LAYING OUT THE FLOWER GARDEN. 57 



divided into obloDg four-feet beds, or in the manner of a 

 parterre, in some fanciful style ; the former being more 

 convenient, particularly for most of what are called florist's 

 flowers, but the latter more pleasing to the eye. In either 

 method, a walk should be carried around the outward 

 boundary, leaving a border to surround the whole ground. 

 This outward border wall be the most appropriate place 

 for choice flowering shrubs, and tall herbaceous biennial 

 and perennial plants. If the border be a wide one, groups 

 of ornamental trees, of low growth, may be planted in the 

 background, especially on the northern and western 

 quarters, which will greatly protect the plants from cold 

 winds, particularly if evergreens be planted there. Large 

 trees sliould not be set so near the garden as to injure it by 

 their roots or shade. Every fine garden should be well 

 secured by a fence or hedge, if at all exposed to the public 

 road. A hedge is far the prettiest, and if well managed, 

 neat and ornamental. 



"The plan of the garden, be it either large or small, 

 generally pleases when it is so constructed as to give a va- 

 riety in the design. Formality, though often the leading 

 feature, seldom gives that ease that is requisite. The 

 planting of the ground should also bear the nicest consider- 

 ation ; by which, I mean, that such shrubs and plants should 

 be selected as will form a pleasing contrast, and be appro- 

 priate in the difierent places assigned to them." 



GARDEN WALKS. 



Width of Walks. — ^The main walk, or walks, of a 

 garden, should be laid out on a liberal scale. Nothing de- 

 tracts so much from the pleasures of the flower-garden as 

 contracted walks. When we wish to enjoy the company 

 of a friend, in the flower-garden, it is much more agree- 

 able to have him by our side, arm in arm, than to be un- 

 der the necessity of making the tour of the garden in In- 

 3* 



