190 EDGINGS OF NARROW TURF. 



XVIII. — Edgings of narr 010 Turf as a Substitute for Box atid 

 other Plants in the formation of Geometrical Flower Gar- 

 dens on Platforms of Gravel. By James Duncan, CM. U.S., 

 Gardener to Joseph JMartineau, Esq., F.II.S., Basing Park, 

 near Alton. 



(Commuuicated August 25, 1848.) 



Some tliirteen years since, when re-arranging and extending the 

 gardens and pleasure-grounds at this place, it was determined 

 to lay out a geometrical flower-garden, having a gravel walk 

 surrounding the beds, in order to afford means of ready access to 

 the tlowers in all sorts of weather. This garden is situated on a 

 platform on a level considerably lower than tliat of the main 

 walk in its immediate vicinity ; and from the latter not only the 

 forms of the congregated beds and masses of flowers can be seen 

 to mucli advantage, but the centre fountain and intervening 

 spaces of gravel form also a considerable relief to the wide ex- 

 panse of turf and the foliage of the specimens and masses of 

 shrubs by which this garden is surrounded. To form an edging 

 for these beds which should be at once appropriate for such a 

 situation and of a character that would be readily kept in order 

 was an object of much solicitude at the time, inasmuch as the 

 edgings of box and other plants which I had hitherto seen em- 

 ployed in this description of garden had long appeared to me 

 exceedingly meagre in character and but ill suited for the pur- 

 pose for which they were employed. I therefore had recourse 

 to an edging of turf of very narrow dimensions, and than which 

 nothing can harmonize so well with the gardenesque character 

 of the scene I have just been describing, or form an edging more 

 pleasing or neat in appearance. 



Turf, the iierbage of which is composed of the finer grasses, 

 and of the description usually found on downs or sheep-walks, is 

 best for the purpose. It should be cut into strips precisely one 

 inch in width, and of such length as not to be inconvenient to 

 the operator in laying it down. A lath should be used in cutting 

 it to the proper width. Place it firmly on the turf, and cut on 

 either side with a strong sharp knife. Before laying down the 

 edgings care should be taken that the forms of tlie beds are 

 properly marked out on the ground. The soil intended for the 

 edging should be of a sterile character, so as to insure a dwarf 

 growth ; and on this condition being rigidly complied with will 

 depend much of the future neatness of the edging, added to 

 which, it will greatly abridge the amount of labour required to 

 keep it in proper order. The strips of turf are readily adjusted 

 to the forms of the beds ; they should be slightly beaten down, 

 so as to encourage the roots to grow at once into the new soil — 



