I 398 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 24 
j all trifling depai-turea from dry rules will then bo readily 
2 iardoned on the basis of e.Kpediency. 
We come now to the direction of our walks. It has 
been said, by authorities somewhat high in landscape 
gardening, that very sudden turnings ought to be avoided. 
Turnings, the pretensions of which at once appear as an 
aScctation of fine lines, without e.x.isting features to stamp 
a meaning on them, we repudiate; but shall this be 
counted a valid objection, or shall such a rule tie the 
hands of the landscape gardener? 
Now the bends in walks, we admit, are not very 
important matters in themselves, although it must be 
granted that there are ugly curves as well as beautiful 
ones; still, it is well not to lay too much stress on 
the character of the curve in itself, inasmuch as we 
have known schemers grievously misled in their plans 
by suffering these fine lines to absorb their attention 
too much. “ With leaden eye that loves the ground,” 
has been used as a sarcasm ever since Pope’s days, and 
it applies tolerably well to this class of schemers, whose 
jn-oper title should be ground workmen, instead of land¬ 
scape gardeners. Certainly, where entirely new gardens 
are to be made out of a naked field, and no trees exist, 
it is another affair. But in improving grounds of some 
age, and where lines have to be formed among existing 
trees, and other objects, the true landscape gardener 
will be thinking more of the sky line than the ground 
line; ho will closely study the existing objects, and so 
group them overhead as to make it appear that the line, 
when complete, could not have been anywhere else. 
But to return to the ground line. We must confess 
to a particular liking for bold curves or sweeps, in some 
cases almost abrupt. It is considered one of the funda¬ 
mental principles of landscape gardening so to manage 
the picture as to keep the mind of the perambulator 
constantly erajrloyed, and sometimes to take him by 
surprise. This cannot be done by straight lines, or by 
tame curves, for concealment becomes occasionally 
necessary. 
“ Let not each beauty everywhere be spied. 
Where half the skill is decently to hide.’* 
To concealment we must here add another great land¬ 
scape essential—intricacy of outline; a principle equally 
desirable in large grounds and small; in the former, as 
taking away baldness of aiipearance, and adding to the 
interest; and in the latter, giving apparent e.xtent and 
importance. 
The bold sweep or curve, then, is admirably adapted 
I to this end, for the bolder the sweep the bolder will be 
the style of planting contiguous to the lines, and thus 
that j^artial concealment is accomifiished which, as 
I before observed, by not presenting too much at once to 
! the eye of the perambulator, keeps his mind continually 
j on the alert. We may hero remark, that it is considered 
[ indispensable that every bend should have an object 
either existing already, or placed there to render the 
whole reasonable. Without this, bold, or rather bald 
curves, are unbearable, and appear as laboured attempts 
i to create effect by mere lines alone, or as sheer afifect- 
I ation. A judicious planner, therefore, in grounds where 
old trees, huge evergreens, or other permanent objects 
exist, will take care to make use of them occasionally, 
by carrying his line sweeping round such objects, if 
massive enough to efi’ect the desired concealment. 
Some of our planners have made a point of taking in, 
occasionally, any huge or noble tree, if it happen to 
stand near the lino; this, made a centre, and the walk 
made to sweep round it right and left, sometimes jiro- 
duces good effect, and helps variety, that great essential 
to lasting effect. 
A circular seat may be made to embrace the tree, 
especially if the grounds in the vicinity of the tree 
present a pleasing j)icture. It is a generally established 
maxim not to allow two curves to be seen at once, and 
this principle must be, if possible, carried out by 
planting, &c. 
Care should be taken not to force the lines of walk 
too close to the exterior or boundary, although we see 
no reason why, in extensive grounds, it may not be so 
managed, when a fine champaign country, embracing 
dignified views, and free from hedge-rows, affords an 
opportunity of giving a short relief from the contrasting 
character of the ornamental grounds. 
One thing more we may point to, and that is, in 
selecting the lines of walk, occasional undulations should 
be sought; the walks should at times be made to ascend 
for variety’s sake—such are always more cheering to 
the perambulator than those confined to a dull level, 
and afford excellent opportunities for giving variety to 
the style of planting, &c. Indeed, variety, as before 
observed, must be ever sought, and mannerism avoided. 
As terraces and geometric lines do not belong to this 
class, we must include them in another portion of the 
subject. E. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
The market still continues to display an abundance of 
every kind of vegetables, but the supplies of fruit are 
falling off. The greatest attraction is the profusion 
with which the windows are adorned with cut flowers, 
which are now more numerous and gay than at any 
other season. Plants in pots are not so plentiful, chiefly 
on account of the frost which has been so prevalent 
during the past week. 
The prices of Veoetables continue very much the 
same as for the last few weeks. Savoys are still plenti¬ 
ful at from tld. to Is. per dozen. Greens also at Is. to 
2s. per dozen bunches. Brussels Sprouts, Is. to 2s. per 
half sieve. The supply of White Brocoli, from Corn¬ 
wall, is also good, and makes from 2s. to 3s. jier dozen, 
according to the quality. Turnips, Is. to 2s. per dozen 
bunches. Carrots, 2s. Cd. to 3s. Od. Celery, 9d. to 
Is. Cd. per bundle. Onions, 2s. Od. to 3s. per bushel. 
Spinach, Is. to Is. 6d. per half sieve. Lettuce, from Od. 
to Is. Cd. per score. Endive, Is. to Is. Od. per score. 
Potatoes are plentiful, more so than they have been for 
some weeks past, and the price is if anything lower; 
but good Regents still make as high as ^7 10s. Rhubarb 
is plentiful at from 9d. to Is. Cd. per bundle. Sea-hale 
