GARDENING. 95 



of the flowers, whether in the mingled manner, in select 

 groups, or according to the natural method. It is only 

 with such resources that a flower-gardener can "paint 

 his way," as Sir W. Chamhers says the Chinese artists 

 do, "not scattering their flowers indiscriminately about 

 their borders, but disposing of them with great circum- 

 spection along the skirts of the plantations, or other 

 places where flowers are to be introduced. They re- 

 ject all that are of a straggling growth, of harsh colors, 

 and poor foliage, choosing only such as are of some du- 

 ration, grow either large or in clusters, are of beautiful 

 forms, well leaved, and of tints that harmonize with the 

 greens that surround them. They avoid all sudden 

 transitions, both with regard to dimension and color, 

 rising gradually from the smallest flowers to the holly- 

 hocks, pasonies, sun-floAvers, carnation-poppies, and oth- 

 ers of the boldest growth; and varying their tints by 

 easy gradations, from white, straw-color, purple, and 

 incarnate, to the deepest blues, and most brilliant crim- 

 sons and scarlets. They frequently blend several roots 

 together, whose leaves and flowers unite, and compose 

 one rich harmonious mass ; such as the white and purple 

 candytuft, larkspurs, and mallows of various colors, 

 double poppies, lupins, primroses, pinks and carnations; 

 with many more of which the forms and colors accord 

 with each other; and the same method they use with 

 flowering shrubs, blending white, red, and Aariegated 

 roses together, purple and white lilacs, yellow and white 

 jessamine, altheas of various sorts, and as many others 

 as they can with any propriety unite. By these mixture-* 

 they increase considerably the variety and beauty of 

 their compositions. In their large plantations, the flow- 

 ers generally grow in the natural ground; but in flower- 

 gardens, and all other parts that arc highly kept, they 

 are in pots, buried in the ground, which, as fast as the 

 bloom goes off, are removed, and others are brought to 

 supply their places; so that there is a constant succession 

 for almost every month in the year; and the flowers are 

 never seen but in the height of their l)cauty." 



The botanic flozcer-garden being intended to display 

 something of the extent and variety of the vegetable 



