XXI RIVERSIDE LETTERS 161 



mixed in front of these, and in the front of 

 all masses of what are termed carpeting 

 plants. This whole bed is raised, from the 

 level of the tennis court, about three feet 

 high ; its front is kept up, for its entire length, 

 by a red brick wall, so that as you stand 

 beside it you have all the plants and flowers 

 in the border raised up, and their beauties 

 displayed like goods upon a linendraper's 

 counter. Flowers gain much by this arrange- 

 ment, you have not to stoop to look at them, 

 and the bare spaces of mould (if there are 

 any) do not catch the eye, owing to the angle 

 at which the view is taken. It is most con- 

 venient too for weeding and picking, as 

 stooping is dispensed with. I sometimes 

 think if I had to form a new flower garden 

 that I would have all the beds raised up thus, 

 with small retaining walls, say three feet high, 

 with the paths sunk between them. It might 

 be made very pretty, with occasional arches 

 over the paths and steps up and down in 

 places. From a distance it would look all 



M 



