236 FLOWER GARDEN. 
Formerly the flower-beds were made either circular, 
straight, or in curves, and were turned into knots, scrolls, 
volutes, and other compartments; and this taste prevailed 
perhaps, in some measure from a desire on the part of the 
contrivers, to compensate by their ingenuity for the pau- 
city of the ornamental plants which were then cultivated. 
Now that the riches of Flora have poured into our gardens, 
a simpler taste has obtained. Of the figures in fashion at 
present in the lawn flower ‘garden, perhaps the kidney- 
shape and its varieties occur too frequently. It is need- 
less, as well as impossible, to specify the numerous con- 
figurations of flower-pots, for they abound in kaleidoscopi- 
cal variety. Good taste will suggest that those only should 
be associated which harmonize well together; and it is 
better to incur the hazard of an apparent monotony than 
to excite wonder by incongruous combinations. When 
figures are separated by turf, it is proper that the little 
lawns or glades should have a considerable degree of 
breadth, for nothing has a worse effect than overcrowding. 
A multitude of little figures should also be avoided; for 
they produce what Mr. Gilpin calls spottiness, which, as 
he has correctly pointed out, is a grievous deformity. In 
this sort of flower garden it is desirable that a gravel-walk 
should skirt along at least one side of the principal figures ; 
in our humid climate the grass would otherwise render 
them inaccessible with comfort during a great part of the 
year. In those gardens from which turf is excluded, the 
compartments should be of a larger and more massive 
character. 
Narrow borders, bounded by parallel straight lines and 
concentric curves, should be avoided. The centres of the 
figures should be occupied with tall-growing shrubs, and 
even with an occasional low evergreen tree, such as a yew 
