THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



821 



be puerile and ridiculous, as it would exceed the moderation 

 with which nature scatters her ornaments. Indeed, flower 

 gardens of such extent partake more of the nature of the 

 pleasure-grounds, and admit of a great portion of the sur- 

 face being covered with grass, as well as the borders being 

 planted with shrubs and trees of the less lofty species ; 

 without which, the whole would have a naked and mean ap- 

 pearance. Flower gardens upon a moderate scale, rather 

 small than otherwise, admit of their being kept with greater 

 neatness, and will therefore be the more pleasing ; and if pro- 

 perly disposed through the pleasure-ground, cannot fail of 

 adding much to its interest. Thus a garden might very pro- 

 perly be denominated the winter garden, planted chiefly with 

 evergreens ; however sombre their appearance might be in 

 summer, when all around is gay, still in winter it would give 

 rise to pleasing associations in beholding them retain their 

 verdure and clothing at a season when the other flower gardens 

 are naked and bare. 



Another might very properly be denominated the American 

 flower garden, and should be situated in rather a damp situ- 

 ation, or rather one that could be rendered so during the heat 

 of summer by partial irrigation. Such a garden may be com- 

 plete of its kind, having not only herbaceous plants of great 

 beauty, but also shrubs, deciduous and evergreen, as well as 

 many highly ornamental trees. The soil of which it should 

 be* composed, should be of the sort called peat or bog-mould ; 

 and being of a very dark color, will form a contrast with the 

 brilliant flowers of which American plants are eminently pos- 

 sessed. 



Another might be styled the Botanic flower garden, where 

 a collection of hardy plants might be cultivated to a gi'eat 

 extent and variety, and planted according to some arrange- 

 ment, either natural or artiHcial. The arrangements generally 

 adopted is either that of the sexual or Linnaean system, which 

 is strictly artificial, and therefore less fit for planting a garden 

 by, as it brings together plants that have few or no relations 

 to each other, and destroys that harmony which is so gratify- 

 ing in viewing natural families. The arrangement of Jussieu 

 has much the best eftect in garden scenery, as well as corres- 



