302 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



flowers between. Such a garden in pure air well begun might be al- 

 most permanent, because in such soils as these light peaty Surrey soils, 

 the shrubs would thrive for many years ; and the same may be said 

 of the Lilies and choice bulbs between, only slight changes and ad- 

 ditions being required from time to time. Many large gardens, which 

 in similar soils are bare even in early summer, might thus be made 

 charming and graceful gardens throughout the year, and, if this way 

 is not so loud in colour as other ways of flower-gardening, it 

 suits certain positions well. This way of planting need not exclude 

 some summer planting of the usual character, in fact would give 

 zest and relief to it: it is the one evanescent system carried out 

 everywhere that steals the varied beauty from the garden. 



BITTON VICARAGE GARDEN. This is one of the oldest and most 

 richly stored with good hardy flowers of all English gardens, and, 

 unlike many gardens where much variety is sought, it is pretty in 

 effect and quite by itself as all gardens should be, and an example of a 

 small garden of the highest interest, and withal of simple and sensible 

 plan. 



The garden is not a large one, being about an acre and a half in 

 area, and in shape a parallelogram, or double square. As its owner, 

 Mr. Ellacombe, tells us : 



" It lies on the west side of the Cotswolds, which rise, about half a 

 mile away, to the height of 750 feet, and about 15 miles to the south 

 are the Mendips. These two ranges of hills do much to shelter us 

 from the winds, both from the cold north and easterly winds, and from 

 the south-west winds which in this part of England are sometimes 

 very violent. I attach great importance to this kindly shelter from 

 the great strength of the winds, for plants are like ourselves in many 

 respects, and certainly in this, that they can bear a very great amount 

 of frost, if only the air is still, far better than they can bear a less 

 cold if accompanied by a high wind." 



The garden then has the advantage of shelter ; it has also the 

 advantage of a good aspect, for though the undulations are very slight 

 the general slope faces south ; and it has the further advantage of a 

 rich and deep alluvial soil, which, however, is so impregnated with 

 lime and magnesia that it is hopeless to attempt Rhododendrons, 

 Azaleas, Kalmias, and many other things, and it has the further dis- 

 advantage of being only about 70 feet above the sea level, which makes 

 an insuperable difficulty in the growth of the higher alpines. On the 

 whole, the garden is favourable for the cultivation of flowers, and especi- 

 ally for the cultivation of shrubs, except those which dislike the lime. 



The garden is in many ways an ideal one, lying deep down in a 

 happy valley and forming with the fine old church the centre of an 

 old world village. It is a quiet, peaceful garden of grass and trees 



