378 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
when a small botanic flower-garden may be preferred — the 
herbaceous and other plants being grouped or massed in 
beds after the Linncean , or the natural method. Some 
persons have an enthusiastic fondness for florist flowers, as 
Pansies, Carnations, 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 snowdrop in the spring, 
until the autumnal frosts cut off the last pale asters, or 
blacken the stems of the luxuriant dahlias in November. 
This may be done with a very small catalogue of plants if 
they are properly selected : such as flower at different 
seasons, continue long time in bloom, and present fine 
masses of flowers. On the other hand, a very large num- 
ber of species maybe assembled together ; and owing to 
their being merely botanical rarities, and not bearing fine 
flowers, or to their blossoming chiefly in a certain portion 
of the season, or continuing but a short period in bloom, 
the flower-garden will often have but an insignificant 
appearance. With a group of Pansies and spring bulbs, a 
bed of ever-blooming China Roses, including the Isle de 
Bourbon varieties, some few Eschscholtzias, the showy 
Petunias, Gilias, and other annuals, and a dozen choice 
double Dahlias, and some trailing Verbenas, a limited spot, 
of a few yards in diameter, may be made productive of 
more enjoyment, so far as regards a continued display of 
flowers, than ten times that space, planted, as we often see 
flower-gardens here, with a heterogeneous mixture of 
everything the possesor can lay his hands on, or crowd 
within the inclosure. 
