Architectural Gardening. 139 



with propriety be transceudect that is, thej'^ 

 should always be accompanied with a suit- 

 able pedestal to give them a proper eleva- 

 tion to meet the eye and also to keep up a 

 certain dignity of appearance which is lost 

 when they are set on the naked ground, or 

 amid vegetation. 



Purely classical vases should never be 

 encumbered with plants, as they possess in 

 themselves sufficient attraction for ornament 

 tal purposes. Vases of some filagree work 

 or any fancy pattern, are more harmonious for displaying flowers. 



Plant vases may be set on walls, pedestals, balustrades, &c. 

 One thing must be borne in mind, wherever they are placed, there 

 should be an apparent object for the disposition, otherwise a 

 meaningless expression will be the result. 



Loudon remarks : " If it be asked, why use vases in this coun- 

 try at all, unless plants are to be put in them. The answer is, 

 they are employed as appropriate ornaments, as beautiful forms, 

 and as articles of rarity and value. But it may be further asked , 

 can an article be beautiful or confer ornament on another object, 

 when it is itself of no use. Certainly it can. The noblest orna- 

 ments are those without use in the common sense of the word, 

 though in the sense of art and refinement everything is of use, 

 which adds to the strength of the emotion of tlie kind of beauty 

 which it is desired to produce." 



" The history of every country may be' traced by its vases, no 

 less than by its coins ! And the history of all countries is set 

 before us in the vases of all countries. 



This remark, to some extent, may also apply to statuary. Sculp- 

 tured figures appear to have been among the first arts. As far 

 back as reliable history can be traced, we have information of 

 various methods of obtaining fac-similes of the human form, hew- 

 ed frequently from rough stone and wood, or baked from potters 

 clay. These devices were rude in some instances, nevertheless 

 they evinced that artistic feeling which, at a later period, Italy's 

 swarthy sons so beautifully developed, and which now riot in 

 England's palaces and pleasure grounds. 



A writer in the London Florist, aptly observes : it is not solely 

 for the terrace or formal garden that vases are appropriate ; there 

 are many situations in scenery purely English (or in the natural 



