DRESS GROUND. 61 



any common, where furze, broom, &c. fur- 

 nish endless varieties of form and grouping. 

 Having disposed the masses of trees, shrubs, 

 &c. with reference to the general effect of the 

 whole scene, we come now to the finishing 

 touches of decoration — flowers. 



From the general love of flowers, and their 

 increasing varieties, we frequently see the 

 breadth and repose of the lawn sacrificed to 

 them. In a flower-garden, properly so called, 

 they hold undivided sway, and are at liberty 

 to cover the whole surface, and to assume 

 every variety of form that fancy may dic- 

 tate ; but, when flower-beds are component 

 parts of the dress ground we have been con- 

 sidering, they must be amenable to the rules 

 of composition, otherwise they injure the 

 scenery they are intended to adorn. Beau- 

 tiful examples of the former arrangement (the 

 flower-garden) will be found at Cassiobury 

 and at Redleaf; the combination requisite 

 to the latter will be found in equal perfection 

 at Danesfield. 



The disposition of flower-beds will vary 

 with the character of the house, and the ex- 

 tent and circumstances of the ground about it. 

 At the manorial building, where the straight 



