THE PLEASURE-GROUND VILLA. 



283 



more particularly for spring flowers, may be formed 

 near the house, but are not to be permitted to inter- 

 rupt the continuity of the principal lawns. 



There ought to be at least one principal walk, not 

 less than seven feet wide, leading through the grounds 

 and exhibiting the main objects and positions of the 

 place. A number of secondary walks will also be 

 required to afford access to some of the ornaments 

 above specified, and to facilitate the inspection of the 

 flowers. They should not be allowed, however, to 

 trench on the glades of the lawns. Harrow walks 

 should be avoided, except when connected with groups 

 of flower-beds. 



Terraces and bowling-greens may often be intro- 

 duced with excellent effect, the former in combination 

 with the house and flower-garden, the latter in some 

 of the more secluded lawns. Vases form suitable 

 additions to the terraces and flower-gardens; a sun- 

 dial may likewise find a place, and a group or two of 

 statuary; but this last requires to be sparingly and 

 tastefully employed. 



The inner surfaces of the boundary walls should 

 be covered with ivy, which will present a mantle of 

 verdure at all seasons. It is well to do this, even 

 where trees and shrubs are placed in front of the walls, 

 for they are often more conspicuous than they ought to 

 be in the winter and spring months. Portions of 

 these walls may be rendered interesting by having half- 

 hardy climbing plants placed against them in spaces 

 of six or seven feet broad. To afford protection to 

 these exotics, it is a good expedient to plant between 

 the above-mentioned spaces vigorous specimens of 

 Magnolia qmndiflora^ sweet bay, arbutus, and common 



