248 FLOWERS AND BEDDING PLANTS, 
parallel with it ; but where the openings between the beds are 
frequent, or the beds are in circles or squares with their points 
to the walk, one foot of grass between their nearest points and the 
walk will answer. Narrow beds of formal outlines or geometric 
forms of a simple character, are preferable to irregular ones. All 
complicated “ curlecue ” forms should be avoided. Plate XXX 
shows a variety of shapes for flower-beds on straight walks. Such 
beds must, of course, be proportioned in size and form to the 
dimensions of the lawn in which they are cut. They should never 
be planted where there is not a space of open lawn back of them 
equal at least in average width to the distance across the walk 
from one bed to another. Being close to the eyes of all those who 
use the walks, they must be planted and kept with a care that is 
less essential in beds seen from a greater distance. This style of 
cultivation necessitates far more labor than the third, which we 
have adopted in most of the plans for suburban lots. To keep a 
great number of small beds filled through the summer with low 
blooming flowers, and their edges well cut, is expensive ; and, if 
they are also planned so that the grass strips between them must 
be cut with a sickle, few gentlemen of moderate means will long 
have the patience to keep them with the nice care essential to their 
good effect. 
The border-beds shown on Plate XXX, are all arranged 
so that a rolling lawn-cutter may be used easily by hand be- 
tween them. These plans are especially adapted to places with 
straight main walks, where the gentleman or lady of the house is 
an enthusiastic florist. Walk No. i shows a row of round beds 
from two to three feet in diameter on each side ; the alternate 
circles to be filled with bushy single plants from one and a half to 
two feet high, and the others with low bedding flowers that do not 
exceed six inches in height. Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are narrow strips, 
and circles or squares alternated. Such slender evergreens as the 
Irish juniper, clipped tree-box, and some of the many dwarf firs, 
may be used with good effect in some of these circles, but must 
not be too frequent. The beds at the sides of walks 5 and 6, 
require more lawn-room on each side, and will look best filled, 
each, with a single color of the lowest bedding-plants. The 
