THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN - . 
27 
The next design, p. 28, will explain the principles of Par¬ 
quet colouring. It is the work of a talented head gardener in 
a large private establishment, who says of it: — 
“ The planting and condition of this bed had many 
admirers. I do not claim any particular merit for it, although 
it was my own work ; because the position of the bed, and 
the restrictions under which that position place the planter, 
can only be known to those most interested in it. Still, the 
fact that many wish to copy it speaks well for the principles 
observed, and of the probability that it is worthy of imitation 
in other places. It is necessary to state that it was formed 
out of the middle of a broad stone terrace adjoining the man¬ 
sion. But a new wing being added to the house, and the 
principal window of that wing looking down upon the stone 
terrace, it was considered desirable to break up the monotony 
of the stone terrace by forming this parquet garden in the 
centre. The restrictions imposed upon the planter will be 
evident to the reader. As the principal windows are in the 
new wing, it is from that point from which the bed is viewed, 
and it should show all its features from that point without 
being distasteful to the eye when looked upon from any other. 
It was the opinion of many that the same plants and the same 
arrangement would look well as a double ribbon border in 
any position. The splashes of yellow introduced at the corners, 
cutting off, as it were, the sharp angles of the lines, were 
objected to; but, for my own part, I never regretted that 
feature, because it broke up the stiffness of the arrangement, 
and it softened down the tones of the massive lines of Stella 
geranium. As a rule, angular arrangements are objectionable, 
but, as they must be sometimes adopted, this example may be 
useful in your series of bedding examples.” 
The next examples, p. 29, represent the embellishments 
of an entrance court, which is remarkably well-kept, being 
richly stocked with coniferous trees, and the walls densely 
clothed with the choicest ivies. The central walk is flanked 
on each side with small grass-plots, on which are marked out 
oblong compartments and narrow scrolls as in the small 
figure. The ground-work is wholly formed of statuary marble 
broken to the size of hazel-nuts, and laid down on a bottom of 
concrete, to prevent the soiling of the white marble by worm- 
casts. The scroll is, therefore, produced in relief on a snow- 
white ground, and is planted thus:—A A, Golden Fleece 
