Formal Flower-Beds 



grounds. Under these conditions formal 

 flower-beds are in place ; under other con- 

 ditions they are out of place. 



Unfortunately, this is to say that, as we 

 most often see them used, they are decided- 

 ly out of place — decidedly injurious to the 

 scene which they are supposed to ornament, 

 and, therefore, ugly things of which no sen- 

 sitive eye can approve. We constantly see 

 them in grounds which have been laid out 

 according to a naturalistic, unsymmetrical 

 scheme. No position could be w^orse for 

 a formally outlined bed than one where all 

 the surrounding Hues, ahke of gravel-walk, 

 of free - growing shrub, and of untrimmed 

 tree, are varied and naturalistic in effect. 

 And no position could be worse for a mass 

 of brilliant color than in the centre of a 

 stretch of bright green, shaven turf. It 

 ruins that air of unity, repose, and breadth 

 which is the real aim when a lawn is cre- 

 ated, while the wude carpet of green throws 

 its own colors into such undue relief that it 

 becomes as inartistic as a chromo hung on a 

 strongly tinted wall. 



It is not only in small villa-grounds that 



143 



