and planting a Flo'wer-Garden. 25 



design is laid out as five distinct {hardens, formino; one grand 

 American ground. One of these gardens {a) may be a hardy 

 heathery ; the outer bed being planted with the tall-growing 

 kinds, and the two inner beds with dwarf sorts ; the centre being 

 a piece of water, surrounded by a border of Oxycoccus palustris. 

 The garden h may be devoted to kalmias ; c, to rhododen- 

 drons ; rf, to azaleas ; and e, to miscellaneous jGricacejE, requiring 

 peat earth. The central parts of each of these five gardens are 

 supposed to be on a lower level, by nearly 6 ft., than the level of 

 the walks and their verges, and of the turf between the gardens, 

 as indicated by the sectional Wneff. The object of lowering the 

 central part of each garden is, to increase the shade and moisture 

 of the central bed, and bring it more under the eye of the spec- 

 tators from the walks, or turf spaces, between the beds ^ «-, the 

 effect of which will be to give more effectually the idea of a 

 •whole to each garden. 



The general surface of the space included by the surrounding 

 walk is supposed to be perfectly open ; beyond which, on every 

 side, except behind the conservative wall, it is supposed to 

 rise gradually, and in an irregular manner. This rising surface, 

 to such an extent as to be seen from the broad terrace walk, may 

 be planted with Coniferye, so as to form a complete pinetum. 

 The lowest-growing species and varieties of e/uniperus, ^'bies, 

 &c., should be placed next the walk; and the taller ones behind, 

 in gradual succession, and at ample distances from one another, 

 so as to form an amphitheatre of perpetual verdure, with ample 

 glades of smooth lawn between the trees, so as to admit the eye 

 far up the acclivity. In all hilly countries, there are frequent 

 opportunities of forming such a garden in bottoms, and sur- 

 rounding it by a pinetum planted on rising grounds : but, even on 

 a perfectly flat surface, much might be done in this way, provided 

 that surface admitted of thorough drainage. If the general sur- 

 face of the garden were hollowed out 3 ft., and the interior part 

 2 ft. more, this would give a quantity of soil sufficient to raise a 

 gradually sloping bank on three sides, 5 ft. or 6 ft. in height at 

 the most distant part; which, when planted, would appear so 

 much above the eye, as to have a very grand effect, especially if 

 the bank were terminated in such a way as to give the idea of 

 continuation behind the conservative wall. Nothing of this kind, 

 however, should ever be attempted, except on soil which is 

 naturally dry and good. In Kent, almost every where, and in 

 many parts of Surrey, there are admirable situations for gardens 

 and pinetums of this description, both on hilh^ surfaces and flat 

 ones. 



To those who prefer a rosarium to an American garden, 

 nothing could be easier than to devote these five gardens to five 

 sections of the genus i?6sa : for example, one to China roses, one 



