378 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



when a small botanic flower-garden may be preferred the 

 herbaceous and other plants being grouped or massed in 

 beds after the Linncsan, or the natural method. Some 

 persons have an enthusiastic fondness for florist flowers, as 

 Pansies, Carnations, Dahlias, Roses, etc. ; others for bulbous 

 roots, all of which may very properly lead to particular 

 modes of laying out flower-gardens. 



The desideratum, however, with most persons is, to have 

 a continued display of blossoms in the flower-garden from 

 the opening of the crocus and snowdrop in the spring, 

 until the autumnal frosts cut off the last pale asters, or 

 blacken the stems of the luxuriant dahlias in November. 

 This may be done with a very small catalogue of plants if 

 they are properly selected : such as flower at different 

 seasons, continue long time in bloom, and present fine 

 masses of flowers. On the other hand, a very large num- 

 ber of species may be assembled together ; and owing to 

 their being merely botanical rarities, and not bearing fine 

 flowers, or to their blossoming chiefly in a certain portion 

 of the season, or continuing but a short period in bloom, 

 the flower-garden will often have but an insignificant 

 appearance. With a group of Pansies and spring bulbs, a 

 bed of ever-blooming China Roses, including the Isle de 

 Bourbon varieties, some few Eschscholtzias, the showy 

 Petunias, Gilias, and other annuals, and a dozen choice 

 double Dahlias, and some trailing Verbenas, a limited spot, 

 of a few yards in diameter, may be made productive of 

 more enjoyment, so far as regards a continued display of 

 flowers, than ten times that space, planted, as we often see 

 flower-gardens here, with a heterogeneous mixture of 

 everything the possesor can lay his hands on, or crowd 

 within the inclosure. 



