170 The Flower Garden. 



position, or used for a purpose to which it is unsuited, it loses 

 that admiration to which its qualities might otherwise have 

 entitled it. In a flower garden, these principles may be 

 applied alike to the beds, plants, and ornaments ; for a bed, 

 which in an appropriate situation would excite a feeling of 

 pleasure in the mind, if placed where it was unsuited, would, 

 on the contrary, tend to produce pity and disgust ; and the 

 same of plants, whether in respect to size, color or qualities ; 

 while in regard to ornaments, instances of bad taste in the 

 employment of statues, vases, fountains, etc., are far too com- 

 mon ; and we may not unfrequently see a Cupid squirting 

 water from his mouth in the midst of a basin, or a Diana 

 going a hunting among flower beds. 



Unity. — The first principles in all combinations, whether 

 in lines, forms, colors or sounds, is that of producing a whole. 

 " Congruity of style, or a proper adaptation of the several 

 parts to the whole, uniformity of character and harmony of 

 parts v/ith the whole," says Repton, "are different modes 

 of expressing that unity, without which no composition can 

 be perfect. Now the eye can only see, or the ear hear, one 

 thing at a time. The object seen, or the sound heard, may 

 be composed of various minor objects or sounds, but they 

 must all be united or blended together in such a manner as 

 40 be seen or heard at one time, as one object, or as one 

 sound, in order to produce an agreeable effect : " for 



" Whate'er ils essence, or whate'er its name, 

 Whate'er its modes, 'lis still in all the same; 

 'Tis just congruity of parts combined, 

 Must please the sense, and satisfy the mind." 



Every composition ought to consist of three parts, in which 

 the central part ought to be the leading or predominating 

 feature, and to which the others ought to be subservient ; 

 while, at the same time, the two sides must bear a certain 

 balance or proportion to each other, in order to render the 

 whole symmetrical and satisfcietory to the mind. 



Contrast and variety are also great elements in beauty, and 

 may be displayed in the size and shape of the beds, and in 

 the heights, colors and habits of the plants. At the same 



