238 THE FLORIST AND 
and are indispensable to relieve the sameness of long lines of low walls and 
balustrading, and when in due proportion to the size of the pedestals on 
which they are placed, and filled with suitable plants, form elegant objects, 
in addition to breaking up horizontal lines of masonry. 
In all architectural gardens either in connection with the mansion, or 
assuming that character when detached, vases and their accompaniments 
are appropriate embellishments, both for surmounting pedestals on low walls 
and for introducing into the component parts of the design, where they may 
be arranged either for centres or to occupy subordinate positions in the 
compartments devoted to flowering plants. Neither do we know of any- 
thing which conveys so much of the truly ornate as vases, when placed at 
intervals on each side the long gravel or grass walks prevalent in this style 
of gardening. In all cases the vases should be large enough to hold suf- 
ficient soil to keep the plants in health ; and the pedestals on which they 
are mounted should be strictly in keeping with the character of the vase. 
We prefer vases rather large than the reverse, for we must enter our pro- 
test against the miserable dished-up plants which are often seen struggling 
for existence, for want of water and earth to grow in. 
But it is not solely for the terrace or formal garden that vases are appro- 
priate ; there are many situations in scenery purely English (or in the 
natural style) where vases may be introduced with the happiest eifect ; for 
instance, at the junction of gravel walks, or where these latter are com- 
pelled to be terminated abruptly, a vase or seat affords a suitable excuse. 
The angles formed by the sudden sweep of a walk, and corners not other- 
wise filled up and backed by masses of planting are positions which just 
occur to me, as affording sites for vases in natural scenery where their intro- 
duction will not offend the eye of taste. On the contrary, they should 
never be placed in open j)arts of the lawn, where their isolation from archi- 
tectural accompaniments would be manifest, and where, besides, masonry in 
any form would interfere with repose and hreadth, both essential features 
in this style of gardening. It follows, then, that in natural scenery, either 
real or imitated, vases should be placed in immediate connection with gravel 
walks, which will form a kind of base for them, or at no great distance there- 
from ; or only where their employment as objects to fill up otherwise vacant 
places, affords a reason for deviating from the general rule ; and on no 
account should they be placed as single objects on lawns unconnected 
either with masonry or walks. 
Having given my ideas on situation, allow me to point out what I con- 
sider the most suitable plants for filling them. On this point much mis- 
