HINTS FOR THE FLOWER GARDEN, 
233 
mere contemplation of the general effect and arrangement, from bestowing the 
proper consideration and attention on adapting them for the objects intended to be 
cultivated in them ; forgetting that on this depends in a large measure the capacity 
to accomplish the general design of the whole. Yet such is actually the case. It 
would be thought egregious folly in a mechanic contriving a piece of machinery 
for a definite purpose, were he to attend only to the construction of its parts of the 
required size and proportion, and to its outward adornment ; and to pay no regard 
to the materials of which it was formed, their suitability and durableness, or to 
providing the springs and other minutiae by which alone it could be set in motion, 
and made capable of accomplishing the proposed end : and so it is with the flower- 
garden, — unless the minor and individual arrangements are based upon the 
principles of cultivation, however specious and perfect the general design may 
be, it is certain to be defeated or defective in its result. 
In laying out a flower-garden, then, beyond the consideration and judgment 
required to preserve harmony with the general garden scene, and to render the 
ground most eligible for displaying its floral garnishments to the utmost advantage, 
it is in an equal degree essential to provide those conditions which most contribute 
to the health and fertility of the plants. It ought not to be expected, though it 
commonly is, that the gardener who has all the evils of previous mismanagement 
in the construction of the flower-garden to contend with, should be able to compete 
in the culture of plants with those to whom every facility is furnished to 
remedy the natural defects of the situation. The question then naturally arises, 
— what are the points to which attention is principally requisite ? And in 
order to answer this we must first glance at a few circumstances connected 
with the subject and essential to its elucidation. 
And first, by far the largest number of the plants used for the parterre at the 
present day are natives of a much warmer and more equable climate than we have 
in this country, and are correspondingly more liable to suffer injury from the 
sudden variations to which they are exposed in the open garden. 
Keeping this before us, it will be evident that the first thing to which it 
is necessary to direct attention is the nature of the ground and locality in 
reference to warmth and humidity. It is well-known that a wet soil is always 
a cold one ; and on this account we should prefer (when choice is given), a gentle 
declivity, rather than a dead level, as a site for the flower-garden, because of the 
greater facility which it affords for draining completely. This, however, cannot 
always be had ; nevertheless, it is an indispensable point to secure a situation 
sufficiently elevated to enable water to escape readily during long-continued rains. 
Unless this can be done it is useless to attempt growing even the most ordinary 
half-hardy border plants, as no dependence whatever can be placed on realising any 
success. 
But supposing a situation sufficiently elevated has been selected, it is essential 
also, to prevent the garden from receiving moisture from the springs in higher 
VOL. XII. NO. CXLII. n H 
