ON FLOWER GARDENS, 



CONSIDERED IN THEIR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AND 



UNDER VARIOUS CHARACTERS. 



I now proceed to the Flower Garden, the next compartment after leaving the 

 principal Lawn, and which we must imagine to be separated from it by the 

 masses and groups of shrubs just described ; not, however, by a stiff belt, but 

 so that the principal lawn may blend softly and gradually into the flower 

 garden. The flower garden, as will be seen from my former remarks, ought 

 never to be visible from the windows, (except in towns and small places, where 

 the whole pleasure grounds are necessarily confined to the front of the house), 

 as the appearance of numerous beds and walks, by interrupting the repose 

 and extent of the lawn, has a tendency to destroy its boldness and importance, 

 which ought to be studiously preserved : and the practice of huddling all the 

 most interesting objects possible into one scene, in front of the windows, 

 ought, unquestionably, to be discarded as a decided fault. In places that will 

 admit of it, I invariably make a point of dividing the pleasure ground into 

 different compartments, with the intention of exhibiting various scenes, and 

 so enhancing the interest and prolonging the exercise of the visiter, as he 

 proceeds from one scene to another : and, as bodily and mental exercise are 

 highly conducive to health, such recreations as wiU at once attract the mind 

 and exercise the body should be preferred. Nothing, I think, is so well 

 calculated to soothe the feelings, inspire holy thoughts, and elevate the mind, 

 as the retirement of a flower garden, judiciously and richly decked with 

 beautiful flowers, filling the air with odour. 



" Welcome, fair scene ! Welcome, thou lov'd retreat ! 

 From the vain hurry of the bustling great 

 Here let me walk ; or, in this fragrant bower, 

 Wrapt in calm thought, improve each fleeting hour. 

 My soul, while Nature's beauties feast mine eyes, 

 To Nature's God contemplative shall rise." — Dodslet. 

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