FLOWER GARDEN. 245 



of the parterres, it -being impossible to carry on flori- 

 culture to any great extent in open places which are 

 accessible to hares and rabbits, or any other kind of in- 

 truders. In detached localities, the fences may be made 

 sufficiently strong to preclude the intrusion of every 

 species of vagrant; and these fences it is not difficult 

 to mask with shrubs and trees. A north wall of mo- 

 derate extent and moderate elevation is often desirable, 

 as affording space for ornamental climbers and half- 

 acclimatized exotics, and as forming a point d'appui for 

 the conservatory and other botanical structures. Such 

 a wall may be surmounted with urns and other archi- 

 tectural ornaments, and screened at some little distance 

 behind by trees. The other fences may be of wire- 

 work, generally called invisible, or of wooden rails, or 

 of holly hedges with rails. 



Formerly the flower-beds were made either circular, 

 straight, or in curves, and were turned into knots, 

 scrolls, volutes, and other compartments; and this taste 

 prevailed, perhaps, in some measure from a desire on 

 the part of the contrivers, to compensate by their inge- 

 nuity for the paucity of the ornamental plants which 

 were then cultivated. Now that the riches of Flora 

 have poured into our gardens, a simpler taste has ob- 

 tained. Of the figures in fashion at present in the lawn 

 flower garden, perhaps the kidney-shape and its varie- 

 ties occur too frequently. It is needless, as well as 

 impossible, to specify the numerous configurations of 

 flower-pots, for they abound in kaleidoscopical variety. 

 Good taste will suggest that those only should be as- 

 sociated which harmonize well together; and it is better 

 to incur the hazard of an apparent monotony than to 

 excite wonder by incongruous coiiibinations. When 



