ON LAYING OUT THE FLOWER GARDEN. 21 



Rustic bridges, also, are interesting objects, where they 

 appear to be useful appendages to the flower garden, or orna- 

 mental grounds, in crossing streams, or even in crossing any 

 part of the ground where their presence seems needful. 

 They should be constructed in a rustic manner, of the limbs 

 of trees in their natural state, to give a good effect; formality 

 should as much as possible, in this case, be avoided. 



Rustic seats, rustic chairs, tables, and the like, may also be 

 introduced into the flower garden; and when placed in a 

 shady retreat, or by the side of water, they are not only 

 pleasing, but useful acquisitions to the ornamental department. 



ART. 9. On Making Flower Gardens. 



In treating on " the Laying out of Flower Gardens," I shall 

 confine the subject, in this place, to the Parterre, or small 

 garden. The laying out of shrubberies, and ornamental gar- 

 dens, with the city flower gardens, <fcc., will be treated on 

 under their separate heads. 



The plan, as has been before stated, is merely a matter of 

 fancy, although it may be laid down as a general rule, that 

 the geometrical manner is the best adapted to a small garden. 



Nicol, one of the best writers on the practice of laying 

 out flower gardens says : " The laying out of flower gardens 

 is a matter of very much fancy. Too many gravelled walks 

 offend the eye, especially if they be much twisted or run 

 across, as it comprehends the whole at once. Their breadth 

 should be proportioned to that of the beds ; nor should they 

 be sunk, seldom more than an inch, otherwise they have a 

 bad effect, and look rather like furrows than walks. They 

 may be edged with box, thrift, or gentiannella, according to 

 fancy. But the edging, whatever it may be, should be kept 

 low, thin, and neat. It should seldom be allowed to rise above 

 two inches high, or spread above two inches wide. A linear 

 box edging always pleases* if kept quite close and connected." 



The ground being chosen, prepare for laying it out by dig- 

 ging and well pulverizing it one foot deep, taking out any 



