FLOWERS IN THE HOME GARDEN. 



729. 



afifect the opinion in favor of keeping up the few good 

 examples that are found in certain grand old gardens. 



" When this style o£ decoration was in universal 

 favor the world was smaller than now for the man of 

 taste, and the ' curiously knotted garden ' gave much 

 delight, and aided greatly in softening certain features 

 of human character that were a trifle too hard for 

 healthy progress. For the observant student of plant 

 form and artificial scenery (or natural scenery modified 

 by art) this kind of work is full of interest. It is a 

 thing the world will not willingly let die, albeit there 

 may be much said against its continuance in an age 

 which abounds alike in beautiful garden trees and pro- 

 gressive garden papers." 



The prime object of landscape gardening as now un- 

 derstood is to enhance the beauty of nature ; and in 

 this impatient age this result must be apparent in the 

 shortest possible time, and must also be enduring in its 

 character. We have neither time nor money to expend 

 upon anything that requires as much of both as a proper 

 practice of topiary art, even were the element of beauty 

 to be thus gained. Herein lies the contrast between old 

 and modern methods ; in Fig. 1 no trace of real beauty 

 can be discovered, however long the study. Turn to 

 Fig. 2 and what a sense of relief is felt ! It is only a 

 careless grouping of evergreens, but the group will in- 

 crease in comeliness 

 year after year. 



But it may be re- 

 marked, it is unneces- 

 sary to go to such an 

 extreme ; may not a 

 specimen of this art, 

 dotted among other 

 features, tend to ren. 

 der the whole more 

 interesting and at- 

 tractive ? This is a 

 matter of taste which 

 must be decided in- 

 dividually, to a large 

 degree, but I wish to 

 direct attention to 

 Figs. 3 and 4, as affording an illustration. 



The first shows one of two corners exactly alike, 

 which, set off by a broad walk, occupies the foreground 

 of a garden, and which was doubtless considered an 



Fig. 3. A Stiff Corner Piece. 



A Free Corner Piece. 



attractive bit of garden work. To my mind, however 

 the scene would be far more beautiful were the two 

 corners occupied by 

 naturally grown 

 trees, as shown by 

 the hemlock spruce 

 in Fig. 4. 



In many of our 

 cities it is not un- 

 common to see, on 

 small lawns, speci- 

 mens of topiary 

 work. They usually 

 attract attention 

 from their rarity and 

 oddity, but never 

 by their beauty, 

 which, indeed, they 

 never possess. I t 



is gratifying to note that these instances are not multi- 

 plying. True gardening art never resorts to such de- 

 vices for winning notice, and soon, owing to the con- 

 stant efforts being made to instill right principles, such 

 weak attempts to imitate old-country style will no 

 longer be seen. If one has an over-powering love for 

 topiary work and can afford it, let him enter into and 

 carry out every detail on a worthy scale, keeping the 

 old and new modes entirely distinct. 



Another evil in connection with the employment of 

 evergreens may be seen in the older portions of our 

 country, where they and other trees have been so thickly 

 planted about the house that they now shut off air and 

 light ; even in winter such a place has a gloomy aspect 

 instead of being cheeringly pleasing in the contrasts 

 which, at this season, evergreens should present. Be- 

 sides this, it maybe mentioned that these trees are often 

 planted too near walks and drives, and also in such posi- 

 tions that, as they grow, they shut out desirable views. 

 Monotony is induced also by using too freely of only 

 certain kinds, like pines and spruces. 



These abuses, however, are fast being lessened by the 

 general increase of popular knowledge on this subject. 

 It has been made possible for the humblest home-owner 

 to wisely select and properly care for such subjects as 

 may best suit his special location, by placing at his dis- 

 posal plans from which he may draw suggestions. 



La Salle Co., N. Y. E. E. Summey. 



FLOWERS IN THE HOME GARDEN. 



T WOULD be extremely difficult to 

 find another form of recreation so 

 productive of pleasure as gardening 

 in any of its varied forms. See the 

 pleasant, sunny appearance that 

 plants and flowers impart to a home ; 

 see the warm flushes of health that pervade the 



cheeks of those who cultivate them ; and see the 

 happiness and contentment that such people mo- 

 nopolize ! Mark the popularity of our public parks 

 and gardens in spring, summer and fall. The in- 

 habitants of our large cities, who are not in a posi- 

 tion to afford the luxury of a home garden, are 

 pleased to go to such places, because, in doing so, 



