236 
THE FLORIST. 
in planting is equally applicable on a large or small scale. If American 
plants are so situated as to be fully exposed to the sun, it is a good 
plan to plant thickly, so that the ground beneath is shaded by the 
foliage, and a portion of the plants can be withdrawn as they increase 
in size. 
“ But where the soil is naturally peat, or sandy loam, we should 
expect an American garden of some extent to be formed ; the surface 
gently undulated, or, if very extensive, rising and falling into hill and 
dale. So important is this irregularity of surface, that if not natural 
to the ground, it should be artificially attained; one view of the 
plants from the elevated points of view, when in bloom, compensating 
for any moderate trouble and expense.” 
In the descriptions of the different classes of American plants, which 
conclude the work, will be found some very useful information, for 
persons selecting plants, either for grouping or miscellaneous planting, 
and we can recommend Mr. Paul’s book with confidence as a very 
useful vade mecum for parties forming American gardens. 
Should it however reach a second edition, we hope the author will 
revise many descriptive paragraphs, which scarcely tally with the 
modest title page of this useful little work. There are also typographical 
e rrors which require correcting. 
How to Lay out a Garden. By Edward Kemp, Landscape Gardener, 
Birkenhead Park. Second Edition. London : Bradbury & Evans. 
We feel sure our readers will thank us for introducing this book to their 
notice, if they have not already made its acquaintance. To those who 
have not, we say, lose no time in doing so. Take our word for it, 
there is no better book on the subject of which it treats, viz., “ How to 
Lay out a Garden,” in the whole range of garden literature. It is full 
of beautiful and instructive woodcuts, and is altogether a tastefully 
got up volume, equally adapted for the drawing-room, for the perusal 
of lady and amateur gardeners-, or for the instruction of the profes¬ 
sional garden artist himself. 
It is about the only book we know of which treats a garden simply 
and purely on its own merits, as a work of art; and for this alone, 
even if it possessed no higher merit, we should hail it with the liveliest 
satisfaction. 
The advice upon almost every conceivable point for consideration in 
designing a garden is ample and in good taste ; and this advice is 
abundantly illustrated with excellent plans and sketches of gardens and 
garden objects, in various styles. The designs are, as a whole, 
strikingly beautiful and original, but they indicate in the author a 
predilection for a somewhat severe style of treatment. Upon garden 
design, however, as upon every other question of taste, there must ever 
be a diversity of opinion. 
We have said the designs are, as a whole, exceedingly beautiful and 
appropriate. There are, however, a few examples which are unworthy 
of their author. Fig. 160, for example, may indicate “great sim¬ 
plicity and roundness of form ;” but it is nevertheless, in our estimation, 
