430 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



the same diamond polished and properly set, is not in- 

 finitely more attractive. 



Besides which, no flowers do well under such circum- 

 stances ; the ground is hard and rough, and the plants 

 being placed immediately under the drip, and amidst 

 the roots of trees, do not receive the full benefit of 

 either sun, air, or soil, and yield the most unsatisfactory 

 returns for the expenditure of a great deal of time and 

 money. 



Whether flowers should or should not be planted 

 around a house, is also a question of considerable mo- 

 ment, and as a general rule, we must confess, our own 

 judgment is against it ; w r e think the only exception is 

 where it is desirable to retain the view from the princi- 

 pal windows either within the lawn, or within the imme- 

 diate surroundings of the house, from the more distant 

 prospect being flat and uninteresting, or containing 

 objects decidedly disagreeable. 



In such cases, the more the eye can be prevented 

 from wandering to the distant points, the better, and 

 this can be accomplished in no more pleasing way 

 than by surrounding the house with the most dazzling 

 flower-beds, or the most striking architectural orna- 

 ments, such as vases, sun-dials, terraces, and fountains, 

 or distinctive and remarkable trees or plants. 



Where, however, as is most often, we think, the case 

 in this country, the place itself is of sufficient size or 

 elevation to create a distant prospect which is agree- 

 able, or the view beyond the boundaries presents 

 natural features of an attractive character, such as fine 

 mountains, lakes, or rivers, or distant peeps of pastoral 

 country, or pretty villages, then it is not desirable 

 to fritter these away by flowers or any objects near the 

 house ; but the arrangements of the grounds should be 

 of the most simple character*, and partake of that smooth 

 harmonious form, most suggestive of the repose and 

 quiet which we seem always inseparably to associate 



