828 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



attempt a brilliant flower garden, as the art of procuring 

 it consists in the judicious mixture of every common color. 

 Hence, the foundation thus laid, the solicitude of tliose who 

 wish to complete the superstructure, must not be for rare spe- 

 cies, but for new colour, so that the commonest primula which 

 presents a fresh shade of red, blue or yellow, &c., ought to 

 be esteemed more valuable than the most rare American plant, 

 which does not bring a single advantage. In the formation of 

 (hat assemblage of flowers, which may be distinguished by the 

 term of the mingled flower garden, it is essential that the se- 

 parate parts should in their appearance constitute a whole; 

 and this appearance is not incompatible with any form in which 

 the ground may be thrown, if attention be given to the manner 

 of planting. In some gardens, this appearance of a whole is 

 entirely destroyed by the injudicious taste of setting apart dis- 

 tinct borders for pinks, hepeticas, primulas^ or any other 

 flivorite kind of flowers ; also for different species of bulbs, 

 as anemones, ranunculuses, hyacinths, See. : these distinct 

 borders, though beautiful in themselves, break that whole, 

 which should always be presented to the eye by the mingled 

 flower garden, as single beds, containing one species, only 

 form a blank before that species produces its flowers, and 

 a mass of decaying leaves when the glow of their petals is 

 no more. The reverse of this mode of planting is essential 

 to the perfection of the mingled flower garden, in each border 

 of which there should be at least two of every species, but 

 the precise number must be regulated by the force of color 

 displayed by the plant, and the size and the relative position 

 of the borders." 



The disposal of the margin, or surrounding plantations, 

 also require much judgment and taste, so that the whole may 

 harmonize with the arrangements within ; and while they af- 

 ford sufficient shelter, they should not be crowded nor yet 

 have a hedge-like appearance. This plantation, if not natur- 

 ally existing, must be planted; and probably, if partly sur- 

 rounded naturally, will require some artificial assistance, either 

 to render the shelter sufhcient or to improve its appearance. 

 In such cases, the most ornamental trees and shrubs should 

 be placed in front, and in the most conspicuous places ; and if 



