Ferris^ s Parterre. 601 



highly prized in a parterre), or, with gravel, sand, or powdered 

 earthy materials of different colours. The three component 

 parts of these parterres were turf beds, dug beds bordered with 

 box, and embroidered work, consisting of a kind of scroll of box 

 edgings, double, single, or expanding so as to include sometimes 

 a small portion of naked surface. It was only in the dug beds 

 that plants or flowers of any kind could be introduced ; and there 

 were never more than a single row along the centre of the bed, 

 at regular distances. The kinds planted were of low growth, 

 and kept small, neat, and symmetrical, by constant trimming. 

 Here and there a shrub was planted, such as a box tree, or, in 

 Italy, a cypress or an ilex ; and these were always kept low, and 

 regularly clipped into balls, cones, or pyramids, so as never to 

 interfere with the grand object in view, viz. that of showing the 

 entire figure of the parterre at once, as a complete and har- 

 monious whole, in the general style of art denominated that of 

 Louis XIV. With respect to the embroidery work, very few 

 persons, who have never been out of England, and, who have 

 nev.er seen it, or rather the remains of it, in the grounds of old 

 French chateaux, or in Italy, can have a distinct idea of what it 

 is. The only correct example that we know, on a considerable 

 scale, in England, is at Holland House; where, however, the 

 effect is much injured by some large trees which are growing in 

 it. A French parterre, to have its full effect, ought to be sur- 

 rounded by a hedge, or, what is better, a phalanx of hedges ; say 

 one of box, 3 ft. high ; another, a few feet distance from it, of yew, 

 5 ft. or 6 ft. high ; and, a few feet beyond that, one of hornbeam, 

 varying in height from 10 ft. to 30 ft., according to the di- 

 niensions of the parterre. In the interior, there ought not to be 

 a single plant displaying its natural form : all should be sub- 

 jected to the line, the rule, the shears, and the scythe. We do 

 not condemn this kind of parterre : far from it, we should like to 

 see one in the grounds of every extensive residence, where, in 

 spite of all that could be said against it, it would delight by its 

 contrast with the modern English parterre, and in recalling the 

 ideas of former times. In so far as Mr. Ferris has given plans 

 for the French parterre, he may be considered as having done 

 good ; but not to have shown the characteristic beauties of these 

 designs, and pointed out the necessity of placing them in se- 

 cluded situations, and surrounding them by hedges in English 

 pleasure-ground scenery, is a defect which will, we fear, render 

 his plans of very little use ; and, indeed, if any one undertakes 

 to carry them into execution who does not understand the scope 

 and spirit of the French parterre, the plans will do mischief, 

 rather than good. 



The genius of the English parterre is totally different from 

 that of the French parterre; for, while that of the latter is to 

 display forms and lines, the former aims at variety and brilliancy 



