ON LAYING OUT A FLOWER-GARDEN. 15 
if be avoid incongruity of arrangement the end is accom- 
plished. But, in commencing these operations, a design 
should be kept in view that will tend to expand, improve, 
and beautify the situation ; not, as we too frequently see it, 
the parterre and borders with narrow walks up to the very 
household entrauce : such is decidedly bad taste, unless com- 
pelled for want of room. For perspicuity, admit that the 
area to be enclosed should be from one to three acres, a cir- 
cumambient walk should be traced at some distance within 
the fence, by which the whole is enclosed; the inferior walks 
should partly circumscribe and intersect the general surface 
in an easy, serpentine, and sweeping manner, and at such 
distances as would allow an agreeable view of the flowers 
when walking for exercise. Walks may be in breadth from 
three to twenty feet, although from four to ten feet is gene- 
rally adopted ; and, to have these dry and pennanent, those 
that are to be much used should have six to eight inches of 
the bottom soil dug out in a concave manner, and in the 
centre of the concave dig out a trench of about nine inches 
square, to form a drain, which may be made with brick or 
filled with rough stone, and the concave may be filled with 
refuse of buildings or broken stone within three inches of 
the desired height, which should be covered with gravel, and 
then firmly rolled with a heavy roller. Where the gravel 
cannot be obtained, sand may be used, mixed with a few 
small stones to bind it, but such needs very repeated rolling. 
Walks, such as described, when completely finished, will last 
for ages ; but many will not be disposed to go to such ex- 
pense; to those we say use tanner's bark, which is very 
cheap, and accessible to all. The outer margin of the gar- 
den should be planted with the largest trees and shrubs ; the 
interior arrangement may be in detached groups of shrub- 
bery and parterres. In order that the whole should not 
partake of a uniform and graduated character, it should be 
broken and diversified by single trees planted in the turf, or 
arising in scattered groups from a base of shrubs. In some 
secluded spot, rock-work or a fountain, or both, may be 
erected; the foundation of the former should consist of 
mounds of earth, which will answer the purpose of more 
solid erections, and will make the stones go farther : rocks 
of the same kind and colour should be placed together, and 
the greatest possible variety of character, size, and form 
