chap, viii.] THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 251 
rated, forms the oval. Many other ways 
will suggest themselves, and may be adopt¬ 
ed : the essential points in all being to have 
the ground first dug, and made perfectly 
smooth and level; and then to have the 
figure clearly and accurately traced out and 
tested by measurement, before any of the 
beds are formed, or the turf or gravel laid 
down. 
Planting the beds and forming the walks 
require nearly as much care as tracing out 
the figure. Many persons, however, are not 
aware of this: they think, if the figure be 
good and accurately traced on the ground, 
that nothing more will be required; or, if 
any thing more be necessary, it is only to 
indicate the proper colours of the beds to the 
gardener. 
This, however, is not enough; low plants 
producing abundance of flowers must be 
chosen, and these must be carefully trained, 
or pegged down, so as to cover the beds 
entirely, or the effect will be destroyed. If, 
for example, a bed of scarlet be wanted, a 
lady would probably think that her gardener 
would have no trouble in finding abundance 
