The Several Styles 115 



too, where there is a possibiHty of choice between oblong or 

 square figures and such as embrace any variety of the circle, 

 whether the latter are not decidedly more characteristic for 

 garden decoration. It is pretty certain that they are most 

 beautiful, and that vegetable forms, with which they have to 

 be associated, almost invariably incline more to roundness 

 than angularity. 



At any rate, there can be no doubt that figures cut in 

 grass, and standing more or less by themselves or in rows, 

 are more elegant, more conveniently filled, and more easily 

 preserved, if circular, than such as have angles in them, 

 while they are at least as much in harmony with the formal 

 style of gardening. For single specimens, therefore, and for 

 separate beds or groups, they are clearly to be preferred, 

 and being susceptible of considerable variation as regards 

 size, much may be done with them. But oval figures or 

 oblong shapes with circular ends, or numerous combinations 

 of curved lines uniting at an angle, will, if symmetrical, be 

 more garden-like than purely angular ones, and will give 

 more diversity. The chief requirement is that they should 

 be regular, that is, that their several parts should balance 

 and correspond. 



That some more definite notion may be communicated of 

 the way in which flower beds can be arranged along the sides 

 of a walk, a series of examples is now given, commencing 

 with the simplest, fig. 28, which is a mere double row of 

 plain circular beds, the diameter of which may be from four 

 to six feet each and their distance from center to center ten 

 to fifteen feet. In this and all the following instances, how- 

 ever, the beds will be equally adapted for putting in a single 

 row, along only one side of a walk, if the circumstances 

 demand such an arrangement. In the other designs the same 

 form of bed receives a little diversity by having specimen 



