600 Ferris* s Parterre. 



scribed as unnatural. The truth is, that the ancient, or geo- 

 metric, style is the more natural of the two; being that to which 

 mankind first resort when emerging from barbarism into ci- 

 vilisation. Whoever will reflect on the two styles without pi-e- 

 judice, must allow that, in any given space, the geometrical 

 style is capable of producing a more grand and magnificent 

 effect than the natural style ; while, on the other hand, in the 

 same space, the natural style will produce more grace and va- 

 riety. An ancient straight avenue bordered by rows of trees, 

 and a winding approach-road through a modern park, may be 

 referred to as familiar examples, characteristic of the difference 

 between the two styles. 



The study of Quatremere de Quincy's work, now for the 

 first time exhibited in an English dress (and which we strongly 

 recommend to the perusal of every gardener having pretensions 

 to the laying out of grounds), will, we trust, lead to more li- 

 beral and enlightened ideas on the different styles of landscape- 

 gardening, and obtain for the much desired ancient style the 

 degree of approbation which it merits. 



Art. V. The Parterre ; or, xvhole Art of forming Flotver-Gardens. 

 By C. F.Ferris, Esq. 12mo, 48 pages, and 11 lithographed plates.. 



In the address, the author says, " The titlepage to this little 

 book will sufficiently explain the intention of this publication." 

 If the term were not too harsh, we should say that the "in- 

 tention" of this book appears to be to deceive the public; for, 

 so far from this publication exhibiting the whole art of forming 

 flower-gardens, it only furnishes plans for one description of 

 them, viz. the French parterre. Authors, howevei", are not 

 always to be blamed for the titles to their books ; for, after the 

 MS. is sold to the publisher, the latter sometimes adopts the 

 title which he thinks best calculated to sell the work. Whether 

 this be the case or not, in the present instance, we have not the 

 least idea, not being personally acquainted with either the aii*hor 

 or the publisher. 



The work before us might fairly have been entitled " Designs 

 for Flower-Gardens in the French Manner; showing how to 

 combine Embroideries, Cut-works, and Turf-works." To be 

 *' complete," there ought to have been designs in the English 

 manner ; and, what is even of more importance than designs, 

 the mode of planting and managing each kind of parterre ought 

 to have been pointed out. The French parterres require to be 

 planted in a totally different manner from the English parterres:, 

 they are not intended for the display of flowers, but for the dis- 

 play of curiously traced lines, different curvilinear plots or beds 

 covered with smooth green turf (which, in the days of these 

 parterres, was rare both in France and Italy, and, consequently, 



