11 ON LAYING OCT A FLOWER-GARDEN. 
greens, into every variety of form, such as mops, moons, hal- 
berds, chairs, &c. In such a system, it is indispensable to 
order that the compartments correspond in formality, nothing 
being more offensive to the eye than incongruous mixtm-es 
of character. 
The beauty of English gardening consists in an artful 
imitation of nature, and is consequently much dependent on 
aspect and locality. It is a desideratum, where wood and 
water can be combined with the flower-garden, and the prac- 
tical eye can dispose of an object to advantage by interspers- 
ing shrubbery and walks, that the combined objects form an 
agreeable whole. They are not to be disposed with a view 
to their appearance in a picture, but to the use and enjoy- 
ment of them in real life. 
We will now endeavour to give an explicit exposition of a 
system adapted to our variable climate of extreme heat and 
excessive cold. Where choice of aspects can be obtained, 
preference should be given to a southeast or east; but if 
not, south or southwest, and, if possible, sheltered by ris- 
ing ground or fall-grown woods from the northwest and 
north. But to lay down directions for a flower-garden is not 
a little difficult, seeing that there cannot be any given area 
or any description of local circumstances applicable to all 
situations. A good soil is the sure foundation on which to 
rear the grand floral superstructure, and the most genial is a 
sandy loam : I mean by sandy loam a soil which contains 
from one-sixth to one-tenth of sand ; and if on a gravelly or 
sandy bottom, so much the better. Where the general sur- 
face is gently undulating, it will greatly add to the beauty of 
arrangement ; if access to a spring can be obtained, it will 
prove a desideratum in completing the whole : it can be 
available for a fish-pond or an aquarium, or can be convert- 
ed into a swamp for the cultivation of many of our most 
beautiful and interesting native plants, such as Habanaria, 
Lilium, Sarracenia, Dionea, &c, and on the margin of which 
(if partially shaded) can be planted the beautiful varieties of 
Azaleas, and the splendid flowering Rhododendron, which, 
by the by, are almost entirely neglected in all our floral deco- 
rations. With many, the arrangement of a flower-garden 
is rather a matter for the exercise of fancy, than one calling 
for the application of refined taste : true, it may be said 
there is no mathematical law to guide the designer, so that 
