272 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



the garden and pleasure-ground, and upon the 

 existence of these depends much of the enjoy- 

 ment to be derived from a garden. There is no 

 time when the grounds are more enjoyable than 



Fig. 339.— Section across walk, showing construction suitable for a gravelly 

 or well-drained soil. No artificial drain. 



on a balmy summer's evening after rain; but 

 if the walks are soft the pleasure is spoilt. 

 Another obstacle to the enjoyment of pleasure- 

 ground walks, and one which may too often 



Fig. 340.— A graceful curve for a Garden Walk or Carriage Road. 



be urged with good reason, is that they are 

 made too narrow, a fault which should always 

 be avoided, on the score of usefulness and 

 appearance. Still, as in everything else, there 



Fig. j-41.— A good form of Walk-junction in a Garden or Pleasure-grounds. 



should be a reasonable degree of proportion 

 between the width of the walks and the size 

 of the place, so that in grounds of great extent 

 they should be proportionately wider than in 

 others which are smaller. 



Shrubberies, &c — Trees and shrubs, when 

 tastefully grouped, constitute the most effec- 

 tive features in the pleasure-grounds, and their 

 effect is of so permanent a character that it 

 becomes a matter of the greatest importance to 

 select and distribute them with good taste and 

 after careful consideration. The number of trees 

 and shrubs employed, or, more correctly speak- 

 ing, the area planted, should in all cases be in 

 proportion to the size of the grounds. Nothing 

 is more common than to see small places, or 

 those of but moderate extent, overplanted at 

 the first, which in reality is a greater mistake 

 than the opposite extreme. It is indeed a 

 grievous error of judgment, however interesting 

 or beautiful the objects may be in themselves, to 

 close every view in the garden itself, and beyond 

 its confines, or to so arrange the planting that 



no vistas exist, by dotting single trees or small 

 groups of trees or shrubs over the whole area. 

 Under this treatment pleasing effects are never 

 realized, and a confused patchy appearance, 

 without any repose, is the result. Many pleasure- 

 grounds that were originally planted w r ith judg- 

 ment have been since brought into this over- 

 crowded condition, more especially within the 

 last quarter of a century, by the indiscriminate 

 and excessive planting of new species of coni- 

 ferous and other trees, which have too often been 

 planted without due regard being paid to the 

 space available for their full development. It may 

 be laid down as a rule that the best and most ex- 

 tended views should be those obtained from the 

 front of the mansion, unless, as is sometimes the 

 case, owing to objectionable surroundings the 

 garden and grounds are to be self-contained. 

 From this point the greatest stretch of lawn 

 ought to be brought into view, and the eye tra- 

 verse the scene without interruption from in- 

 tervening objects. Vistas should be secured in 

 other directions, so far as the nature of the 

 ground will permit of it, but these should be held 

 subservient to the central or principal view. 

 In the distance should be planted clumps of 

 trees, varying in size according to the nature of 

 the surface and the character of existing dis- 

 tant objects, some of which may require to be 

 partially or wholly hidden from view, and 

 others brought into harmony with the newly- 

 planted groups. 



There are several modes of planting a shrub- 

 bery or group of shrubs, the entire area of the 

 soil being in some cases filled with shrubs, the 

 taller-growing ones coming towards the middle 

 or back, and those of smaller growth towards 

 the sides or front; and in other cases a broad 

 margin is left for the cultivation of flowering 

 plants, either herbaceous perennials or those 

 of a tender nature. The latter method is the 

 one more commonly adopted; but there always 

 comes a time when the shrubs should have the 

 entire border to themselves, the turf being then 

 carried up and amongst the front line of them. 

 If flowers are desired in front of a shrubbery 

 of fully -grown plants, it is easy to form borders 

 or beds of them at some distance away. 



These few remarks may be looked upon as 

 having a general application, but the details in 

 every case can only be worked out on the spot, 

 as few places could be found where the nature 

 of the ground and the surroundings are such as 

 to admit of their being treated exactly alike. 



In the selection of trees it is desirable to secure 

 considerable variety. Deciduous trees, as well 



