THE FLORAL WOKLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 137 



GARDEN" GAMES. 



|T does not fall -within the province of the Floeal World 

 to provide rules for the various games that are played 

 in gardens, but some of the provisions needed for the 

 enjoyment of those games are in our department, and 

 should have some amount of attention. Considering 

 the brevity and precariousness of the summer in these islands, we are 

 bound to turn to the utmost account the few fine days that occur in 

 the course of a year. Garden games are of the utmost value for the 

 promotion of health and cheerfulness in connection with the average 

 domestic life of our people, and are equally adapted for those who 

 are engaged in studious occupations at home, and those who pass 

 many hours in the midst of the bustle of city business. Every taste 

 must be gratified of course, and it is not for us to dictate. But I 

 must remark here, that it is always matter for regret when a garden 

 is so planned and planted that there is no open space left for a 

 game at bowls or croquet, or for a wild romp with the children, or 

 even for a picturesque assemblage on the occasion of a lawn party, 

 or a strawberry feast. 



A short time since I was roaming over a garden, the owner of which 

 was proud to have utilized every inch of space, so that a once open 

 lawn was now dotted all over with pyramid pear trees, and he 

 asked me if I did not think a few more trees might be squeezed in 

 to advantage. I replied that they might indeed be squeezed in, and 

 there was room enough for them to thrive ; but the place was, in 

 my opinion, overdone with trees already, and there was no play- 

 ground for the pretty nephews and nieces I saw walking about 

 solemnly, instead of enjoying a game as they ought to be able to do, 

 in such a spacious garden. My friend took the hint, and before 

 the winter passed lifted a lot of trees, and made a nice clear space, 

 and when the pleasant croquet weather comes once more, I hope to 

 see the young visitors "to advantage" there, and the sight will 

 gratify me more than any number of pyramid pear trees. 



The very first essential for the promotion of garden games is a 

 good lawn, smooth as a mahogany table, with a close sofc turf 

 always in the best of keeping. Two lawns are better than one, and 

 three are better than two ; but as we must cut our coat according 

 to our cloth, so every separate case must be determined on its 

 merits. Perhaps I may speak of my own arrangements for garden 

 games without incurring displeasure. I will premise that I have no 

 children, and that I never Imve taken part in any garden games 

 whatever. But I find immense pleasure in an occasional assemblage 

 of young people, and I grow strawberries in excess of my own 

 requirements, in order to add to the joyousness of our gatherings 

 of juveniles. In the first place, there is a nice croquet ground, 

 measuring thirty-five yards by twenty-five yards, and this aflbrds 

 ample room for two parties, when divided down the centre by means 

 of a strip of wire netting eighteen inches wide, on which little 



May. 



