244 FLOWER GARDEN. 



the site of the mansion to which it is attached. Gene- 

 rally speaking, it should .not be at any great distance 

 from the house ; and in places where there is no dis- 

 tant view of importance, it may be constructed under 

 the windows. In retired scenes, it is delightful to step' 

 out of the drawing-room into compartments of flowers, 

 in the vicinity of a green-house or conservatory. On 

 the other hand, when the park is spacious, and the 

 prospects extensive and picturesque, it is perhaps better 

 that the flower garden should be at some distance, but 

 not more than a quarter of a mile, out of sight of the 

 house, and with an easy access in any sort of weather — 

 an arrangement which would give an agreeable termina- 

 tion to a short walk, a desirable matter in most cases; 

 for it has often been remarked that many parts of ex- 

 tensive grounds, remain unvisited because, they afi'ord 

 no remarkable object to attract attention. 



The particular form of a flower garden is equally 

 beyond the inculcation of specific rules. Indeed, it may 

 be of any shape, and, except where the dimensions are 

 extremely limited, the boundarries should not be con- 

 tinuously visible. The taste of the proprietor .9r de- 

 signer, and the capabilities of the situation, must deter- 

 mine not only the external configuration but also the 

 arrangement of the interior parts. By judicious ma- 

 nagement, it may , be made to pass through shrubbery, 

 gradually assuming a more woodland character, and 

 groups of trees, into the park on the one hand, and into 

 the kitchen garden or orchard on the other. In most 

 cases, even where it is in the vicinity of the mansion 

 house, the flower garden should be encircled with some 

 sort of fence, in order to convey the idea of protection, 

 as well as to furnish security to the vegetable inmates 



