the work being first given by a 

 strong box or other frame of the required shape, or a barrel 

 cut transversely through the middle. The outer surfaces of 

 these are covered, and formed into various designs, by split- 

 ting pieces of timber of uniform size and in the requisite 

 lengths, and, after arranging them, which is most correctly 

 done by drawing the pattern on the surface to be covered, 

 nailing them firmly on with small-headed nails. Fig. 1 sup- 

 plies an example, where the top, being supported upon a 

 rustic leg supported by four equally rustic brackets, is formed 

 of 1^-inch plank. Larch, Hazel, or other uniform-growing 

 rods, are nailed on the surface, the smaller ends of the rods 

 beinnr always kept towards the center; and these may even 

 be considerably reduced in breadth, and, in some cases, reach 

 only half or third way toward the point of termination. 



Amongst the furnishings of a Geometrical Gauden are elevated borders or baskets 

 of flowers, formed of low margins a foot or eighteen inches high. These are usually of 

 polished stone, and often richly carved ; and, as substitutes, very elegant ones of 

 artificial stone, in Austin's and Seeley's manner, are employed. These are called 

 porte-fleurs, and are placed on grass and 

 sometimes on gravel, and of themselves 

 form very attractive objects, more especially 

 when filled with plants either planted out 

 in them, or, if grown in pots, plunged in 

 them, and the surface covered with moss. 



Fifif. 2 is one of elliptical form, seven 

 feet by five feet, the cost of which was 

 £30. They si and the weather well, par- ^ 

 ticularly if painted once a year with boiled 

 linseed oil, wbicli prevents their absorbing 

 moisture. Such subjects should stand 

 properly on gravel ; or, if on grass lawns, there should be a gravel walk around them 

 to cut off' the connection between them and the lawn. 



Fig. 1. 



Ficr. 2. 



"m 



Nj 



=^ff^. 



