398 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
shown, it serves an admirable purpose in effecting a harmo- 
nious union between the house and the grounds. And 
secondly, because we have both the rich verdure and gay blos- 
soms of the flowering plants, and the more permanent beauty 
of sculptured forms ; the latter heightening the effect of the 
former by contrast, as well as by the relief they afford the eye 
in masses of light, amid surrounding verdure. 
There are several varieties of general flower-gardens, which 
may be formed near the house. Among these we will only 
notice the irregular flower-garden, the old French flower- 
garden, and the modern or English flower-garden. 
In almost all the different kinds of flower-gardens, two 
methods of forming the beds are observed. One is, to cut the 
beds out of the green turf, which is, ever afterwards, kept 
well-mown or cut for the walks, and the edges pared ; the 
other, to surround the beds with edgings of verdure, as box, 
etc., or some more durable material, as tiles, or cut stone, the 
walks between being covered with gravel. The turf is cer- 
tainly the most agreeable for walking upon in the heat of 
summer, and the dry part of the day. While the gravelled 
flower-garden affords a dry footing at nearly all hours and 
seasons. 
