EMBELLISHMENTS. 
379 
The mingled flower-garden, as it is termed, is by far the 
most common mode of arrangement in this country, though 
it is seldom well effected. The object in this is to dispose 
the plants in the beds in such a manner, that while there 
is no predominance of bloom in any one portion of the beds 
there shall be a general admixture of colors and blossoms 
throughout the entire garden during the whole season of 
growth. 
To promote this, the more showy plants should be often 
repeated in different parts of the garden, or even the same 
parterre when large, the less beautiful sorts being suffered 
to occupy but moderate space. The smallest plants should 
be nearest the walk, those a little taller behind them, and 
the largest should be furthest from the eye, at the back of 
the border, when the latter is seen from one side only, 01 
in the centre, if the bed be viewed from both sides. A 
neglect of this simple rule will not only give the beds, when 
the plants are full grown, a confused look, but the beauty 
of the humbler and more delicate plants will be lost amid 
the tall thick branches of sturdier plants, or removed so 
far from the spectator in the walks, as to be overlooked. 
Considerable experience is necessary to arrange even a 
moderate number of plants in accordance with these rules. 
To perform it successfully, some knowledge of the habits 
of the plants is an important requisite ; their height, time 
of flowering, and the colors of their blossoms. When a 
gardener, or an amateur, is perfectly informed on these 
points, he can take a given number of plants of different 
species, make a plan of the bed or all the beds of a flower 
garden upon paper, and designate the particular situation 
of each species. 
