150 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



Aviaries, too, where they are good in form, and not too 

 prominent, may furnish great amusement, but live stock 

 of any kind must be well kept, and thoroughly tended, 

 to be satisfactory. The same may be said of water fowl 

 and of gold or other fish, 



Labyrinths or mazes appertain to bygone times, and 

 few gardens are of such ample dimensions that space 

 for them could be spared. The pleasure they afford, too, 

 is of a somewhat romping nature to suit modern taste. 

 If a labyrinth be already made, and have to be kept in 

 order, constant care, cutting, and trimming must effect 

 that object. 



A fernery under a roof of glass, provided always its 

 situation be appropriate, furnishes garden amusement 

 under shelter, always valuable in *our English climate. 

 If its position be warm and sheltered stands of orna- 

 mental foliage plants may enhance its beauty and give 

 variety. An entry like this to some portion of a house, 

 with a handsome mosaic pavement, may be in good 

 taste. 



Now that my list of decorations for the garden is 

 surely long enough, I can only conclude with the advice 

 that they shall not be introduced too freely. The noble 

 bearing of trees, the softening repose of evergreens, the 

 gay luxuriance of flowers, these are the best ornaments 

 of the flower garden, and temples, pagodas, bridges, 

 towering rocks, low piles of stones, grottos and summer 

 houses of elaborate construction, should be used 

 sparingly, and in the good taste of reservation, or they 

 will only make a stiff display of building material, 

 more costly than pleasing, and give to a gentleman's 

 garden too much the character of a public tea garden. 

 The decorations, of whatever kind they may be, to look 

 well, should be in character with the house and ground ; 

 and above all, to be pleasing, they should not only look 

 useful, but be useful, for if a path leading nowhere, a 

 bridge to be crossed when we could rather more con- 

 veniently walk on the plain ground, and similar intro- 

 ductions, bring the laugh of our friends against us, we 

 have no business to complain- 



