44 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



lent elFect. Tliese may compose groups of themselves, 

 or be made the centres of different groups of flower-beds. 

 The character and arrangement of these objects should 

 be in keeping with the style of the buildings around. In 

 the case of terraces faced with grass slopes, the walks 

 should be arranged as in the other variety. The flower- 

 beds should be laid out in grass-plots, or with broad 

 verges, or with raised stone edgings round the figures 

 cut in the grass. Small gravel walks, with box edgings, 

 do not suit this style of terrace. Stone blocks sup- 

 porting vases may be ranged along the tops of the banks, 

 and also laurels grown in boxes and trained to represent 

 the orange-trees used for this purpose on the Continent. 

 The other processes of ornament are much the same as 

 those referred to above, only, perhaps, they should be 

 carried out in a plainer and lighter style. 



The Flower Garden. — Among the most important and 

 interesting portions of the pleasure-grounds is the flower- 

 garden, when the place is extensive enough to afford 

 room for its being formed into a separate department. 

 In small residences, the whole of the flower-garden may 

 be close to the house ; but in those of considerable mag- 

 nitude, it is always desirable that it should occupy a 

 distinct section of the dressed grounds. In both cases, 

 care should be taken to bring it into harmony with the 

 general scenery, of which, indeed, it should form a con- 

 stituent, though a more highly and minutely finished 

 part. On this account, the principles which regulate the 

 formation of the dressed grounds generally should also 

 be held as applicable, with sUght modifications, to the 

 flower-garden. That garden, whether geometrical or 

 otherwise, should be so arranged as not only to compose 

 an effective whole, but also to exhibit such secondary 



