LAYING OUT THE FLOWER GARDEN. 55 



are, and old, rotten manure, would, in most cases, be the 

 best application to increase the depth of the soil. 



If the ground allotted for the flower-garden is inclined 

 to be wet, or springy, it should be thoroughly drained by 

 ditches, or drains, so deep underground as not to interfere 

 with cultivation. A location having a gravelly subsoil 

 and exposed to drought, should be avoided, if possible. 

 In a word, what is wanted is a deep, rich soil, natural or 

 artificial, not too wet, nor too dry. 



LAYING OUT THE GARDEN. In giving directions for lay- 

 ing out a flower-garden, it must be borne in mind that it 

 is not the design of the writer to give elaborate plans for 

 extensive pleasure grounds; those who are able or dis- 

 posed to indulge themselves in this great luxury, will, 

 probably, consult the professional landscape gardener, or 

 derive their information from other sources within their 

 reach, rather than from a work written particularly for 

 the multitude, whose means may be more or less limited. 



" Neatness should be the prevailing characteristic of a 

 flower-garden, which should be so situated as to form an 

 ornamental appendage to the house ; and, when circum- 

 stances will admit, placed before windows exposed to a 

 southern or south-eastern aspect. The principle on which 

 it is laid out ought to be that of exhibiting a variety of 

 colors and forms, so blended as to produce one beautiful 

 whole. In a small flower-garden, viewed from the windows 

 of the house, this effect is best produced by beds, or borders, 

 formed on the side of each other, and parallel to the win- 

 dows from whence they are seen ; as, by that position, the 

 colors show themselves to the best advantage. In a re- 

 tired part of the garden, a rustic seat may be formed, over 

 and around which honeysuckles, and other sweet and orna- 

 mental creepers and climbers, may be trained on trellises, 

 so as to afford a pleasant retirement." 



In laying out a flower-garden, it is best to have the 



