TOE PLEASURE GROl'ND. 246 



THE PARTERRES. 



The annexed Plate, No. 5, is a representation of 

 the Parterres situate in front of the Sculpture Gal- 

 lery, which form an appropriate and interesting fea- 

 ture in this part of the Grounds. The variety and 

 intricacy of these beds are much admired, more 

 especially as they display a rich collection of herba- 

 ceous and annual plants, which keep up a mass of 

 bloom throughout the greater part of the year. These 

 beds and flower borders are all edged with box, and 

 the intervening walks covered with fine sand, which 

 gives them a peculiarly neat and original appear- 

 ance. No. 1 and 2, represent the site of two fine 

 bronze casts, by Westmacott, of the Dying and 

 Fighting Gladiators, which are elevated on granite 

 pedestals. The Parterres are terminated by a hand- 

 some balustrade wall, on which are placed copies of 

 antique vases. Various descriptions of ornamental 

 vases are also arranged along the edges of the walks, 

 which are indicated by the square blocks in the 

 plate : the basket work, also, shewn in the plan, 

 consists of strong wire, and forms a very appropriate 

 edging to the borders. These Parterres were laid 

 out, and executed, from the drawings of Her Grace 

 the Duchess of Bedford, and are extremely well 

 adapted for the display of the various flowers, through- 

 out their different stages of blooming, at the different 

 periods of the year. The succession of flowers is 



