FLOWER GAKDEN. 243 



principles of its own. In such a spot, the great object 

 must be to exhibit to advantage the graceful forms and 

 glorious hues of flowering plants and shrubs; and it is 

 but seldom that mere elegancies in the forms of com- 

 partments, and other trickeries of human invention, 

 can bear any comparison with these natural beauties. 

 To express the peculiar nature of garden scenery, as 

 distinct from the picturesque in landscape, Mr. Loudon 

 invented the term gardenesque; and, whatever may 

 be thought of the term itself, it is very desirable that 

 the distinction should be preserved. 



Two varieties of flower gardens have chifefly prevailed 

 in Britain; one, in which the ground is turf, and the 

 pattern, so to speak, is composed of a variety of figures 

 cut out of the turf, and planted with flowers and shrubs; 

 and another, where the flower-beds are separated by 

 gravel walks, without being interspersed with grass at 

 all. The choice of one or other of these varieties ought 

 greatly to depend upon the situation. When the flower 

 garden is to be seen from the windows, or any other 

 elevated point of view, from which the whole or the 

 greater part of the design may be perceived- at once, 

 perhaps the former should be preferred. Where the 

 surface is irregular, and the situation more remote, 

 and especially where the beauty of flowers is the chief 

 object of contemplation, the choice should probably 

 fall on the latter. This variety, too, seems preferable, 

 on the principle of contrast, where there are large lawns 

 in the outer grounds, in order that kept (or smoothly- 

 mown) grass may not be found everywhere. 



Respecting the situation of the flower garden, no very 

 precise directions can be given, as it must be influenced 

 by the size of the domain, the nature of tlie lawns, and 



