The Flower Gaeden. 145 



basket, for the weeds and clippings ; a small hammer ; a ball 

 of twine ; a stout apron, with pockets for the pruning-knifc, 

 shears, etc. ; a pair of strong leather gloves, for handling prickly 

 shrubs ; and a pair of overshoes, will make up a very good 

 outfit. The implements should all be light, and of the best 

 quality. The pruning-knife should be kept 'very sharp. Use 

 it for cutting slips, and for removing branches, leaves, etc. 

 The shears are used for clipping hedges, box, borders, etc. 



In connection with her gardening operations, we recommend 

 to every lady who has sufficient leisure the study of botany — 

 both structural and systematic. 



II.-LATING OUT A FLOWEE GAEDEN. 



To attempt, within the limits of a few pages, to fidly instruct 

 those who have extensive grounds to lay out, would be pre- 

 sumptuous. Such persons will need to study Downing's 

 " Landscape Gardening," or seek the aid of a practical land- 

 scape gardener. Our brief hints and suggestions are intended 

 for those whose ornamental grounds are measured by rods 

 instead of acres. 



We will suppose that, as is generally the case, you wish to 

 devote a portion of the space immediately around your dwell- 

 ing-house to the cultivation of flowers. 



If the distance between the entrance gate and the house be 

 small, you must be content with a straight walk from the one 

 to the other ; but this should be relieved, and its necessary 

 stifiihess somewhat modified, by curved side-walks, branching 

 from the main walk near the front door, and running back to 

 the vegetable garden in the rear of the house. Where the 

 space is a little greater, the straight walk should not be toler- 

 ated. It may be curved in various ways, as taste may sug- 

 gest, and the nature of the case permit. The walks may all 

 have edgings of dwarf box. Near these walks we recom- 

 mend cutting a sufiicient number of flower-beds in the turf. 

 This gives a much more beautiful appearance to the yard than 

 it would have if devoted exclusively to flower-beds. If more 



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