236 FLOWER GARDEN. 



Formerly the flower-beds were made either circular, 

 straight, or in curves, and were turned into knots, scrolls, 

 volutes, and other compartments ; and this taste prevailed 

 perhaps, in some measure from a desire on the part of the 

 contrivers, to compensate by their ingenuity for the pau- 

 city of the ornamental plants which were then cultivated. 

 Now that the riches of Flora have poured into our gardens, 

 a simpler taste has obtained. Of the figures in fashion at 

 present in the lawn flower garden, perhaps the kidney- 

 shape and its varieties occur too frequently. It is need- 

 less, as well as impossible, to specify the numerous con- 

 figurations of flower-pots, for they abound in kaleidoscopi- 

 cal variety. Good taste will suggest that those only should 

 be associated which harmonize well together; and it is 

 better to incur the hazard of an apparent monotony than 

 to excite wonder by incongruous combinations. When 

 figures are separated by turf, it is proper that the little 

 lawns or glades should have a considerable degree of 

 breadth,, for nothing has a worse effect than overcrowding. 

 A multitude of little figures should also be avoided; for 

 they produce what Mr. Gilpin calls sjiottiness, which, as 

 he has correctly pointed out, is a grievous deformity. In 

 this sort of flower garden it is desirable that a gravel-walk 

 should skirt along at least one side of the principal figures ; 

 in our humid climate the grass would otherwise render 

 them inaccessible with comfort during a great part of the 

 year. In those gardens from which turf is excluded, the 

 compartments should be of a larger and more massive 

 character. 



Narrow borders, bounded by parallel straight lines and 

 concentric curves, should be avoided. The centres of the 

 figures should be occupied with tall-growing shrubs, and 

 even with an occasional low evergreen tree, such as a yew 



