14 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



half, fifteen and nineteen feet. Drive the mov- 

 able stake firmly into the ground, and do not remove 

 until the work is finished. Slip the sharp mark- 

 ing peg into the hole, which it should fit closely, and 

 mark out the circles. For the half circles, or crescents, 

 a nine-foot stick laid straight across the edge of fourth 

 circle will give an approximate fifth, the loss in the 

 curve about equalling the fractional loss caused by 

 multiplying by three alone. Drive a peg with a stick 

 or string attached into the path a foot inside the third 

 line and mark the circles on it; mark the paths by 

 lengthening the stick or string two and a half feet and 

 drawing sections of circles on each side of the half 

 circles from the fourth to the fifth circles. Now bring 

 the end of the long pole to the left corner of half 

 circle and mark the radiating lines and half lines to 

 the centre, and mark off the first row of beds as you 

 did on paper. In this way almost any form of flower- 

 bed may be laid out. The following diagrams for 

 foliage-beds on the lawn will be helpful. 



For a Twelve- foot Foliage-bed 



ONE Ricinus in centre ; three Ricini four feet from 

 first, an equal distance apart or about eight 

 feet. Alternate with these three clumps of tall-grow- 

 ing Cannas. Surround with a row of scarlet Salvias, 

 set one foot from edge of bed and twenty inches apart. 

 Edge with Little Gem Sweet Alyssum. 



