158 GAr.D.s-X MANAGEMENT. 



Generally, gardeners make rovigli plans for their own use ; and certainly 

 every design must be fully mastered on paper before there can be the slightest 

 hope of success in placing it on the ground. It will be observed in evei-y plan 

 I have given, that the spaces between the beds are of uniform width through- 

 out ; — I never saw a plan look satisfactory on the ground where this was not the- 

 case. Shai-p, irregular, angular pieces of turf or gravel, leading nowhere, may 

 look very well on paper, but are most disapijointing on the ground. Unless 

 there are embroidery patterns of box or different-coloured surfaces, lay it down 

 as a rule never to be infringed, that the spaces between the beds, whether 

 occupied with turf or gravel, shall be of one uniform width throughout. The 

 distance between them and the main walks should also be the same at all 

 points ; and, as a rule, this distance should be greater than the width between 

 the beds. The distance of one figure from another must be determined by 

 the size of the figures. On grass, however, it should never be less than 3, and 

 need never exceed 12 feet. Small gardens on gravel may have the figures closer 

 together ; but much imder 3 feet will give them a miserable puny appearance, 

 and for large gardens 5 feet will be a good average. Six is also an excellent 

 average for large gardens on grass ; and 5, 4, down to 3, for those of smaller 

 dimensions. 



372. Sometimes gardens are laid down on a mixed plan of grass and gravel. 

 When each bed is edged with brick, stone, tile, or cement, these edgings are 

 occasionally surrounded with from 2 to 4 feet of gravel, succeeded by the 

 same or a greater width of turf Flagstones are also used for this purpose 

 instead of gravel, as well as to subdivide groups of figures close to the dwelling- 

 house. Beds on grass, however, tuiless much elevated above the surface, are 

 most effective withoiit any edgings whatever ; although, in certain situations, 

 raised beds, with massive edgings of stone or rustic-work, look well. Single 

 beds of this description often have their tops converted into the form of 

 baskets, tents, &o., to be covered with climbing plants or roses, with excel- 

 lent effect. For beds on gravel, an edging of some kind becomes imperative. 

 Of all living edgings box is the best ; thrift, sedmus, and saxifrages of various 

 kinds, and the wonderful weed that the gullible thought was to banish grass 

 f';om our lawns {Spergula ndh'fpra), follow each other in value and adaptability 

 for this purpose, in the order in which I ha^•c here named them. Ornamental 

 stone, tile, brick, or cast-iron edgings, are probably better than ^ny living 

 edging whatever. They can neither harbour insects, exhaust the soil, nor 

 look pat(,-]iy through dyiiig off ; and, although perhaj^s more expensive in the 

 first inst.ancc, the first expense is the only one. They can be purchased on 

 the most reaiouable terms, and of the most chaste patterns, and varied and 

 elegant dosigiis. "Whatever edgings are used, they must vary in height and 

 ••.hickne:5S v.'ith the size of the beds they define. Nothing can be in worse 

 ta!^te than a heavy nia<sive edging surrounding a small delicate pattern, or 

 vice, veifri. 



373. On sterile, uncongenial soils, it has been recommended b}^ Mr. Loudon 

 and others to inclose all the fiower-beds with a brick wall to a dejpth of 2 or 



