THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



obstruction to work, but beds as airy and simple as possible and 

 giving us much more room for flowers" than beds of the ordinary- 

 type. The plans given are those of wholly different kinds ot 

 gardens. 



The next plan is that of the gardener's house at Uffington, near 

 Stamford ; it is an example of the older-fashioned garden not un- 

 common before nearly all old gardens were altered for the sake of 

 the Perilla and its few companions. At one end of the little garden 

 is the gardener's house, and high walls surround the rest of the garden, 

 so that there is shelter and every comfort for the plants. The garden 

 is simply laid out to suit the ground, the plants— Roses and hardy 

 flowers in great variety, a plan which admits of delightful effect in 

 such walled gardens. Picturesque masses of Wistaria covered one 

 side of the wall and part of the house — the whole was a picture in 

 the best sense ; and it would be difficult to find in garden enclosures 

 anything more delightful during more than half the year. 



The main drawback in gardens of this sort in the old days was 

 the absence of grouping or any attempt to hold " things together " 

 —a fault which is easily got over. It is easy to avoid scattering 

 things one likes all over the beds at equal distances, and, without 

 " squaring " them in any stupid way, to keep them rather more 

 together in natural groups, in which they are more effective, 

 and in winter it is much easier to remember where they are. 

 In this way, too, it is easy to give a somewhat distinct look 

 to each part of the garden. Box edgings may be used in such a 

 garden, and where they thrive and are well kept they are very pretty 

 in effect, but always distinctly inferior to a stone edging because 

 more troublesome, and also because dwarf plants cannot grow over 

 them here and there as they can over a rough edging of natural 

 stone, the best of all edgings. 



Flower Garden of Tudor House. — This shows two flower 

 gardens close to a Tudor house, with a garden door from the house 

 into each. One being small (that on the south), it was thought 

 better • to devote it all to flowers and the necessary walks, all being 

 done with a view to simplicity of culture and good effect of the 

 plants. In the other garden, there being more space, the lawn is 

 left open in the centre, while all round and convenient to the walk 

 are simple, bold beds easy to deal with, and also spaced in a free 

 and open way for people to get among them or about the lawn. 

 The little south garden being much frequented in all weathers, and 

 the paths among the beds rather small, it was thought best to pave 

 them with old flagstones, and that has proved very satisfactory, because 

 rolling and much weeding are thereby avoided and the walks are 

 pleasant to walk or work on at all seasons. 



