12 
THE HOME GAEL EH. 
shrubs in the curve, or a better view of the house and 
premises, will furnish this. Five feet in width should be 
the smallest limits of ordinary walks, that two persons may 
walk comfortably abreast without brushing against the 
plants on either side. A garden procession in Indian file 
does not produce so picturesque an effect as the same figures 
in groups. An abruptly terminating walk should be fin¬ 
ished by some ornamental object, like a summer-house, a 
statue, a vase, etc., as though it furnished an excuse for 
the walk. It is far prettier to make the path return upon 
itself, which can be done by means of a circular bed of 
flowers or shrubs, as whatever suggests limits in a garden 
robs it of half its charm. 
The proper edging for beds, since the stiff little rows 
of box have fallen into disfavor, is a hopelessly perplexing 
subject. Grass edgings are pretty when carefully trimmed 
and prevented from encroaching; but it is almost one 
man’s work to keep them in order. Tiles, boards, etc., 
are also employed with various degrees of satisfaction. 
Bricks set on end are justly pronounced an abomination; 
but “the cheap, handsome, easily-put-down and easily- 
kept-in-order edging is yet to be invented.” Edgings of 
Alpine strawberry plants, placed five or six inches apart, 
are very ornamental, while the richly flavored berries 
last late into the autumn. Daisies, pansies, and other 
small flowering plants are also used and vury effectively. 
The proper shape for beds depends in a great measure 
upon the size and shape of the garden. A square or par¬ 
allelogram, with bias crossings and a round central bed, 
produces a good effect; but, where the garden-beds are 
already made, and are, perhaps, nothing more than straight 
borders along the sides of the fence, the beauty and arrange¬ 
ment of their contents may be made so conspicuous as quite 
to overshadow the lack of grace and symmetry. 
To lay out a garden for a large and varied collection of 
