Embellishments 123 



really look upon il as gifted with a species of intelligence, 

 beaming out when the sunbeams smile upon its dial-plate. 



The architectural flower-garden, as we have just re- 

 marked, has generally a direct connection with the house, at 

 least on one side by the terrace. It may be of greater or 

 less size, from twenty feet square to half an acre in extent. 

 The leading characteristics of this species of flower-garden, 

 are the regular lines and forms employed in its beds and 

 walks. The flowers are generally planted in beds in the 

 form of circles, octagons, squares, etc., the center of the gar- 

 den being occupied by an elegant vase, a sundial, or that 

 still finer ornament, a fountain. In various parts of the gar- 

 den, along the principal walks, or in the center of parterres, 

 pedestals supporting vases, urns, or handsome flower-pots 

 with plants, are placed. When a highly marked character 

 of art is intended, a balustrade or parapet, resembling that 

 of the terrace to which it is connected, is continued round 

 the whole of this garden. Or in other cases the garden is 

 surrounded by a thicket of shrubs and low trees, partly 

 concealing it from the eye on all sides but one. 



It is evident that the architectural flower-garden is supe- 

 rior to the general flower-garden, as an appendage to the 

 house, on two accounts. First, because as we have already 

 shown, it serves an admirable purpose in effecting a har- 

 monious union between the house and the grounds. And 

 secondly, because we have both the rich verdure and gay 

 blossoms of the flowering plants, and the more permanent 

 beauty of sculptured forms; the latter heightening the 

 effect of the former by contrast, as well as by the relief 

 they afford the eye in masses of light, amid surrounding 

 verdure. 



There are several varieties of general flower-gardens, 

 which may be formed near the house. Among these we 

 will only notice the irregular flower-garden, the old French 

 flower-garden, and the modern or English flower-garden. 



In almost all the different kinds of flower-gardens, two 

 methods of forming the beds are observed. One is, to cut 

 the beds out of the green turf, which is ever afterwards kept 



