FORMAL FLOWER BEDS 39 



bed " we imply only one that is formal m outline, not one 

 made formal through the arrangement of the plants in it. 



There still remain in England some few — fortunately 

 very few — gardens where geraniums and calceolarias are 

 bedded out and look the picture of regimental discipline. 

 The front ranks are all the same medium height, which 

 enables the next row exactly to peep over the heads of 

 lower ones. There was a time, not so very long ago, 

 when this style of planting was greatly in vogue, and it is 

 probably to Mr. William Robinson and some few pioneers 

 of the new school of garden craft that we owe its almost 

 total abolition. Now it is only where somewhat unedu- 

 cated people have the management of a place that flowers 

 are so planted. 



In considering formal beds, let us at once banish from 

 our minds the idea that they are to be made in every garden 

 or in any part of a suitable garden. Where a house has 

 been placed upon an open gorse common, the wish should 

 be to avoid all formality. A garden in a firwood, too, 

 would look best left as natural as possible. If, however, a 

 large and imposing house calls for lines that go with it, 

 flower-beds near the building can be formal in shape, 

 though very seldom, if ever, planted in patterns. The 

 ideal effect may be seen near a very large, low-built, and 

 stately house. In one case, immediately in front of 

 the house, the yew hedges that formed guiding lines to 

 the main paths and to the different plots of ground were 

 so shaped that, instead of being straight on the top, they 

 had a wave in them. Behind these were four big circular 

 herbaceous beds, raised so high in the centre — about five 

 feet from the ground — that the bright flowers in them 

 could be seen from the house, above the lines of hedge. 

 Large stones were placed here to support the beds, and 

 to form stepping-stones for those who wished to look 

 minutely at the plants. Each of the circles held one 



