HINTS ON FLOWER-GARDENS. 9 



and substitute for it the opposite mode of grouping or massing colors 

 and particular species of plants. Masses of crimson and white, of 

 yellow and purple, and the other colors and shades, brought boldly 

 into contrast, or disposed so as to form an agreeable harmony, will 

 attract the eye, and mak^ a much more forcible and delightful im- 

 pression, than can ever be produced by a confused mixture of shades 

 and colors, nowhere distinct enough to give any decided effect to 

 the whole. The effect of thus collecting masses of colors in a flower- 

 garden in this way, is to give it what the painters call breadth of 

 effect, which in the other mode is entirely frittered away and de- 

 stroyed. 



This arranging plants in patches or masses, each composed of 

 the same species, also contributes to do away in a great degree with 

 the second fault which we have alluded to as a grievous one in 

 most of our flower-gardens that of the exhibition of bare surface 

 of soil parts of beds not covered by foliage and flowers. 



In a hot climate, like that of our summers, nothing is more un- 

 pleasing to the eyes or more destructive to that expression of soft- 

 ness, verdure, and gayety, that should exist in the flower-garden, than 

 to behold the surface of the soil in any of the beds or parterres un- 

 clothed with plants. The dry ness and parched appearance of such 

 portions goes far to impair whatever air of freshness and beauty 

 may be imparted by the flowers themselves. Now whenever beds 

 are planted with a heterogeneous mixture of plants, tall and short, 

 spreading and straggling, it is nearly impossible that considerable 

 parts of the surface of the soil should not be visible. On the con- 

 trary, where species and varieties of plants, chosen for their excel- 

 lent habits of growth and flowering, are planted in masses, almost 

 every part of the surface of the beds may be hidden from the eye, 

 which we consider almost a sine qua non in all good flower-gardens. 



Following out this principle on the whole perhaps the most 

 important in all flower-gardens in this country that there 

 should, if possible, be no bare surface soil visible, our own taste 

 leads us to prefer the modern English style of laying out flower- 

 gardens upon a groundwork of grass or turf, kept scrupulously 

 short. Its advantage over a flower-garden composed only of beds 

 with a narrow edging and gravel walks, consists in the greater soft- 



