60 



ON THE PROGRESS AND PRINCIPLES OP ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 



principal door should, if the ground be flat, be a direct line ; or if otherwise, 

 be guided only by the natural sinuosities of the ground. Nothing can be more 

 utterly tasteless than serpentine walks upon a perfect flat, unless the turns are 

 caused by a mass of shrubbery, a large tree, or some natural cause. If the building 

 is approached by a carriage drive, the usual method is the best ; in a small place 

 near the road, such as I am describing, viz., a semicircle starting from the 

 two entrance-gates, and passing the principal door. Any walks about the lawn 

 or shrubbery, should be governed by the same principles I have described in 

 speaking of an approach walk, and no unmeaning serpentines allowed. In a 

 garden of such small dimensions as those generally attached to residences of the 

 character of the one described, any urns or vases are inadmissible ; but if the taste 

 of the planner is strongly in favour of such things, he might, perhaps, introduce 

 an object of that description at the end of the longest straight shrubbery walk, as 

 a termination to the vista ; but I must caution him against dotting them about 

 indiscriminately, as productive of the worst possible effect. Rock-work is also 

 to be avoided in most cases in gardens of this size, as producing a patchy and 

 disagreeable effect, unless exceedingly well managed, which without space is 

 almost impossible ; but at any rate it must not be near or even in view of the 

 house, as its rugged outline would be exceedingly discordant with the regular 

 lines of the building. If introduced at all, it must be in the most secluded and 

 distant part of the shrubbery ; and after a few principles which ought to govern 

 its construction, I shall refer the reader to my remarks upon the subject, when 

 subsequently speaking of gardens of a more extended description. If there is a 

 kitchen-garden, the ground of the pleasure-garden should be raised with a gradual 

 slope in that direction, and the slope planted with ornamental but thick-growing 

 shrubs. By this plan, not only would the vegetable ground be screened from view, 

 but by planting the slope with low shrubs at the base, and gradually with those 

 of a higher growth towards the top, each individual would distinctly exhibit its 

 variety of foliage and inflorescence, instead of concealing each other ; and the 

 advantage of a variety of foliage would be obtained by this arrangement, which 

 without it would require much more means and space. I do not give this plan 

 as a novelty, for I have frequently seen it successfully executed, but mention it 

 for the information of such as may not have observed its advantages. 



I have little more to say respecting the planning of a garden attached to a 

 cottage residence of no architectural pretension, and that little will, I think, be 

 better said in my remarks upon the planning of gardens of larger dimensions, 

 which I find must form the subject of another paper. 



{To be continued,) 



