378 



DRESSED OR GEOMETRICAL GARDENS. Paet III. 



geometrical garden where the superabundance of the single 

 primary colours in the many other beds has the advantage of 

 keeping them in a secondary position. In a small dressed 

 garden they are not advisable; though they are allowable 

 and useful in borders. Nor are subdued tones, such as 

 lavender and others, admissible, except when the garden is 

 large and the beds numerous ; and when it displays a pre- 

 ponderating number of more brilliant colours. 



Many plants may be put into beds much earlier if pipes 

 are laid down to convey hot air beneath their roots ; by which 

 means, if secured from frost, verbenas may blossom there in 

 the last week of May ; but this can only be done when the 

 position of the garden, at no very great distance from the 

 fires, admits of it, when there is a large establishment of gar- 

 deners, and when the expense is not an objection. 



Common flowers, the weeds of the country, are often most 

 beautiful in colour, and are not to be despised because they 

 are common ; they have also the advantage of being hardy ; 

 and rare flowers (as I have already said) are not always 

 those best suited for beds. Gardener's varieties may be 

 advantageously used for the purpose, being put in in succes- 

 sion ; and it is sometimes found convenient to bed them in 

 pots, in order that they may be removed to the reserve 

 garden or elsewhere, when they are out of flower, and be 

 succeeded by others in the beds. 



Other observations on the treatment of flowers for the 

 beds of geometrical gardens will be found in the following 

 list ; where they are catalogued according to their colours, 

 and the season in which they flower; and illustrations of 

 the arrangement of the various colours will be found in 

 Plates vii. viii. ; for the explanation of which I refer the 

 reader to the description of the plates, and to the remarks I 

 have introduced in p. 376. 



