around the house, however, is always planted with the 

 most beautiful trees and kept in the best possible condition, 

 just in the manner necessary for small lawns, which are 

 most common in this country. We have endeavored to 

 illustrate these two styles by the aid of engravings, and hope to have 

 made the subject plain. 



The great difficulty with American gardens is that they are too large, 

 and not sufficiently cared for. If we gave the same amount of labor on a 

 quarter of an acre that we now expend on an acre, the result would be much 

 more satisfactory. No one should have more ground in garden than he 

 can keep in the very highest state of cultivation. It is this kind of 

 excellence that affords pleasure, while failure or partial success is a source of 

 pain. It is not only a fault to cultivate too much ground, but even too many flowers. Some 

 seem anxious to obtain and grow everything. This is not best, especially where there is not a 

 good deal of time and money to be devoted to the work. A choice selection is best, and I like 

 every cultivator of flowers to have a pet or hobby. Take, for instance, the Pansy, and make it a 

 pet. Obtain the choicest seed, and give the plants the best of care, and you will see to what 

 wonderful perfection it can be grown. In a few years you will tire, perhaps, of this. Then 

 adopt the Balsam, or Stock, or Aster. Always have something choice something grown better 

 than any one else is growing it something you have reason to be proud of. It will astonish you 

 to see how flowers thrive under such petting, and what a wonderful exhibition they make of 

 their gratitude. 



Some persons may think from what we have said in favor of grass in front of the house in 

 preference to beds of flowers, that we are no friend to these beautiful treasures these delightful 

 children of the field and garden, who speak to us in every fragrant breath and lovely tint and 

 graceful form, of Him who spake from naught this matchless beauty. We only wish them to be 

 treated in a proper manner. In the center of the lawn, especially if opposite a window, it is well 

 to make a round or oval bed, and on the border or near the edges of the lawn, beds of various 

 simple forms. A few plans for these we have given. 



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