GARDENING STYLES ATHB GARDEN PLANS. 55 



156. There can be no question that this principle of gradation is the true 

 theory of laying out grounds, although the mode of its application may be 

 infinitely varied. The geometrical style, for instance, may be carried on through 

 a scries of terraces, sloping banks, flights of steps of tm-f or stone, retaining 

 walls, &c., until it occupies the whole of the inclosed lawn. Scroll-work 

 patterns of bos on gravel, the insterstices filled with broken red or white 

 brick, Derbyshire spar, blue slate, coal, silver, yellow, or red sand, may 

 vilso be introduced, as has been very successfully done in the Horticultural 

 Society's Gardens at South Kensington. The geometrical garden m*ay be 

 formed on a level surface, and all fountains, steps, banks, and walls dispensed 

 with ; it may be raised above the siu'face, supported by stone edgings, or be 

 sunk beneath it, which is an excellent arrangement where the height of the 

 flowers would mar the cfi"cct of the more distant flower-beds. In fact, the 

 geometrical style is capable of endless variation and the most facile adapta- 

 tion ; and, in addition to those here given, others might follow it in succession 

 upon different levels, until the whole front lawn was thus fui-nished. The 

 shape of these groups is of less importance than might be supposed, and 

 could be altered every few years^ to give fresh interest and variety to 

 them. In all cases, however, where it occupies the whole of the inclosed space, 

 the park, for a certain distance beyond, should be laid out in the gardenesque 

 style. The boundary-walk should also be kept at the distance of from twenty to 

 fifty feet from the fence which separates the lawn from the park. The practice 

 of leading the walk within a few feet of the boundary, or fence, cannot be too 

 severely reprehended. It not only makes the boundary-line ofi'ensively 

 apparent, but compels the eye to travel along the bottom of an unsightly 

 ditch. Some landscape gardeners recommend planting the inside edge of the 

 ha-ha with choice shrubs or flowers ; but this expedient only makes bad worse, 

 by bringing the eye to admire beauty in juxtaposition with its opposite. The 

 plants so placed will also appear in dangerous proximity to the foddering pro- 

 pensities of cattle. No pleasure can possibly be derived from seeing easily- 

 injured objects placed in seeming danger, especially where the impression may 

 be so easily avoided, and substantial advantages gained, by keeping the 

 walks a sufficient distance from the boundary-line. Ideas of grandeur and 

 extent may bo imparted, and the boundary-line broken and almost hid by 

 planting standard laurels or bays, and laying down clumps of choice shrubs on 

 the intervening space, thus forming a foreground for other clumps planted on 

 the gardenesque principle. The effect, as seen from the house and other parts 

 of the grounds, should be to destroy entirely the sharp line of demarcation 

 between lawn and park ; to extend indefinitely the appearance of the former, 

 and virtually include the latter, as far as the organ of vision is concerned. 

 The more distant part of the park should then be planted and grouped 

 on the picturesque principle, assuming in the extreme distance the rougher, 

 bolder, and consequently more picturesque outlines of natural scenery. Upon 

 the same principle, a place may be laid out cnthely in the gardenesque 

 style, the geometrical being entirely dispensed with. In this case, tho 



