264 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



by this process; also other pegs where the dia- 

 gonals intersect each other near the centre of 

 each side of the ground. The distance of these 

 pegs from such centres will be equal to half the 

 breadth of the walk. There are now nine pegs 

 inserted within the square, each of which will 



Fig. 336.— Ovals of various diameters and methods of striking them. 



serve as the centre of a circle. With a radius 

 touching the sides of the larger squares, de- 

 scribe a circle round each centre, and with a 

 radius touching the internal sides of the smaller 

 squares — or, in other words, a radius equal to 

 that formerly employed, less the breadth of the 

 walk — describe circles within those already 

 formed. Lastly, with the pegs at the corners 

 of the piece of ground as centres, and with radii 

 touching the points where the adjoining curves 



intersect the sides of the square, describe two 

 quadrants in each corner. 



In many cases it will be found most convenient 

 and sure to fix certain important points by tri- 

 angulation, employing one or more lines already 

 fixed as bases. The position of any point oppo- 

 site one of them may be thus found on the 

 ground: — Lines from the point to each end of 

 the base-line will form a triangle; take two 

 measures equal in length to the respective sides 

 of the triangle, extend them from the ends of 

 the base-line, and where they meet when 

 stretched is the position of the point. Figs. 

 336 show how to strike an oval bed by means 

 of pegs and a line, the method being indicated 

 by the lines in the figure. 



By the modes here explained, or by others 

 that it may be found convenient to adopt accord- 

 ing to circumstances, any one may easily lay 

 out a flower-garden, even although the plan 

 should be of the most intricate description. 



Planting. — This is a matter which must be 

 left to individual taste. There may be masses 

 of colour with or without marginal lines of a 

 different colour to mark the edges; where pos- 

 sible, each bed should contain one colour only; 

 or the beds may consist of plants of say two 

 or three different colours, such as blue and 

 white, orange and brown, yellow and white, 

 &c. Violent contrasts are not nearly so pleas- 

 ing as the gradual blending of colours, giving 

 the preponderance to those which are of a sub- 

 dued tone. Then, again, the highest colours 

 should occupy the beds at the boundary of the 

 garden, inasmuch as these, wherever they are, 

 will most attract the eye, which is instinctively 

 drawn to them, and thus, if occupying the 

 central portion of the design, they would have 

 the effect of apparently diminishing the size of 

 the garden. As to the height of the plants 

 which form the principal furnishing of the 

 garden, they should seldom be so high as to 

 obstruct the view of those in the adjoining beds, 

 if it be a garden to be taken in at a glance. 



Whatever arrangement is adopted for the 

 summer season, it can only be satisfactory for 

 that period, leaving the garden without interest 

 for the greater portion of the year, unless re- 

 course is had to the employment of winter and 

 spring bedders, which afford a desirable degree 

 of continuity to the display, the free use of 

 which cannot be too much encouraged. But here 

 again discrimination is required in the selection 

 of plants in every way suitable for the purpose. 

 In addition to Dutch bulbs, such as Hyacinths, 

 Tulips, spring Crocuses, Scilla sibirica, and S. 



