108 ON THE PROGRESS AND PRINCIPLES OP ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 



could name a park, and there are many in a similar predicament, entered at one 

 point beneath a Gothic gateway, at another between Grecian temples of miniature 

 dimensions, at the next a Swiss cottage forms the lodge, farther on an Egyptian 

 tomb is the sombre entrance, and at another point its place is taken by a Hindoo 

 pagoda— this is a sort of playing at architecture, which makes us almost regret 

 that its history and progress were ever studied — for any simple style arising out 

 of purpose and circumstances, would be preferable to this jumble of distant and 

 unconnected periods and styles. My experience suggests little more to me on 

 the subject of lodges, except that they should, when possessing an architectural 

 character, be supported by a line of wall to some distance, to which they should 

 form an appropriate terminus. The effect of lodges of any architectural pre- 

 tension without this support would be spotty and bad, the masses being too small 

 for an isolated position; a mere rustic lodge might derive sufficient support 

 from a shrubbery-paling or a mere cropped hedge ; but lodges of the character 

 described must be supported by a line of well-finished wall, which might be termi- 

 nated if desirable at some distance from the lodge, and another description of 

 fence substituted. Extreme simplicity should always govern the design of 

 entrance lodges, even bordering on severity ; and too great luxuriance, even of 

 natural beauties should, if they exist, be subdued by art, so that the approach to 

 the house should at every turn increase in attraction — for a falling off after the 

 entrance would produce a very unsatisfactory effect ; to prevent which, I would 

 not allow any flower-garden or ornamental shrubs round the lodges, or at all 

 events if a little flower-garden was thought desirable for the inhabitants of the 

 lodges, it should be at the back, screened by shrubbery or some other object. As 

 this rejection of flowers about an entrance to a park may be considered by some 

 rather harsh, I will suggest to those who are anxious for their introduction, a 

 manner of introducing them with the least possible injury to the general impres- 

 sion I wish to convey. I would not on any account allow patchy flower-beds to 

 be distributed about so as to form detached objects ; but merely dig a border not 

 exceeding two feet wide close round the building, in which large showy flowers 

 might be planted, those of the tallest growth on either side of the door, or 

 creepers to climb over the portico or any ornamental frame-work with which the 

 door happened to be decorated. But this arrangement is rather too fanciful, and 

 I would prefer sowing the border quite full either of mignonette or sweet-peas, 

 which would have the advantage of greater simplicity of design, and at the same 

 time diffuse an agreeable odour, and thus create a pleasing sensation on entering 

 the gates. Either plan would have the advantage of making the flowers group 

 with the lodge, and not form detached features. 



( To be continued.) 



