636 Ornamental Gardening. 



subulata varieties, Doronicum Caucasicum, Helleborus orien- 

 talis. Anemone Hepatica varieties, Myosotis alpestris, Polyan- 

 thuses, Primroses, Wallflowers, Sweet Violets, etc., etc. 



In the preceding pages we have hastily sketched the prin- 

 cipal features of a pleasure-garden, and pointed out some of 

 the commoner defects in planting and arrangement ; but as 

 most of our remarks apply to a garden of two or three acres, 

 or more, in extent, and as gardens of still more limited dimen- 

 sions are those usually worst arranged and managed, we pur- 

 pose going a little more into details respecting the planting 

 and choice of plants suitable for small gardens and garden plots. 

 This we shall do with special reference to modern villa gardens, 

 in the country and on the outskirts of towns. These vary from 

 a small plot in front of the house, consisting of a few poles in 

 area to two or three or more roods, surrounding the house. Fre- 

 quently the nature of the soil is the principal difficulty in the 

 way of establishing a flourishing and ornamental garden. A 

 stiff clay, especially, is a very disheartening soil to encounter, 

 and perhaps one of the commonest the occupier of a new house 

 meets with, as land of an inferior description in country places 

 is that first sold for building upon. Another drawback is the 

 impossibility in many places of finding an outlet for under- 

 drainage, which, where practicable, is one of the first opera- 

 tions towards improving the condition of the ground. In the 

 case of a person purchasing a plot and building his own house, 

 many of these untoward circumstances may be avoided or con- 

 trolled. Arrangements can be made for effective drainage, 

 and if the alluvial soil be thin and poor, the most can be made 

 of what there is. For instance, the mould should be removed 

 from the spot to be built upon, as well as the roadway and 

 walks, and transferred to such parts it is intended to cultivate, 

 that are most in need of enrichment. Where a plot is covered 

 with turf, this should be taken off and stacked up with some 

 good farm-yard manure. When partially rotten, it would re- 

 quire turning over, and by the time the house was built it 

 would be ready for use. That portion of the garden, if any, 

 intended for a lawn, would naturally retain its turf, if level 

 and good ; but otherwise it would be better to procure fresh 

 turf, or prepare the soil and sow it with a selection of grasses. 

 Where the soil is very heavy and stiff, it is much more 

 economical to procure some better, to plant trees and shrubs in, 



