580 



LAYING OUT FLOWER-GARDENS. 



cal style ; and when neatly cut, they form, 

 as it were, living walls, and may be pa- 

 nelled so as to resemble those more sub- 

 stantial structures. The piers may be 

 formed by planting a tree of the same 

 evergreen species in front of the line at 

 regular distances ; and by allowing it to 

 rise above the determined height, vases 

 or pyramids are thus formed in what may 

 be called vegetable sculpture. For ex- 

 ample, a hedge, formed of box or Irish 

 yew, may have its projections formed by 

 planting cypresses, upright junipers, or 

 arbor-vitses in front, at equal distances. A 

 hedge of dark-green yews may have its 

 projections of golden or silver striped 

 leaved varieties of the same ; or a hedge 

 of common holly may have its piers 

 formed by standards of the variegated 

 kinds. For the most massive and lofty 

 description of architectural hedge, no tree 

 is better than the last named. 



Where hedges of this description are 

 required to be got speedily up, there is no 

 better plan than to form the ground-work 

 of the wall with strong wire-work, and to 

 cover the whole of the panels with Irish 

 ivy, if upon a large scale ; but if in a 

 small garden, with some of the dense- 

 growing and smaller-leaved varieties, and 

 to plant against the piers variegated 

 varieties of corresponding growth. Ber- 

 ceaux walks, a remnant of the ancient 

 style, are valuable for shelter, and shutting 

 out objects not wished to be seen. Much, 

 however, of their effect is lost for want 

 of giving them an architectural effect. 

 Instead of the common, round-headed, 

 monotonous, long, uninteresting trellised 

 passages, covered with a heterogeneous 

 mass of climbing plants, few having any 

 relationship with each other, were an 

 architectural character given to the trel- 

 lis-work, and that divided into panels, 

 with minarets, vases, &c, placed on top 

 of the pilasters, and these planted as we 

 have suggested, a far more striking effect 

 would be produced; and that effect would 

 be heightened, if in accordance with the 

 architectural objects around it. 



Such matters were much better under- 

 stood formerly than at present, when 

 geometrical gardening was more cultivated 

 and appreciated. 



In the gardenesque, as well as in the 

 dressed picturesque styles, hedges of 

 various sorts become interesting, if judi- 



ciously disposed. Those of Privet, arbor- 

 vitee, Irish yew, laurustinus, sweet briar, 

 Aucuba japonica, roses, common and Irish 

 whin, Cydonia japonica, &c, are all de- 

 serving attention. In the former of these 

 styles, summer hedges may be formed of 

 sweet-peas, nasturtions, hollyhocks, and a 

 variety of similar free-flowing, rapid- 

 growing plants. 



§ 4. — PLANTING WITH A VIEW TO 

 PRODUCE EFFECT. 



In regard to planting, it is proper we 

 should say a few words ; but these can 

 only be considered as of a very general 

 character, as each style of garden requires 

 a mode of planting almost peculiar to 

 itself. The following, however, apply to 

 all pretty generally, and to some of them 

 in particular. 



The highest-growing trees and shrubs 

 should occupy the marginal lines, and the 

 parts next to water and buildings, keep- 

 ing the lowest nearest to the walks. In 

 detached clumps or beds, plant the high- 

 est nearest the centre, so that the mass 

 may 'assume the pyramid or cone-shape 

 in growing up. Flowering shrubs and 

 plants should be so placed that when the 

 bloom of one is decaying, its adjoining 

 one may be coming into flower, unless in 

 cases where the grouping system is fol- 

 lowed, and where the parterre is to be in 

 perfection from the beginning of August 

 till the frost terminates the floral season, 

 which is now a very general desire. Then 

 such plants only should be employed as 

 flower at the same time, and continue in 

 flower till killed by the frost. In regard 

 to shrubs with variegated or coloured 

 foliage, they should not in any case be 

 planted promiscuously, but grouped upon 

 the principles of harmony both as regards 

 form and the tints of their leaves. Bulbs 

 should be planted so as to come into 

 flower in succession, which, from their 

 great variety, if judiciously managed, will 

 keep up a gay display from spring till 

 autumn. 



It will be recollected that we have 

 divided flower-gardens into three general 

 heads or classes — namely, geometrical, 

 gardenesque, and pictorial. Each of these 

 requires an order in the disposal of the 

 trees, shrubs, or plants used, peculiar to 



