212 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
astonishing. The greater part of those which are propagated by nurserymen 
must find their way into the cottage and villa gardens of the lower and middle 
classes, and the probable estimate given above will accordingly come from the 
coffers of that class. This is a most convincing proof that garden beauty is highly 
appreciated, and that the modern style of flower gardening in the rotary move¬ 
ment of the wheel of fashion obtains general favour. 
What is modern flower gardening P Does it merely consist of so many lines 
of colours, made up of such things as Geraniums, Calceolarias, Yerbenas, Alyssum, 
and such like ? Or is it a fine geometrical design, with all manner of polychromes 
and stucco, and statuary, and fountains ? Or is it a mass of herbaceous plants 
reduced into some sort of a system of arrangement P Or is it groups of florists’ 
flowers ? The truth is, that a little of all these, judiciously combined with a proper 
assortment of grass, gravel, shrubs, trees, and water, if possible, is modern flower 
gardening of the highest class. Ancient gardening, however, combined more or 
less of what we have named. Pliny informs us that the Romans, even the humblest 
of the citizens, had little gardens in the front of their houses, until debarred from 
that indulgence “ by the necessity of shutting out robbers which so abounded in 
the city.” We are likewise told that the gardens of the wealthy citizens of Rome, 
“ as well as of Sallust, Lucullus, Caesar, Pompey, &c., were celebrated for their 
beauty and extent.” We are left in ignorance, however, of the manner of laying 
out and planting these celebrated gardens. Enough appears to show that there 
were walks edged with Box, marble basins and fountains, arbours and statuary, 
grass and gravel, shrubs cut into shapes of animals, &c., a practice which is still 
in vogue in many places on the continent, and may be considered to belong to that 
stiff and formal style of gardening which is now rapidly falling into disuse. It has 
been well said “ that there are two things which contribute to personal adornment 
—good things to wear, and taste in putting them on.” We might well adopt that 
sentiment in reference to flower garden design and suitable material introduced in 
order to make an Eesthetic whole. ' 
But let us argue the matter in a more practical way. Geometrical flower 
gardens are very often laid down in close proximity to those noble piles of Italian 
and Gothic architecture, where there are generally a commanding landscape, fine 
extent of lawn, great broad terraces, elaborate stone balustrades, and spacious 
gravel walks. There is nothing more inconsistent with good taste, taking*all the 
surroundings into consideration, than to have a heterogeneous mass of herbaceous 
plants introduced here. It is a blot upon the landscape. No one, after seeing 
the fine blocks of flower garden from the terraces of the Duke of Sutherland at 
Trentham, or the Duke of Buccleuch at Drumlanrig, in all the height of beauty 
during August and September, would prefer the uneven surface, and the some¬ 
what sombre display of herbaceous plants as they were wont to be arranged. 
Again, this puerile mode of cutting and carving into all sorts of geometrical lines, 
with scarcely any surface left available for flowering or decorative plants, such as 
is to be seen at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, South Kensington, 
and at some other places where Mr. Nesfield has been architect, cannot be repre¬ 
sented as indicating a superlative style of flower gardening. Simplicity of 
design, in the first instance—for ground with such a length and breadth of surface 
for massing, whether laid out in the form of a chain-border as at Dalkeith, or in 
a series of parallellograms and circles alternately, as at the Crystal Palace—has ten 
times more effect than all these polychromes which have been so much associated 
with Mr. Nesfield’s name. 
The more humble gardens of the villa resident are frequently laid out in a very 
objectionable manner. Fancy many of these charming little residences with a 
nice unpretending entrance, and a zig-zag walk leading to the front door, with a 
grass plot on either side, and a great many small figures correctly enough laid 
down, but as a whole contrary to all rules of taste. There is far too great a dis¬ 
position to have something fanciful and intricate in the way of figures and bend¬ 
ing walks, which is often out of all character with the house and ground allotted 
to it. A fair proportion of gravel and grass, with a simple figure introduced, and 
a few choice shrubs that will stand individual inspection, are what most villa 
residents should aim at. These are the gardens for which the mixed-border 
