52 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



of constructing coach roads is expensive. In the design given on page 54 the drive 

 terminates at the front door in a circle about 30 feet in diameter. This allows room 

 for a coach and four to turn if necessary, 11 feet being the width of the remainder of 

 this road. No lodge is provided at the gate for the simple reason that less than half 

 an acre is devoted to the pleasure-grounds. The same design, however, might be 

 adopted for a larger area and a lodge included. 



Once more let it be pointed out how unwise it is to occupy the best positions of 

 lawns with a fancifully-designed "geometrical flower garden." This is usually a dis- 

 figurement, as are also a number of obtrusive, and often needless, intersecting paths. 

 The charm of a lawn consists in its smooth central expanse, with broad sweeps grace- 

 fully winding between well-placed groups of shrubs, and wisely-planted trees. A few 

 plain flower beds near the outskirts, and these efi'ectively planted, give all the colour 

 that is needed. A limited number of handsome conifers, judiciously disposed, bold 

 clumps of Pampas grass, elegant cut-leaved Japanese maples, groups of yuccas, beds of 

 roses, a mass of Anemone japonica alba, and perhaps a mulberry and a weeping tree, if 

 there is ample room, arc all suitable for lawns. In planting always keep in mind 

 the dimensions to which the trees will attain, and avoid overcrowding. 



Instead of runniug a gravelled walk through or near the centre of a lawn, 

 arrange for it to wind round nearer the outsides (see 18 in plan, page 54), passing 

 in some places under shady trees, in others near beds or borders of flowers, rockeries, 

 ferneries, and, if they are afi'orded, water scenes. Where the grounds are less 

 formal in outline, or of an undulating character, opportunities will be provided for 

 carrying walks through shrubberies, as well as on the lawn side of them, so that an 

 object of interest, such as a church-tower, monument, or other landmark, may be brought 

 into view. Arrange shrubberies or belts so as to shut out the view of the house, this 

 coming into the line of observation again at other points. When all the features of 

 ornamental gardens or pleasure-grounds are seen at a glance, there is practically only 

 one feature and that is sameness. Instead of this there must be diversity — variety 

 — something to arrest attention, and afii'ord pleasure at every turn. 



If lovely scenery abound in the neighbourhood take care not to obscure it by 

 planting, but strive rather to take in some of the best of it. Cutting avenues out of 

 existing trees may bring some object of beauty or interest within the line of vision ; or 

 planting new avenues may concentrate attention on something that may be worthy 

 of being brought into bold relief. If a raised walk or high mound can be intro- 



