SITE OF THE FLOWER-GARDEN". 45 



and minor gi'ouping as will produce good indi^-idupJ 

 groups in its divisional sections, when these are seen in 

 positions from which the whole cannot be comprehended. 

 From want of conformity with this piinciple, flower- 

 gardens have sometimes a fine effect when seen from one 

 or two leading points of "siew ; but when examined in 

 detail,, they lose all their interest, except what arises 

 fr'om individual plants, or masses of flowers and shrubs. 

 Effective secondary and minor grouping not only adds to 

 the beauty of fine plants, but very much improves the 

 appearance of those which scarcely deserve that name. 



Site of the FIower-Garden. — Convenience of access 

 requires that the flower-garden should be at no great dis- 

 tance fr'om the house. It may be separated from the 

 other groimds by trees and shrubs, and if the kitchen- 

 gardens are not remote, it may take an intermediate 

 position between these and the house. The site should 

 be wai-m, sunny, and dry, and well sheltered, though not 

 shaded. It should be remembered that the beauty of 

 the flower-garden arises more fr'om its graceful arrange- 

 ment and superior cidtiu-e, than fi'om fine vicAvs existing 

 without its boundary. Such riews, then, are not neces- 

 sary to complete it, and a seeking after them mav 

 deprive the garden of that shelter which is absolutely 

 indispensable to the successfid cultivation of fine plants. 

 This circumstance should be kept in mind, both in the 

 selection of the site, and in the laying out of the compo- 

 nent parts. 



The Ground Colour of the flower-garden and of its 

 walks has a considerable influence on the effect of its 

 arrangements, and, as it varies, sometimes leads to the 

 adoption of different styles of gardening. Independently 



