EMBELLISHMENTS. 
405 
alternating them with hardy bulbs, and the finer species of 
annuals. 
In Fig. 77, we give an example of a small cottage or villa 
residence of one or two acres, where the flower-beds are dis- 
posed around the lawn in the English style : their forms 
irregular, with curved outlines, affording a great degree of 
variety in the appearance as viewed from different points on 
the lawn itself. In this, the central portion is occupied by 
the lawn ; c, cZ, are the flower-beds, planted with showy 
border-flowers, in separate masses; b , the conservatory. 
Surrounding the whole is a collection of choice shrubs and 
trees, the lowest near the walk, and those behind increasing 
in altitude as they approach the boundary wall or fence. In 
this plan, as there is supposed to be no exterior view worth 
preserving, the amphitheatre of shrubs and trees completely 
shuts out all objects but the lawn and its decorations, which 
are rendered as elegant as possible. 
Where the proprietor of a country residence, or the ladies 
of the family have a particular taste, it may be indulged at 
pleasure in other and different varieties of the flower-garden. 
With some families there is a taste for botany, when a small 
botanic flower-garden may be preferred — the herbaceous and 
other plants, being grouped or massed in beds after the 
Linnean , or the natural method. Some persons have an 
enthusiastic fondness for florist flowers, as Pansies, Carna- 
tions, Dahlias, Roses, etc. ; others for bulbous roots, all of 
which may very properly lead to particular modes of laying 
out flower-gardens. 
The desideratum, however, with most persons is, to have 
a continued display of blossoms in the flower-garden from 
the opening of the crocus and snow-drop in the spring, until 
the autumnal frosts cut off the last pale asters, or blacken the 
