and planting a Flo'wer'Garden. 243 



ledge of the subject, to be able to ascertain when this is the case. 

 Again we say that the only remedy is the general diffusion of 

 a knowledge of the principles of criticism. 



'The faults of the plan [fg. 29.) are thus pointed out by our 

 correspondent Floretus: — " 1. The fantastic turn of the walks 

 is not accounted for, or rendered reasonable, by planting, &c. 

 2. There is an almost total destruction of breadth of feature, 

 from the beds and other objects on the lawn covering the whole 

 of it. 3. The trees and bushes are badly placed and grouped. 

 4. The house is left too meagre, and is not sufficiently supported 

 by planting. 5. The margin, if the plan be understood aright, ap- 

 pears deficient in clothing generally; but this, of course, depends 

 upon the character of the neighbouring objects, and whether the 

 premises join a road or roads. If data concerning the above 

 had been given, it is probable something might have been done 

 in the way of appropriation. It is, in my opinion, impossible 

 to dispose of the plot in an elegant manner, and yet be com- 

 pelled to adhere to the position of all the trees and bushes in the 

 plan, which was one of the conditions prescribed. I have there- 

 fore been compelled to dispense with some of these; not because 

 they were trees, for that would have been no fault with me, but 

 because they prevented every attempt at grouping and disposition 

 of the masses with a view to producing general effect." 



" As for the merits of the plan {Jig. 29.), it may have some ; 

 but I am not skilled enough to find any out worth notice. From 

 the regularity of distance observable in the disposition of the 

 beds and bushes, I am led to conclude it was designed by some 

 mechanic. Whether I succeed in gaining the laurels or not, 

 you will oblige me by pointing out the faults of my sketch." 



The plan given by Floretus isfg. 30., in which a a are beds 

 of American shrubs and roses; h, eight beds of mixed flowers; 

 c, masses of flowering and evergreen shrubs ; d, dots represent- 

 ing situations where ornamental trees might be planted with 

 advantage ; e, surrounding shrubbery ; f, old fruit trees ; g, a 

 cedar of Lebanon ; /;, remarkable yuccas ; and i and k, sym- 

 metrical figures. 



On the whole, the remarks and the plan of Floretus are good. 

 The first fault pointed out shows a decided knowledge of the 

 subject ; and, with the second, includes, indeed, the only positive 

 faults in the original plan {fg. 29.), since the three others may 

 be explained away by reasons drawn from local circumstances. 



The correction of the plan has been made on proper princi- 

 ples ; but it has two faults : the first is, that the forms in general 

 are too commonplace, and not sufficiently artist-like ; and the 

 second is, that the two symmetrical figures at i and k should be 

 rather richer, and more compact and symmetrical. The irregular 

 beds, in a plan like that before us, can only be governed in form 



