Arrangement of Flower Gardens. 83 



appearance, as we have noticed in many instances. At this sea- 

 son, also, the ground, under such as are not evergreen, should be 

 completely covered with primroses, harebells, and such other 

 flowers as will nourish in these situations, observing to contrast 

 the colors as much as possible, but not to mix them indiscrimi- 

 nately. 



When this is accomplished, we may justly exclaim in the 

 words of Cowley : 



But with no sense the garden does comply, 

 None courts or flatters — as it does — the eye. 

 Who would not choose to be awake, 

 While he's encompassed round with such delight 

 To ears, the nose, the touch, the taste, the sight 1 

 Who that hath reason and his smell, 

 Would not among roses and jasmines dwell, 

 Rather than all his spirits choke 

 With exhalations of dirt and smoke 1 



We shall not be very minute in giving directions for the sum- 

 mer arrangement, that season being generally well and amply 

 provided for by Flora herself; but we have to speak of a very 

 material part of the duties of those who, at a later period, under- 

 take to furnish the parterre with its beauties. Formerly, Flora 

 took her departure as soon as Ceres and Pomona made their ap- 

 pearance, as if the country was not sufficiently spacious to con- 

 tain the three goddesses at one time ; but since we have natural- 

 ized the plants of the tropics to our climate, we have the delight 

 of seeing these three deities in perfect reconciliation, walking hand 

 in hand, and continuing their embraces until driven by Boreas 

 into temporary shelter. The vine is now seen suspending its 

 purple clusters over the blushing petals of the China rose ; the 

 barberry bush hangs its crimson fruit over the variously colored 

 asters of China ; the mountain ash droops its clusters of coral 

 berries over richly painted dahlias ; the juniper mixes its blue 

 powdered berries as a contrast to the golden marigolds of Africa ; 

 the purple and the sweet-scented white clematis entwine their 

 branches with the native bramble, interweaving the happy gifts 

 of Flora and Pomona on the same festoon ; the Indian chrysan- 

 themum waits to decorate its branches in all the hues of Iris, so 

 as to rival and succeed the mellow fruits of the orchard. Thus 

 we now see the well dressed parterre clothed in the various robes 



