LAYING OUT THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 



"And the sinuous paths of lawn and moss, 

 Which led through the garden along and across ; 

 Some opened at once to the sun and the breeze, 

 Some lost among bowers of blossoming trees, 

 Were all paved with daisies and delicate bells, 

 As fair as the fabulous asphodels ; 

 And flowerets which, drooping as day drooped too, 

 Fell into pavilions, white, purple, and blue, 

 To roof the glow-worm from the evening dew." 



Situation. As to the situation of a garden, it is not always 

 in our power to choose. A level plat, however, is to be pre- 

 ferred ; for, if there be considerable descent, the heavy rains 

 will wash away the soil. A southern aspect, sheltered from 

 the north and west winds, is a proper situation for most plants. 

 An inclination to the north, or west, or any point between them, 

 should, if possible, be avoided. It should be situated contig- 

 uous or near the dwelling-house, and well exposed to the sun 

 and air, that the culture of the more curious and valuable 

 flowers may be treated with the best success. 



Soil. The soil should be a deep, rich loam. If not natu- 

 rally so, it .must be made rich and deep by trenching and 

 manuring, by carting away poor soil and bringing on good. If 

 naturally heavy, it should be made light with a more sandy 

 soil ; or, if too light, it should be improved by a mixture of that 

 which is more heavy. 



The ground should be trenched two spades deep, or from 

 twelve to sixteen inches, according to the quality of the sub- 

 soil. If the subsoil is poor, the depth of the mould must be 

 made by carting on such substances as are most needed to 

 correct the bad qualities of the soil. A compost, made of 

 decomposed green sward from a pasture, and old, rotten ma- 

 nure, would, in most cases, be the best application to increase 

 the depth of the soil. 



