14 ON LAYING OUT A FLOWER GARDEN. 



greens^ into every variety of form, sucli as mops, moons, hal- 

 berds, chairs, &c. In such a system, it is indispensable to 

 order that the compartments correspond in formality, nothing 

 being more offensive to the eye than incongruous mixtures 

 of character. 



The beauty of English gardening consists in an artful 

 imitation of nature, and is consequently much dependent on 

 aspect and locality. It is a desideratum, where wood and 

 water can be combined with the flower garden, and the prac- 

 tical eye can dispose of an object to advantage by interspers- 

 ing shrubbery and walks, that the combined objects form an 

 agreeable whole. They are not to be disposed with a view 

 to their appearance in a picture, but to the use and enjoy- 

 ment of them in real life. 



We w'ill now endeavor to give an explicit exposition of a 

 system adapted to our variable climate of extreme heat and 

 excessive cold. Where choice of aspects can be obtained/ 

 preference should be given to a south-east or east; but, if 

 not, south or south-west, and, if possible, sheltered by ris- 

 ing ground or full grown woods from the north-west and 

 north. But to lay down directions for a flower garden is not 

 a little difficult, seeing that there cannot be any given area 

 or any description of local circumstances applicable to all 

 situations. A good soil is the sure foundation on which to 

 rear the grand floral superstructure, and the most genial is a 

 sandy loam : I mean by sandy loam a soil which contains 

 from one-sixth to one-tenth of sand ; and if on a gravelly or 

 sandy bottom, so much the better. Where the general sur- 

 face is gently undulating, it will greatly add to the beauty of 

 arrangement ] if access to a spring can be obtained, it will 

 prove a desideratum in completing the whole: it can be 

 available for a fish-pond or an aquarium, or can be convert- 

 ed into a swamp for the cultivation of many of our most 

 beautiful and interesting native plants, such as Habanaria, 

 Lilium, Sarracenia, Dionea, &c., and oc the margin of which 

 (if partially shaded) can be planted the beautiful varieties of 

 Azaleas, and the splendid flowering Rhododendron, which, 

 by the by, are almost entirely neglected in all our floral deco- 

 rations. With many, the arrangement of a flower garden 



15 rather a matter for the exercise of fancy, than one calling 

 for the application of refined taste : true, it may be said 

 there is no mathematical law to guide the designer, so that 



