134 



CASSELL'S POPUIiAE GAEDENING. 



Planning If it is not deemed expedient' to re- 

 serve the central portion for laying down in grass, but 

 instead thereof to make more provision for flowers 

 and ornamental subjects, rather than adopt the usual . 

 plan we would advise one central path thi'ough- 

 out the entire length, or to be intercepted in the 

 centre of it by fixing on that spot for an eifective 

 flower-vase. This latter plan would aid in breaking 

 up the uniformity of a, straight path from top to 

 bottom of the garden. A circular bed could be 

 allowed for around this vase, which should be njade 

 to look as gay as possible. "Were it not for the high 

 water-rates another alternative would be appropri- 

 ately suggested instead of the flower-vase and bed, 

 viz., to fix on that spot for a fountain. Such an 

 object would le productive of good effect in that 

 position, and if a basin of proportionate size were 

 allowed for, there would be ample supply of water 

 for all the garden requirements within easy access. 

 Two short cross-walks could be arranged, one on each 

 side of the fountain, and at right angles with the 

 centre path. This would allow of four quarters, 

 which could be more immediately devoted to the 

 cultivation of garden favourites that will thrive in 

 any particular locality. For the sake of convenience, 

 two narrow paths of not more than one foot in width 

 should be allowed for within easy reach of the 

 climbers previously advised to be planted against 

 the walls; this could be arranged between the shrubs. 

 Four feet would be as much as could be conveniently 

 spared in a small garden for a central path ; some- 

 what wider should the garden fortunately be of 

 more than average size. The shrubs should not be 

 allowed to encroach within six feet of the path on 

 either side, in order to allow a fairly broad border 

 for Eoses, and such other subjects, which thrive best 

 when not overgi-own or deprived of their proper 

 means of sustenance by the proximity of the grosser- 

 feeding roots of the trees and shrubs. In front 

 of the Roses there would be a good position for 

 some Pinks and Carnations, whilst the margins next 

 the walk could be uadd for Pansies, London Pride 

 [Saxifraga wnhrosa), or one or more varieties of the 

 Stone-crops [Seditm). Any durable edging plant 

 that is neat and compact, would be preferable to 

 using such as are tender and onty fit to be seen for a 

 few months of the year. 



But other methods may be suggested. The great 

 object to be aimed at, in getting any satisfaction out 

 of these small strips of terrace-house garden, is to 

 get rid of, to get right away from, the unendurable 

 but customary monotony and endless repetition of a 

 straight path all round the ground, about a yard 

 irom the wall. Small as the space is, there is no 

 need for this wretched pattern to be always repeated 

 in it, as we will try to show by a few examples ; and 



this alike whether the garden is laid down in gravel 

 or grass. To return for one moment to that question, 

 much as we prefer grass where space is limited, it 

 has a very serious di-awback in large towns — that of 

 not getting dry till the day is far spent. Bright and 

 clear gravel, on the contrary, is accessible at all 

 hours, from early mom till dewy eve, seasons when 

 the garden is most enjoyable, but when grass alone 

 must forbid its use to delicate women and children. 

 So important to these for air, health, and happiness, is 

 free access to the back garden in a town, that rather 

 than deprive them of it we would lay down our pen 

 and give up the ground to sheer gravel space and a 

 swing. But this is not necessary ; only give fair 

 gravel space in the garden, and children may easily 

 be trained to amuse themselves among flowers, and 

 so to love and admire as never to wantonly injure 

 them. Where there are children, thei'efore, adequate 

 gravel walks there must and ought to be ; 'since to be 

 unable to run about because the grass is too long or 

 too damp is to them sheer misery. At the same 

 time, even a little really fresh grass, at a time when' 

 parks and pleasure-grounds are brown with drought, 

 and the street is hot and dusty, is one of the 

 greatest pleasures and refreshments of a garden, and 

 can be easily enjoj'ed, if only on a small scale. To 

 enjoy it, however, the tm-f must be watered almost 

 ijaily in dry weather ; and if this is done in the 

 morning before going to business, the lawn will be 

 found in the most perfect state for enjojTnent in the 

 evening. 



We give a few plans merely as suggestions, and to 

 show how easy it is, even in a small space, to get 

 away from that intolerable monotony we have spoken 

 of. By a small space we mean a plot of ground that 

 is not perhaps wider than eighteen to thirty feet — 

 few terrace-houses are narrower than the former, and 

 something may be done even with that, quite apart 

 from the plan of all-over grass and surrounding 

 shrubs already spoken of. The three designs are 

 purposely very different, and might easily be varied 

 in detail, even with the same main features. TTiat 

 shown at A readily adapts itseK to rather a wide piece 

 of ground, or by removing the border and reducing 

 in scale, to the narrowest. It fmndshes almost the 

 maximum length of walk in the minimum of space, 

 in pleasing variety of line, and enables one to return 

 at any point without retracing steps. It also allows 

 a hxge-looUng expanse of grass, from which the 

 narrow flower border next to the side-walls very 

 little detracts. The plan at B accomplishes some- 

 what of the same objects in a very different manner, 

 and either this or C wiU suit the very narrowest 

 gardens. The paths in B occupy more of the space, 

 and may be either laid down so that all the other 

 spaces, margins as well as aval centre beds, are in 



