The Several Styles 117 



plants in small circles alternating with the flower beds. And 

 a good deal of variety, again, might be given to this treat- 

 ment by the choice of the plants used for such a purpose. If 

 the Hne of beds form a vista to one of the principal windows 

 of the house, and do not run across any important range of 

 view, such plants as Irish yews, Irish junipers, standard roses 

 and others of similar habits, either alone. or alternating with 

 those of a distinct character, will be suitable. But when the 

 beds take an opposite direction, it is necessary to use only 

 dwarf shrubs in them, that they may not intercept or checker 

 the view too much. Still, even here, deciduous plants may 

 alternate with evergreens, dark-foliaged shrubs with pale 

 green or variegated kinds, and variety may be secured in 

 these and many similar ways. 



The square beds in fig. 28c introduce us to a fresh type of 

 form which, though not so beautiful as the circles, may, in 

 certain situations, contribute an important element of charac- 

 ter. The lines of their sides, too, correspond with the lines 

 of the walk. And in some instances small intermediate circles 

 filled with shrubs might, as with the round flower beds, vary 

 and heighten the effect without producing any incongruity. 

 Further variety is attained in other designs by the adoption 

 of oblong beds, about twice the length of their breadth, with 

 semicircular ends, and having smaller circular flower beds 

 and circles for specimen shrubs placed alternately between 

 them. Either of the preceding forms is adapted for asso- 

 ciating with any plain and simple style of house, which 

 approximates to the Roman or Italian school. 



An advance to a more decided tone of art is made in the 

 next design, the pointed ends and diamond- shaped secondary 

 beds in which take a character which can only assimilate with 

 Gothic architecture. And the same may be said of the fol- 

 lowing design which is but a modification of its predecessor, 



