FLOWER-GARDEN. 411 



beds on grass, for growing the more choice florist's flowers in masses. There 

 is a range of green-houses in the exotic flower-garden g ; and there is a space 

 at m, for setting out during the summer the greenhouse plants grown in pots ; 

 n, is an avenue leading to the great conservatory ; o, is the reserve ground ; 

 p, the potting shed ; r, frames and pits ; s, working shed, containing different 

 kinds of tools, &c. ; t, a grove, containing some fine specimens of forest-trees ; 

 u, beds for masses of flowers, one sort in each mass ; v, masses of dahlias ; 

 w, rustic vases for flowers; x, walks among steep banks of rock work ; y, bridge 

 to convey one walk over another; 2, greenhouse, with horizontal trellis in 

 front, for choice climbing and creeping plants. Besides these references, 

 there ar« arbours in different situations, covered with climbing plants, and 

 a number of rustic vases for containing flowers. There is also a handsome 

 architectural orangery, apart from this garden in the wood, which ■ is 

 approached by a noble avenue at m, on a moderate ascent; and on looking 

 from it, five avenues are seen diverging in different directions through the 

 descending wood, the under-growth of which is formed of rhododendrons and 

 azaleas, like the woods at High Clere. 



478. Geometrical flower-gardens are formed of beds, so arranged as to form 

 a regular pattern, and placed on turf or gravel; awA. fig. 281. (the flower- 

 garden at Esholt Hall, Yorkshire) will show the usual mode of laying out 

 a garden of this kind. The ground is nearly on a level surface, with a slight 

 inclination to the east, having a wall on the north side, 8 ft. high, and 100 

 yards in length, against which are placed different varieties of China roses, 

 and various creepers, and half-hardy shrubs. On the east and west ends of 

 the garden there is grass (not shown on the plan for want of room) to the 

 extent of the wall, on which are planted hardy flowering shrubs, each shrub 

 having a circle dug round it proportionate to the size of the plant; and these 

 circles are chiefly planted with early flowering bulbs, as the crocus, snowdrop, 

 narcissus, &c. All the walks are gravelled, and the beds surrounded with 

 box, which is kept very low by frequent clipping. When the garden was 

 formed, drains were cut in different parts of the ground 2 ft. below the 

 surface, and the walks made from 1 ft. to 15 in. deep, and filled to within 

 3 in. of the surface with broken stones, or brick rubbish ; each walk acting as 

 a drain to the adjoining bed. There are small grates placed in the walks, 

 over the main drains, which take away all the surface water, and render the 

 walks quite dry and firm to walk upon in wet weather or after a shower of 

 rain. The soil was either entirely taken out to the depth of 15 in., or mixed 

 with compost suitable to the plants intended to be planted in each bed ; and 

 annually afterwards the beds underwent a partial renewal of soil, to suit the 

 change of arrangement which was made with the greenhouse plants and 

 annuals ; and, as the dahlias were grown every year in the same places, a 

 quantity of soil was taken out entirely where the plants had grown, and 

 replaced with fresh compost every season. Most of the beds have patches of 

 bulbs, or low-growing early flowering plants, planted about 6 inches from the 

 box, and at regular distances, according to size ; and in the following list 

 these will be named as edgings in the arrangement of each bed : 



1, a, Paeonia Moutan ; 6, Escallbnia rubra, herbaceous plants. Herbaceous plants, 



&c. ; c, crocuses, snowdrops, winter aconite, planted 1 ft. from the edge of the bed ; 



dog's-tooth violets, scilla bifblia.&c, planted with different species of Narcissus planted 



near to the edge of the bed ; o, bulbs ; x, close behind every fourth plant. The her- 



