THEIR GENERAL ARRANGEMENT. 



669 



flowers. Form all the borders curvilinear, 

 and make them narrow, so that both 

 surfaces may be equally seen. It will 

 be bad management if they assume the 

 appearance of hedges. Hollies, pines, 

 cypresses, red cedars, arborvitses, &c, 

 should occupy the centre, filling in with 

 Portugal and common laurel, junipers, 

 aucubias, rhododendrons, &c. Along the 

 margins of the walks, but not as edgings, 

 which latter should be of larger pebbles 

 than those used for the walk — say 6 inches 

 in diameter — should be planted snow- 

 drops, crocuses, winter aconite, Christmas 

 rose, primroses, and all such plants as 

 flower at this particular season. The 

 general shelter of the whole garden, and, 

 in addition, that of the branches of the 

 trees and shrubs above them, will greatly 

 protect them from the frost. 



In planting such a garden, although 

 shelter is a leading object, still the trees 

 and shrubs should not be placed too close 

 together, but each be allowed to develop 

 its own true character. The pines and 

 hollies will elevate their heads above their 

 more humble neighbours, and, with the 

 cypress, Irish yew, and red cedar, break 

 up the uniformity of outline the laurel 

 is apt to assume. The box, juniper, and 

 laurustinus may be planted in groups of 

 from six to twenty plants in each. The 

 common whin, Rhododendron dauricun, 

 atro-virens, Rhododendron hirsutum and 

 ferrugineum, should also be grouped in the 

 same manner; whilst Juniperus prostrata, 

 Arbutus uva-ursa, Gaultheria Shallon, <fcc, 

 may cover the ground, in irregular groups, 

 at a still lower height ; while the remain- 

 ing surface should be covered with Erica 

 carnea, herbacea, and the varieties of 

 Vinca minor. 



In such a garden as we have described, 

 it will sufficiently appear that effect is 

 sacrificed to comfort, the latter being the 

 object sought for. 



The bulb garden. — The majority of bulb- 

 ous hardy plants being spring-flowering, 

 it is necessary that a dry, warm, sheltered 

 spot be chosen for them. In regard to 

 arrangement, nothing is better than nar- 

 row longitudinal beds, to facilitate the 

 operation of covering, by means of glass 

 or canvass awnings, during the frosty 

 nights of spring. In the beds dedicated 

 to hyacinths, tulips, &c, neat and suffi- 

 ciently substantial iron framework should 



be erected, for supplying whatever cover- 

 ing of a flexible nature may be applied. 



The annual flower-garden, like the her- 

 baceous flower-garden, should occupy a 

 situation moderately sheltered, but fully 

 exposed to the sun. The approach to it, 

 for reasons already given, should be from 

 the south side, so that the flowers may be 

 seen to the greatest advantage. Annuals 

 of themselves will produce, during their 

 season of flowering, a most brilliant effect ; 

 but after autumn, the whole becomes an 

 uninteresting spot. Here is one reason 

 why gardens for different descriptions of 

 plants should be kept apart; for in no 

 case are they interesting throughout the 

 year ; and at the seasons of interest only 

 should they be visited, with the expecta- 

 tion of deriving satisfaction from them. 



The herbaceous plant garden. — A general 

 collection of herbaceous plants, unless for 

 botanical study, seldom produces a very 

 pleasing aspect. It is better, therefore, to 

 limit the number of species to such as 

 flower freely, and produce effect by their 

 colours or habits; nor should botanical 

 arrangement be attempted, unless the col- 

 lection is formed for that especial purpose. 

 Single specimens should be avoided, and 

 all deemed worthy of culture grown in 

 masses, according to the space and de- 

 scription of plant. The figure given, (fig. 

 914,) although of symmetrical form, is as 

 admissible into grounds in the garden- 

 esque style, as it is convenient for the pur- 

 poses of culture. Our figure is divided into 

 52 parts of unequal-sized circles, thus 

 giving accommodation to 51 genera of 

 plants, which will comprise about as many 

 as are truly valuable for such a purpose ; 

 and as each compartment is capable of 

 holding from 10 to 50 plants, the whole 

 will contain about 1500 species, which 

 will embrace the majority of herbaceous 

 hardy plants really worth cultivating for 

 their flowers. The following list of genera 

 will better explain our views, and may be 

 added to, or altered, to suit the taste of 

 the planter: — 1. Campanula; 2. Phlox; 

 3. Aster ; 4. Delphinium ; 5. Aconitum ; 

 6. Penstemon ; 7. Helleborus ; 8. Al- 

 steemeria; 9. Anemone; 10. Aquile- 

 gia; 11. Cheiranthus; 12. Dodecatheon; 

 13. Dracocephalum ; 14. Erigeron ; 15. 

 Gentiana ; 16. Hemerocalus and Funkia ; 

 17. Iberis ; 18. Lathyrus ; 19. Liatris; 

 20. Lupinus; 21. Monarda; 22. Paeonia; 



