SUBURBAN VILLAS. 



Tlate 2 is an ideal plan of about an acre of land, not strictly uniform, yet 

 for the most part formal. Being too small to justify fully an attempt at the 

 natural or modern style, and being supposed to possess a site a good deal 

 exposed to the gaze of the public, it will be necessary to plant a sufficient 

 portion of the belt with hardy evergreen shrubs, such as common laurels, 

 laurustine, Aucuba japonica, variegated hollies, phillyreas, allatumus, best 

 evergreen privet, box-leaved privet, &c, and front these with rich flowering 

 and evergreen shrubs. In order to obtain both variety and shelter, we may in 

 the same belt plant low-growing ornamental trees, which will not only help 

 to exclude the pubhc view, or to shut out any disagreeable object, but will 

 also give variety of surface. If large trees are absolutely required, the follow- 

 ing bear a smoky atmosphere moderately well : — the Wych and English elm, 

 lime, cut-leaved beech, cut-leaved hornbeam ; but the horse chesnut, moun- 

 tain ash, poplar, sycamore, common ash, and birch, are generally ragged, and 

 thrive ill in a smoky atmosphere. A collection of good kinds of shrubs 

 ought to occupy the various beds represented as shrub-masses in the plate ; 

 also suitable kinds should form light groups on the lawn as grass plants. It 

 is of consequence that the plants in such small places should not be allowed 

 to be overgrown or too much crowded. The narrowest margin of grass may, 

 in confined grounds, between the beds and walks, be fifteen or eighteen inches 

 broad. Such srnall places being constantly under the eye, the greatest nicety 

 of keeping is essential; for instance, smooth-cropped lawns, clean smooth 

 walks, true and graceful curves, showing even, though very shallow, edgings, 

 of not more than an inch deep. Further interest and beauty must be supphed 

 by sculpture, round beds bordered with iron or wire, neat trelhsed seats, wire 

 plant-supporters, and other garden ornaments. Above all, a provision of gay 

 floral productions should be studiously presented throughout the season ; and 

 in order to this, two or three successions of annuals should be introduced. 



B B 



