16 THE FLOWER GARDEN COMPANION. 



any thing is cramped. The walks should, if possible, be 

 wide enough for two persons to walk abreast, in order to give 

 a social effect, which should always be the first consideration 

 in the flower garden. The beds should also be well propor- 

 tioned, and not too much cut up into small figures, which, 

 when bordered with box edging, have the appearance of so 

 many figures formed for the amusement of children, more 

 than for the purpose of growing flowers. There is also an- 

 other great error sustained in this method, namely, the edging 

 will retard the growth of the flowers by being close to them ; 

 for, indeed, there is nothing that so much exhausts the soil 

 of nutriment, as box edging. 



Every department should have an open, easy appearance, 

 and regular proportion. 



I must also beg leave to caution my readers against the 

 very improper method often practised of planting fruit trees 

 in the flower borders and among shrubs : the impropriety is 

 very evident, if we take into consideration that many of the 

 flowers must eventually be spoiled in gathering the fruit ; be- 

 sides the inducements presented for children to injure the 

 flowers, when in the act of robbing the trees of their fruit. 



If fruit is to be planted, a proper place should be selected; 

 it should never be mingled among shrubs and flowers ; 

 unless the ornamental kinds, as the Siberian crab, Weeping 

 cherry, and the like ; and those have a better effect as a 

 single ornamental object. 



ART. 3. Soil and Materials. 



The soil best adapted for the flower garden is a mellow 

 loam incorporated with some rotten manure, and a portion of 

 dry sand, with a dry, mellow subsoil. 



A part of the ground should also be of a boggy nature, 

 composed of black earth and decayed leaves, in a low situa- 

 tion, for the accommodation of such plants as grow in a boggy 

 soil ; which are, Lobelias, Iris, and the like. 



The other materials are, gravel for walks, which should be 



