412 Planting in Masses of one Species. 



in considerable masses of each colour, and other flowers (of 

 which I forget the sorts) of higher growth above them, and 

 of lower growth beneath them, all in pretty large patches of 

 each, the whole being set off in tenfold beauty by the happy 

 intermixture, in every part, of the green leaves of the plants 

 which were next to flower. 



To obviate the bad effects of decayed flowers, perhaps the 

 best plan of ornamental flower clumps, where expense is not 

 regarded, would be to have them partly planted with ever- 

 greens of low growth, or kept low by pruning ; and between 

 these to transfer from the pots in Avhich they had been raised, 

 the finest flowers of each season just taken on the point of 

 flowering, in sufficient masses of each colour, and to be 

 removed and replaced with others as soon as they had done 

 flowering, so as always to have a new and brilliant display at 

 all periods of the year, and at the same time a due contrast 

 of a more sober colour from the intermixed evergreens. 



In the new plan of planting flowers, as of trees, the pro- 

 fessed object is a more close imitation of nature; but it may 

 be doubted whether the object is better attained in one case 

 than the other. It is true that we more frequently see wild 

 flowers growing in masses than singly, but these masses are 

 seldom large, and are almost constantly more or less inter- 

 mixed with, or skirted by, other plants. Take, for example, 

 the common starwort (Stellaria Z/blostea), which is so great an 

 ornament of our hedge banks in spring. The tufts in which 

 it grows rarely exceed a square foot or two in extent, and have 

 almost always a border of .Lychnis, Erysimum, or other plants 

 with abundant foliage, besides the shrubs of the hedge and 

 bank as a background, to contrast with and set off the beau- 

 ties of its flowers, which, thus half displayed, it will scarcely 

 be denied, are far more attractive than if crowded into one 

 large staring mass, in a single bed, as in the modern fashion. 

 In like manner, how rarely do we see the foxglove, when 

 adorning our heaths in its utmost profusion, collected into 

 large unvaried masses ! and if such accidentally occur, though 

 we may for a moment be attracted by their brilliant singularity, 

 it is not on them that the eye delights to dwell, but on the 

 smaller groups of various heights half concealed by the ferns 

 or brambles from amidst which they spring, and which, like 

 the frame of a picture, enhance their natural beauty. 



I may conclude these desultory remarks by observing, that, 

 however great is the improvement in modern gardening by 

 the general preference and adoption of the English or natural 

 style, much yet remains to be done in every part of Europe 

 to give to this style its full effect where well known, and to 



