46 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Garden continued. 



of lawn, with a few clumps of shrubs and trees of 

 limited growth, judiciously placed, would be more ap- 

 propriate in close proximity to the building from 

 which the view is desired, and would not be likely 

 to detract attention, as would a mass of flowers, from 

 the main object of view beyond. Where such land- 

 scape effects do not exist, one of the best positions 

 may be chosen for the Flower Garden supposing there 

 is sufficient shelter, as the advantage of being able to 

 view it from the windows in any weather, must not be 

 overlooked. Some of the best-arranged and most com- 

 pact Flower Gardens are those laid out on grass, in an 

 inclosure of which a large conservatory forms part of 

 the boundary, the other part being composed 

 of trees of an ornamental character that afford 

 good shelter, and do not exclude too much 

 light. Shelter is most important in the selec- 

 tion of a site, as the tender exotics used in 

 summer, especially in carpet and sub-tropical 

 beds, will not succeed if too much exposed. 

 Bedding plants present but a poor appearance 

 when allowed to suffer from drought in sum- 

 mer; hence the necessity of an abundance of 

 water. This may, in many instances, be ob- 

 tained from that supplying the mansion, by 

 means of pipes laid underground, and furnished 

 with screw sockets, wherever desired, for con- 

 necting a standpipe and hose. Carrying water 

 by hand is an almost hopeless task in a large 

 establishment in summer. 



Preparation of Ground, Flower Beds, $c. 

 Soil which is heavy and retentive is nnsuited 

 for a Flower Garden ; but at times there is no 

 choice, and the best modes of ameliorating and 

 warming it must be adopted. The first ne- 

 cessary means for attaining this end is thorough 

 drainage, not only for the good of the shrubs 

 and flowers, but also for the whole of the land 

 and walks. The state of the latter has much 

 to do with the general appearance of the 

 Garden, and, if undrained, it is impossible to 

 pass over them with pleasure during or im- 

 mediately after rain. A gravelly sub-soil will 

 usually drain the lawn and open land suffi- 

 ciently without pipes, especially if the position 

 is a little elevated ; but where the whole is of 

 a clayey nature, and of a good depth, it may 

 be necessary to lay them at distances not ex- 

 ceeding 12ft. apart. The work of laying main 

 drains, and the branches connected therewith, 

 should be a preliminary operation, performed as 

 soon as the various points and levels are fixed, 

 and before the plan of the beds is finally laid 

 out. All tender bedding plants require a rather 

 light, moderately rich soil, to encourage them 

 to root and grow freely so soon as they are 

 planted. If that secured naturally to form 

 new beds be heavy or retentive, it should be 

 dug out about lift, deep, and either par- 

 tially or entirely replaced with some of a lighter de- 

 scription. Leaf soil is the best of all manures to use, 

 as it tends to encourage rapid root action, without, as 

 a rule, causing an undue growth at the top. In soils 

 already light, an addition of something heavier in the 

 way of loam would be advisable, otherwise leaf mould 

 may be used in quantity. It should be thoroughly in- 

 corporated by digging, or part of the plants will out- 

 grow the others. A flower bed prepared for planting 

 should be firm and raked rather fine, and should present 

 a uniform nearly flat surface, about lin. higher than 

 the edge of the bed, from which it should be clearly 

 separated. 



Style and Mode of Laying Out. Various styles of 



Garden continued. 



laying out are employed : they may be practically included 

 under two headings the geometrical, and the free or 

 symmetrical. The former is essentially formal and is 

 largely employed, as being most . suitable, for inclosed 

 Gardens surrounded with everything more or less of a 

 formal character. It admits of colours being arranged 

 so that the proportion is evenly balanced when viewed 

 as a whole ; one-half of any correct geometrical design 

 being intended as an exact counterpart of the other. 

 The free, or symmetrical, style allows, according as indi- 

 vidual taste may suggest, a much wider scope in the 

 shape and arrangement of the beds and their mode of 

 embellishment. This plan, properly executed, is preferred 



VIQ. 75. GROUND-PLAN OF THE TUILERIES GARDEN 

 (TIME OF LOUIS XIII.). 



by many, as it dispenses, in great part, with the formality 

 of the other; yet, to be attractive, symmetry must, to a 

 certain extent, be assured both with the beds and their 

 occupants. The surrounding scenery must also be appro- 

 priate, and should form the main guide in disposing of 

 the space at command. Although it is scarcely possible 

 to have an excess of flowers, when placed in their proper 

 positions throughout an extended area, yet too much is 

 frequently attempted in Gardens of limited proportions, 

 . with the disadvantage that the plants employed are 

 unable to exhibit their true characters. Simple figures, 

 as beds cut out in the turf, in a size proportionate to 

 the surroundings, are invariably most satisfactory, in 

 Gardens of either large or small pretensions, where the 



