430 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
the same diamond polished and properly set, is not in- 
finitely more attractive. 
Besides which, no flowers do well under such circum. 
stances ; the ground is hard and rough, and the plants 
being placed immediately under the drip, and amidst 
the roots of trees, do not receive the full benefit of 
either sun, air, or soil, and yield the most unsatisfactory 
returns for the expenditure of a great deal of time and 
money. 
Whether flowers should or should not be planted 
around a house, is also a question of considerable mo- 
ment, and as a general rule, we must confess, our own 
judgment is against it ; we think the only exception is 
where it is desirable to retain the view from the princi- 
pal windows either within the lawn, or within the imme- 
diate surroundings of the house, from the more distant 
prospect being flat and uninteresting, or containing 
objects decidedly disagreeable. 
In such cases, the more the eye can be prevented 
from wandering to the distant points, the better, and 
this can be accomplished in no more pleasing way 
than by surrounding the house with the most dazzling 
flower-beds, or the most striking architectural orna- 
ments, such as vases, sun-dials, terraces, and fountains, 
or distinctive and remarkable trees or plants. 
Where, however, as is most often, we think, the case 
in this country, the place itself is of sufficient size or 
elevation to create a distant prospect which is agree- 
able, or the view beyond the boundaries presents 
natural features of an attractive character, such as fine 
mountains, lakes, or rivers, or distant peeps of pastoral 
country, or pretty villages, then it is not desirable 
to fritter these away by flowers or any objects near the 
house ; but the arrangements of the grounds should be 
of the most simple character, and partake of that smooth 
harmonious form, most suggestive of the repose and 
quiet which we seem always inseparably to associate 
