BOOK II. 



PLANTING THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 



801 



valleys, and the trees and plants so dispersed as that the former shall not conceal the latter, 

 nor present a compact lumpish appearance at the edges, or in the outline against the sky. 

 Rock-work may be introduced in groups where there are many alpines to be grown ; 

 and bogs, ponds, and springs imitated in others destined for aquatics, &c. as far as 

 consistent with botanical purposes. A gravel-walk may be so contrived as to form a tour 

 of all the groups (Jig. 553.), displaying them on both sides; in the centre, or in any 

 fitting part of the scene, the botanic hot-houses may be placed ; and the whole might be 



554 



surrounded with a sloping phalanx of evergreen plants, shrubs, and trees. The plants in 

 such a garden should generally be neatly, but inconspicuously named, or, at all events, 

 numbered ; but naming is greatly to be preferred, as saving trouble to the spectator, and 

 more inviting to the novice desirous of knowledge. It is hardly necessary to observe that 

 the above modes, or others that we have mentioned, of planting a flower-garden, are alike 

 applicable to every form or style of laying out the garden or parterre, and that they do 

 not interfere with any mode of enclosing or surrounding it, or of edging the walks. 

 G127. Decorations. It is usual to employ different objects of art as decorations to 

 flower-gardens, and the practice is founded in reason, since 

 the works of nature and of art lend force to each other by 

 their contrast. We have, in a former part ( 1 805. to 1 846. ), 

 enumerated the principal garden-decorations. Those more 

 especially applicable to the flower-garden are the fountain 

 in various forms ; the open and 

 covered, or rustic seat (Jig. 555.) ; 

 the statue (Jig. 554. ) in all its va- 

 rieties of therm, bust, single figure 

 and group, and in the various 

 materials of stone, metal, or ver- 

 dure ; the arbor, and a variety of 

 others. Even the apiary and 

 aviary, or, at least, here and there 

 a beehive, or a cage suspended 

 3 F 



555 



