THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
131 
terres, also in other beds, usually bordered with a low 
hedge of box or similar plants, or with lead, brick, peb- 
bles, tiles, or even the shank bones of sheep. Larger beds 
were "railed," either by a low trellis, or a single railing 
on posts at the corners, such rails and trellises being 
usually painted green and white, the Tudor colors. Beds 
were often raised above the level of the walk by a low 
brick or stone wall. The mount, a relic of monastic gar- 
dens, was a high artificial hill, sometimes in the center of 
the garden, sometimes at the end, overlooking the garden 
and the countryside. These flower garden railings and 
mounts are seldom used in modern garden craft. 
The garden of Shakespeare's time was always enclosed, 
sometimes by a wall of brick or stone, sometimes by a 
trellis fence or high hedge. "He hath a garden circum- 
mured with brick," writes Shakespeare. Flowering and 
fruiting vines covered the walls and trellises. Hedges 
were used inside the garden also, in various shapes and 
sizes, box, cypress, yew, privet, hawthorn, roses, fruit 
trees, juniper, hornbeam, and cornel being the plants 
most commonly employed. Wood t'rellised arbors were 
frequently used, though those of brick or stone were 
sometimes seen. Topiary work was of yew, box, privet, 
or juniper, the peacock forms being most popular. 
Of all these famous old gardens, one only, Montacute, 
in Somersetshire, remains practically unchanged, al- 
though the gardens of Hatfield House, Herefordshire, 
have been restored and may be considered typical of the 
period. Remnants of many gardens are left, however — 
examples of garden furniture, a few pleached alleys or 
mounts — and several good illustrations and written de- 
scriptions are extant. 
Although Shakespeare wrote of many countries and 
peoples, his scenes and characters are essentially English, 
as are his plants and gardens. A Shakespearean garden, 
therefore, could not be other than an English garden of 
the period — an Elizabethan garden. 
During the last week in April and the month of May 
such a garden will be shown in the floral display house of 
the new plant range at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 
St. Louis, Mo. This will not be an attempt to copy any 
particular garden of Shakespeare's time, and the limited 
area makes impossible anything but a garden in minia- 
ture. It will, however, embody most of the features that 
characterized the gardens of the Elizabethan period, the 
accompanying plan giving a good idea of the arrange- 
ment. The house will be divided into three square gar- 
dens, each 50 x 50 feet, the parterre, the trellised garden, 
and the topiarian garden, each dominated by several 
Elizabethan motifs. 
The balcony of the floral display house, with the pool 
and fountain below, lends itself admirably to the scheme, 
and affords a good view of the parterre or knot and the 
gardens beyond. The pattern to be used in this parterre 
was one very popular in Shakespearean times. The flower 
beds along the sides, as well as the parterre itself, will be 
bordered with a hedge of privet and juniper. 
The trellised garden, as its name implies, will be en- 
closed by a high trellis with arched entrances, over which 
are to be trained climbing roses and other vines. This 
garden will be terraced, with turfed slopes, and flower 
beds and graveled walks above. The plan of the interior 
was taken from the lower garden at Montacute, the cen- 
tral portion being depressed, a fountain, junipers, and 
small flower beds forming a part of the design. All 
woodwork in the parterre and trellised garden will be 
painted green and white. 
The topiarian garden will be devoted principally to box 
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trees trimmed into various shapes, an arbor of trellis 
work, covered with vines, terminating the main axis of 
the three gardens. The motif for the arbor was taken 
from the plans of the old Wilton House gardens, de- 
signed by Isaac de Caux. Within this garden will be 
shown the greater number of the collection of plants 
mentioned by Shakespeare in his works. It should be 
borne in mind that, while it is possible to identify most 
of these, some are doubtfully referred to existing species, 
and in a few cases the name used by Shakespeare may 
have been misleading. However, the list as given is the 
result of a careful compilation of all the information ob- 
tainable from various authorities, and is believed to be as 
accurate as anything of the kind that could be prepared. 
(Illustrations loaned by Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.) 
Plan of Shakespearean Garden to be Arranged in Floral Display House at Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Lo 
