4 



THE FLOWER GABDEST. 



Of course, local circumstances, and especially peculiar 

 skill and care, can modify the average effects of latitude, 

 — even within a dozen miles of Edinburgh some decent 

 specimens are to be seen ; but wherever, in spite of a 

 fair trial of sedulous attention, the cypress sinks below 

 the standard of respectability, there is no wisdom in 

 continuing the fight against nature — the idea is to be 

 manfully dropped. Too often do we groan over the 

 aspect of cypresses that look as if their owner were tak- 

 ing care of them against an apprehended scarcity of 

 birch-brooms. It would have been much better to plant 

 in their place holly, Portugal laurel, box, and yew. 

 Hardy evergreens only are admissible within the bound- 

 ary of a sensible gardener's domain. In short, it is true 

 wisdom in ornamental gardening to long, not for what is 

 most difficult, but for what is easiest to obtain, suppos- 

 ing it to be good in its way. Unusually fine specimens 

 of ordinary plants are more admired than shabby speci- 

 mens of rare ones ; and, for still stronger reasons, a 

 collection of fine, well-grown individuals is a more 

 attractive sight than a collection of wretchednesses, 

 however distant may be their native spot, or however 

 much money they may have cost at the nursery. It is 

 needless to explain that the above remarks do not apply 

 to experiments in planting out, and testing the hardiness 

 of newly-arrived species. In such cases, some risk must 

 be run. Those who succeed, have the gratification of 

 drawing the prize (which they well deserve) of having 

 handsomer, because older-established, plants than their 

 neighbours growing out of doors, as happened to those 

 who first ventured the Deodar Cedar and the Cryptome- 

 ria Japonica to stand the winter as garden-trees, and the 

 Dielytra spectabilis as a border-flower. 



Even the plan, form, and character of the flower- 

 garden must be moulded by circumstances. It must be 

 open, and yet private ; secluded trom intrusion, and yet 

 exposed to light and air. It must be conveniently near; 

 as much under the eye and as open to the constant and 

 immediate visits of the persons who are to enjoy it as 



