around the house, however, is always planted with the 
most beautiful trees and kept in the best possible condition, 
just in the manner necessary for small lawns, which are 
^\ most common in this country. We have endeavored to 
illustrate these two styles by the aid of engravings, and hope to have 
made the subject plain. 
The great difficulty with American gardens is that they are too large, 
and not sufficiently cared for. If we gave the same amount of labor on a 
quarter of an acre that we now expend on an acre, the result would be much 
more satisfactory. No one should have more ground in garden than he 
can keep in the very highest state of cultivation. It is this kind of 
excellence that affords pleasure, while failure or partial success is a source of 
pain. It is not only a fault to cultivate too much ground, but even too many flowers. Some 
seem anxious to obtain and grow everything. This is not best, especially where there is not a 
good deal of time and money to be devoted to the work. A choice selection is best, and I like 
every cultivator of flowers to have a pet or hobby. Take, for instance, the Pansy, and make it a 
pet. Obtain the choicest seed, and give the plants the best of care, and you will see to what 
wonderful perfection it can be grown. In a few years you will tire, perhaps, of this. Then 
adopt the Balsam, or Stock, or Aster. Always have something choice — something grown better 
than any one else is growing it — something you have reason to be proud of. It will astonish you 
to see how flowers thrive under such petting, and what a wonderful exhibition they make of 
their gratitude. 
Some persons may think from what we have said in favor of grass in front of the house in 
preference to beds of flowers, that we are no friend to these beautiful treasures — these delightful 
children of the field and garden, who speak to us in eveiy fragrant breath and lovely tint and 
graceful form, of Him who spake from naught this matchless beauty. We only wish them to be 
treated in a proper manner. In the center of the lawn, especially if opposite a window^, it is well 
to make a round or oval bed, and on the border or near the edges of the lawn, beds of various 
simple forms. A few plans for these we have given. 
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