FLOWER GARDEN. 75 
bors, having the sides formed into arcades, and sometimes the top 
vaulted; and with various other formal imitations, all performed in 
hedge-w^ork, which were often so arranged and trained, as to effect an 
air of grandeur and art. High hedges were also in great repute, as 
boundaries to grand walks and avenues, sometimes carried up from 
fifteen or twenty, to thirty or forty feet high; sometimes trained 
perfectly close from the very bottom to top, others open below a 
considerable way, and formed into regular arches, Sec. all of which 
sometimes appeared magnificent and ornamental, but were trouble- 
some and expensive to keep in order, on account of their great 
height: however, all sorts of hedge-work was generally esteemed 
so ornamental in ancient gardening, that almost every division was 
surrounded with regular hedges of one sort or other, presenting 
themselves to view in every part, shutting out all other objects from 
sight; but in modern designs, such hedges are rarely admitted; 
every compartment of the plantation being left open to view, from 
the walks and lawns, in order to afford a full prospect of the various 
trees, shrubs, and flowers, which consequently are more beautiful 
than continued ranges of close hedges; but for the sake of variety, 
a little ornamental hedge-work might still be introduced in some 
particular parts of the ground. 
Labyrinths or mazes of Iiedge-work, in the manner of a wilder- 
ness, also prevailed in many large gardens. 
A Labyrinth^ is a maze or sort of intricate wilderness-planta- 
tion, abounding with hedges and walks, formed into many windings 
and turnings, leading to one common centre, extremely difficult to 
find out; designed in large pleasure-grounds by way of amuse- 
ment. 
It is generally formed with hedges, commonly in double rows, 
leading in various intricate turnings, backward and forward; with in- 
tervening plantations, and gravel-walks alternately between hedge 
and hedge; the great aim is to have the walk contrived in so many 
mazy, intricate windings, to and fro, that a person may have much 
difficulty in finding out the centre, by meeting with as many stops 
and disappointments as possible; for he must not cross, or break 
through the hedges; so that in a well contrived labyrinth, a strang- 
er will often entirely lose himself, so as not to find his way to the 
centre, nor out again. 
As to plans of them, it is impossible to describe such, by- 
words, any further than the above hints, and their contrivance must 
principally depend on the ingenuity of the designer. 
But as to the hedges, walks, and trees; the hedges are usually 
made of hornbeam, beech, elm, or any other kind that can be kept 
neat by clipping. The walks should be five feet wide at least, laid 
■with gravel, neatly rolled, and kept clean; and the trees and shrubs 
to form a thicket of wood between the hedges, may be of any hardy 
kinds of the deciduous tribe, interspersed with some ever-greens; 
and in the middle of the labyrinth should be a spacious open, orna- 
mented with some rural seats and shady bowers. Sec. 
Sometimes small labyrinths are formed with box-edgings, and 
