54 THE PARC MONCEATJ. 



and there upon tlie grass with the best effect. For example, 

 there is at present in our nurseries (I once saw quantities 



of it preparing for game covert at 

 Mr. Standish^'s, of Bagshot) a great 

 Japanese Polygonum, which has never 

 as yet been used with much effect in 

 the garden. If anybody will select 

 some open grassy spot in a pleasure 

 ground, or grassy glade near a wood 

 — some spot considered unworthy of 

 attention as regards ornamenting it — 

 and plant a group of three plants of 

 it, leaving fifteen feet or so between 

 the stools, a distinct aspect of vege- 

 tation will be the result. The plant is 

 herbaceous, and will spring up every 

 year to a height of from six feet to 

 eight feet if planted well; it has a 

 graceful arching habit in the upper branches, and is covered 

 with a profusion of small pale bunches of flowers in 

 autumn. It is needless to multiply examples — the plan is 

 capable of infinite variation, and on that account alone 

 should be welcome to all true gardeners. The diagram with 

 the names is far too formal, and merely given to more 

 fully explain the system. The little plans show better the 

 irregular way in which the plants ought to be disposed. 



The preceding part of this chapter was written in 1867 ; 

 but as this park is so full of interest and instruction for all 

 practically interested in the decoration of the flower-garden, 

 the following description, written on the spot during the 

 early part of last September, may be of some interest to the 

 horticultural reader : — 



Entering the park from the Boulevard Malesherbes we 

 pass along an avenue of plane trees that leads from the high 

 and ornamental gates. The walk on each side is bordered 

 with roses in lines of different colours — the front row well 

 pegged down. They form long borders on each side, and 

 are very ornamental in early summer. A carriage road 

 leads through the park, so that it may be seen by those 



Pig. 24. 



Portion of plan showing 

 Yuccas, graceful dwarf 

 pines, &c., irregularly 

 isolated on the grass. 



