48 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



compartments were filled_, and the tints of tlie alleys by 

 which they were surrounded^ all went to make up the 

 general picture. The inherent sameness of this style of 

 gardening no doubt led to these extravagant attempts at 

 intricacy ; and the same result was aided by the compa- 

 rative paucity of fine plants which existed when parterres 

 were introduced. Some attempts have been recently 

 made to revive this style in its original perfection ; but 

 when it is considered how difficult it is to adapt designs 

 intended for spaces of six or eight acres to pieces of 

 ground about one-eighth of that size, we cannot be sur- 

 prised that they have uniformly failed. Besides, the 

 ancient style is entirely out of harmony with the modern 

 taste in relation to aU the other component parts of a 

 country residence. We might as well propose to convert 

 a modern drawing-room, with all its elegances, into a 

 baronial hall of the fifteenth century. The modern par- 

 terre is not quite so complicated in its figures, even when 

 cut out of turf, in which case it is most akin to that of 

 the ancient forms. When formed of borders with box 

 or other edgings, it is intended to be filled with plants, 

 and may be made a place of considerable beauty. In its 

 geometrical forms it still requires as nice adjustment as 

 ever ; but the interest is not now made to centre whoUy, 

 or in great part, in its configurations and traceries. The 

 principal aim of such scenes should be, not the display of 

 the artist's ill-directed ingenuity, but the exhibition of 

 fine plants, which, in their present numbers and beauty, 

 aftbrd abundant materials for the adornment of flower- 

 gardens. Annuals and green-house plants are chiefly 

 required for the summer and autunm decoration of par- 

 terres; but a supply of evergreens and vernal plants 

 should be kept in pots, to fill up the vacant beds in winter 



