Gardening in Egypt. 



each plant, so that things may grow and increase in 

 beauty, rather than become an unsightly and entangled 

 mass. 



One of the most important things in the laying 

 out of a private garden, is the view from the front of 

 the house. Should the position be elevated, as is 

 often the case in Ramleh, the natural views, which 

 add much to the beauty of a place, should be well 

 considered, and the view opened up, rather than shut 

 out ; in such cases, trees that are planted should be 

 utilised for shade and shelter, and at the same time, 

 if necessary, they should hide any unsightly object. 



Although natural elevations are always desirable, 

 yet it is quite possible to create a very pleasing effect 

 with grounds that are flat. In gardens of the latter 

 kind, surrounded by desert, or uninteresting views, 

 the chief thing to be considered is a background of 

 trees, palms, &c. ; but care should be taken when 

 planting, to allow sufficient space for each tree to 

 develop, as mentioned in the preceding rules for 

 gardens in general. 



For a house standing far back in its own grounds, 

 few things will look more inviting than a central 

 avenue or drive, with a graceful bend, and planted with 

 trees, and, if the shade is too great for grass to grow 

 underneath, a line of tastefully-arranged rockery on 

 each side, planted with maidenhair and other ferns, 

 Begonias, Caladiums, Callas, Tradescantia, Alocasias, &c., 

 cannot fail to have a good effect. 



In gardens with a wide frontage, but with not space 

 enough to admit of a central avenue, a half-circle 

 drive might be formed, and the remaining space 

 devoted to a lawn, tastefully laid out with flower-beds, 

 palms, or specimen isolated plants, while a background 

 could be made of trees and shrubs, and the borders 

 devoted to annuals and dwarf flowering plants. 



With larger gardens, a more ornamental system of 

 undulating lawns, with clumps of shade trees, specimen 

 palms, raised ornamental beds, serpentine paths, and 

 rockeries, could be carried out. 



