THE ELIZABETHAN FLOWER-GARDEN 139 



according to the opinion of Serres and Vinet, you must 

 be much ruled by the nature of the soil." 



Each portion of the garden was made almost perfectly 

 level, though parts of it might be raised above the re- 

 mainder. Raised walks, as at Brickwall and Longleat, 

 often ran around the outer edge above the parterre. 



On a hillside a garden was frequently laid out in a Differences 

 series of terraces. " You may also, if your ground be 

 naturally so seated, or if your industry please so to bring 

 it to pass, make your garden rise and mount by several 

 degrees, one level ascending above another, which is 

 exceeding beautiful to the eye and very beneficial to 

 your flowers and fruit trees, especially if such ascents 

 have the benefit of the sun rising upon them." 



At St. Catherine's Court is one of the most interest- 

 ing series of terraced gardens in England. Instead of 

 descending, the terraces ascend above the house. It is 

 unfortunate that the clipped trees at the entrance to the 

 gardens have grown entirely out of scale ; otherwise 

 from the house, as the illustration shows, the effect pro- 

 duced would be altogether charming. 



The form of the outer enclosure, as in the Middle 

 Ages, usually remained rectangular. Round, oval, and 

 diamond shapes are also mentioned as correct for the 

 " Verge and Girdle of your Garden," but square or 

 oblong was evidently customary. 



The most characteristic boundary of an Elizabethan 



