COUNTRY VILLAS. 177 



sparingly) in the former. Thus, if in one part of the plantations of the adjoining residences, 

 near the boundary fence, pines should prevail ; then, two or three, or more, of the same 

 sort of pines should be introduced within the boundary of the central residence ; and farther 

 in the interior there may also be one or two of this species of pine. The same remarks will 

 apply in the case of exterior plantations of oak or other trees, or of coppice-wood ; but 

 much of the good eflfect of carrying this idea into execution will depend on the taste and 

 judgment of the planter. 



16. In general, we would adopt the gardenesque manner of planting trees and shrubs, 

 especially in the pleasure-ground, and near the house ; but, in more distant parts of the 

 ground, we might adopt the picturesque mode, for the sake of variety and of saving labour ; 

 and this mode might also become necessary, in some cases, for harmonising the scenery 

 within with the external scenery. 



17. On no account whatever would we introduce nurse plants, as they are called, or common 

 sorts, for the sake of covering the surface, in a plantation where ornament was the principal 

 object in view. Such nurse plants, and common kinds put in to fill up, exhaust the soil 

 by their roots ; and, by the shade and shelter afforded by their tops, draw up the plants to 

 be nursed m such a slender, sickly state, that, when the nurses are removed, the principal 

 plants that remain are weak and unsightly ; whereas, had they grown up without the 

 nurses, they would have been bushy and handsome on every side. After all that has been 

 experienced and written in favour of introducing nurse plants in plantations, we are very 

 much inclined to question whether anything is gained by it in the end. It must be recol- 

 lected, that, at the time when nurses were mo?t strongly recommended by planters, the 

 importance of exposing as large a surface as possible of the foliage of every plant to the 

 sun and air was not understood ; and the cncumstance that the nurses, from being the 

 stronger plants, must necessarily draw the greater proportion of the nourishment from the 

 soil, and in that respect retard the progress of the plants to be nursed, seems to have been 

 overlooked. It is not denied that nurses will draw up yoimg plants : but it is a question 

 whether a plantation, say of oaks, for example, drawn up according to the best practice by 

 nurses, and another plantation of oaks alone, not drawn up either by nurses or by one 

 another, would not arrive at the same height in sixty or eighty years after planting ; and, 

 if so, there can be no doubt that the latter would be of greater bulk. 



18. The gardenesque manner of planting and managing includes the application of 

 pruning and thinning, at all future periods of the growth of the trees and shrubs, so as to 

 keep each plant perfectly distinct from those around it. The picturesque manner of plant- 

 ing also employs thinning and pruning ; but the object of these, in this style of gardening, 

 is less definite ; being for the purpose of throwing the plantation into groups, or to increase 

 the growth of underwood at some places, or of tall trees at others ; and for similar objects 

 connected with the production of pictiu-esque beauty and shelter, shade, or timber. 



19. The proportion of sui-face, in a park or pleasure-ground, which we would cover with 

 wood, will depend on the degree of variation in that surface. In flat grounds, a very small 

 quantity of trees and shrubs is required in proportion to the extent of turf; and the con- 

 trary is the case in very irregular surfaces. 



II. Flowers. — Choice of Kinds. 



1. As the kinds of flowers are exceedingly numerous, unless there were a decided taste 

 or desire for botanical knowledge, we would introduce only the more showy and vigorous- 

 growing sorts, increasing the number of kinds according to the size of the place. 



2. Where it is intended to form a collection, every kind may be procured that will grow 

 in the given climate. 



3. We would select some of each of the different colours, so as to have an equal number 

 of these colours in bloom for each of the floral months. We would also select these from as 

 many of the natural orders as practicable, in order to show greater variety in the forms, and 

 in the botanical differences of the flowers. 



Flowers. — Distribution. 



4. We would seldom plant flowers among trees, and large-growing shrubs ; but either in 

 beds or groups by themselves, or with an admixture of low-growing flowering shrubs ; such 

 as roses, hydrangeas, helianthemums, &c. 



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