50 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Garden continued. 



to lawn and shrubs, with or without a carriage drive 

 to the door, and the back part also laid out in lawn, 

 with the addition of as many shrubberies and flower 

 beds as may be thought desirable ; the space beyond 

 this being utilised for a Kitchen Garden, if there is 

 sufficient inclosed. Semi-detached residences are fre- 

 quently limited to a piece of land not much exceeding 

 half the size of that allotted to those entirely isolated, 

 and are at a further disadvantage of each being over- 

 looked from the neighbouring side. It frequently happens 

 that these Gardens are laid out by the builder when 

 his operations are finished, and the incoming tenant 

 has, perhaps, only a short lease, which naturally pre- 

 vents him going to the expense of extensive altera- 

 tions to suit personal requirements for a very limited 

 time. It cannot be expected that anything elaborate 

 can be obtained in such a limited space as that 

 connected with a villa; yet it is surprising what an 

 amount of interest and pleasure may be derived from 

 such, if care and judgment are exercised first, in laying 

 out, and afterwards in the selection of suitable subjects 

 for filling the space at command. Flower beds are re- 

 commended, so far as circumstances admit, particularly 

 those of a mixed character, where the permanent oc- 

 cupants may be select hardy perennial and alpine 

 plants, various spring flowering bulbs, &c. ; and the inter- 

 vening spaces filled, in summer, with annuals and various 

 tender bedding subjects. A position should always be 

 found for Eoses, as they are indispensable in every 

 Garden. The selection of shrubs should be restricted to 

 such as are known to be limited in growth, and suitable 

 for their positions, when required for the lawn or for a 

 border below the front windows. When it is necessary 

 to plant trees near flower beds, for a screen, considerable 

 injury must, of necessity, be caused by the roots perme- 

 ating the soil, and by the tops frequently overhanging and 

 so causing too much shade. One of the greatest faults 

 in any Garden is overcrowding. This should be a point 

 especially avoided with those adjoining villas, where 

 the owners, in their laudable endeavour to grow as 

 many things as possible, are often advised to try what 

 is quite beyond their means to successfully accomplish. 

 Laying out, replanting, the care of plants, &c., grown 

 in the greenhouse or frames, with the ordinary general 

 attention requisite for all, should always be entrusted 

 to someone competent to advise and undertake it, in pre- 

 ference to employing another whose services may be 

 procured at a cheaper rate. Just sufficient trees, of 

 limited growth, should be planted to insure privacy at 

 all times; a certain portion of the inclosure, according 

 as circumstances admit, being devoted to the cultivation 

 of a few good shrubs and flowers, and the rest laid in 

 turf, i.e., supposing the whole is arranged for pleasure 

 only. This is generally the intention with villa Gardens, in 

 which a space is allowed, perhaps not exceeding 6yds., 

 from the house to the front boundary, and another, about 

 25yds. long, at the back, the width being that of the 

 building and its side entrance. A greenhouse is always 

 interesting when adjoining a villa, if the plants therein are 

 such as do well, and are properly tended a condition, 

 perhaps, not practicable with all, but one that is insuffi- 

 ciently studied where means are at command. Far more 

 pleasure is derived from a few floriferous plants well grown, 

 than from a quantity that merely exist, and are unduly ' 

 crowded. Villa Gardens depend so much on the plan 

 adopted with the building and with others adjoining it, 

 also on the taste and resources of the proprietor or tena/it, 

 that definite advice cannot be given so as to be applicable 

 to all. With a view to assist amateurs in the arrange- 

 ment or laying out of their gardens permanently, both 

 in the front and back parts of their residences, some illus- 

 trations are given with a view to suggestions being i 

 taken therefrom. In Fig. 77 is represented the front ! 



Garden continued. 



entrance to a detached villa by a semi-circular carriage 

 drive. The object is to screen the door from view out- 

 side by a thick shrubbery, and to have circular flower 

 beds cut in the turf on each side of the steps ; a larger 

 one of another shape, also for flowers, such as dwarf Roses, 

 being situated in the front, on the opposite side of the 

 drive. Front gardens connected with two semi-detached 

 villas are shown in Fig. 78. That on the left (a) is laid 

 out in a formal style, a large flower bed surrounded with 

 a gravel walk. The bed might be planted geometrically, 



FIG. 79. PLAN OF DETACHKD VILLA AND GARDEN. 



as shown, or in any way desired. The other (b) has a narrow 

 border of shrubs under the window, which is continued 

 round as far as the entrance gate. The space between 

 is intended for turf, with a few small beds cut in it for 

 flowers or some dwarf shrubs. This style is much to 

 be preferred to the preceding one. A plan of a detached 

 residence situated inside its grounds is represented in 

 Fig. 79. This shows a greenhouse and pits attached to the 

 building, the lawn having flower beds in it, and nearly 

 surrounded with a dwarf shrubbery. The object here 



