74 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 5. 
very first things the planter may consider is the plant¬ 
ing requisite as an accompaniment ot the walks. It 
will he obvious to our readers that walks through strips 
of lawn, unaccompanied by planting, would be exceed¬ 
ingly tedious; the mind of the visitor must be kept at 
work; and in order to accomplish this, variety is indis¬ 
pensable. Another reason also steps forward: it has 
ever been a maxim with good designers that all sudden 
turns or curves in walks should be accompanied by 
objects sufficient to convey an impression, at first sight, 
that the walk could scarcely have been anywhere else. 
Here lies one of the principal points of the planter’s 
art—in throwing down his groups, or objects. 
In marking out this kind of planting, the outlines 
must be made to bear a due relation to the walk, and 
may generally appear to turn to the walk, rather than 
away from it; and in some portions may be nearly 
parallel with it. However, no two plots of the kind 
should be precisely of the same form; the more they 
are varied the better. The inner lacing ol these groups, 
or masses, towards the lawn, should be very deeply 
indented in outline, in order to give intricacy as seen 
from other points. The deeper the bays, or indentations, 
the better, provided a sufficient degree ol massiveness 
is preserved. Planting of this kind should in no part 
be narrower than from six to eight feet; nothing looking 
worse than narrow half-furnished strips, through which 
the eye can play in all directions; they appear mani¬ 
festly an impotent attempt at forcing the bend. Where 
these bends are very sudden and deep, it frequently 
becomes necessary to add single objects in addition 
(such as good-sized and spreading evergreens), in such 
positions as the spectator, in approaching, might see a 
portion of the walk behind the piece of planting, and 
this to prevent trespass : inconsiderate persons, on 
seeing a portion of the walk behind the group, are apt 
to take the shortest route, and slip across the lawi^ 
which thereby acquires the character of a pathway. 
Indeed, this is one of the principal faults chargeable on 
bold curves; and, unless the planter can find sufficient 
room to plant, he had best be content with curves of a 
tamer character. Now these groups, or masses, at the 
sudden turns, must, of course, towards the most salient 
points, appear to force the walk outwards in that 
position; they should also be planted, in the main, 
as near the walk as convenient—some portions jutting 
out to within a couple of feet of the walk. 
It must be remembered that they have another im¬ 
portant ofiice to perform besides affording a reason for 
the bends—they have to give an idea of snugness to the 
walks, and occasionally shelter, and even shade. They 
must, therefore, be well furnished, chiefly with ever¬ 
greens, assisted by pleasing forms of deciduous things, 
in order to give variety and contrast of both form and 
tint; and the general tone should, by the use of sprightly 
and decorative kinds, be rendered cheerful. Of course, : 
the margins of such planting will furnish excellent ' 
situations for our dressy American shrubs, Roses, &c.; j 
but, on no account, unless in small places, would we ' 
permit annuals or herbaceous plants to. throw the whole 
into confusion; we will point to more legitimate situ¬ 
ations for them in the course of these papers. 
In proportion to the size of the ground, and the 
breadth of the lawns, so may such planting be as to 
massiveness. In the grounds belonging to countiy 
seats, possessing much extent, and perhaps a park, and 
where the existing features carry on an ancestrial im¬ 
press, it would be quite out of character, in making new 
lines, or correcting old ones, to introduce such masses 
as are adapted to the walks of the villa, characterised 
by gaiety and airiness. A more sober tone must be 
imparted, unless in immediate contact with plots of , 
high dress, and huge Hollies, Laurels, lews, with our 
half-height trees occasionally, as the various Cratseguses, 
&c., will be more appropriate. Indeed, it is not un¬ 
common to find the bends of such walks in old places 
sustained by three or four huge timber-trees, and with 
noble effect too. The only fault being, that such 
grounds are liable to appear somewhat gloomy in bad 
weather, and the walks to become damp and mossy. In 
such cases there is less danger of a trodden way being 
made across the lawn; for trespassers can, when so 
minded, pass through in several directions; whereas, in 
the case of a small mass, in a sudden bend, one way 
alone seems to present itself. It may appear to some 
that too much stress has here been laid on the manage¬ 
ment of planting, as connected with walks; but we 
have seen so many in our day, in which these guiding 
principles had either been set at nought, or unknown 
(and which, carrying no definite meaning, were devoid 
of the proper degree ol interest to the cultivated), that 
we cannot look lightly on the matter, or handle it in 
a cursory way. 9 
It will be understood that, the preceding remarks 
have no reference to terrace or other geometric lines, for 
these require a style of planting wholly distinct, in¬ 
asmuch as the impression to be given differs widely. 
The terraced line invites formality, or what has been 
termed, “ a decided avowal of art; " and, indeed, many 
circumstances occur, frequently, in which a most formal 
style of planting ought to be resorted to; albeit the 
arrangement may not be what is termed a terrace 
such cases not uncommonly present themselves in the 
grounds of suburban villas. Such are exceptional 
matters, and will be dealt with accordingly. 
With regard to the kinds of trees, shrubs, and ever¬ 
greens, eligible as appendages to the principal walks, we 
have before named the more massive evergreens as 
being selected where the features of the grounds are 
large; for dressy masses or groups in villa gardens, 
where the limits for decorative matters are severe, heavy 
planting must give way to a much lighter style; in¬ 
asmuch, as our regular country seats possess, an 
general, such special departments for display as the 
ordinai'y villa cannot command. Every chance, there¬ 
fore, must be seized, in grounds of limited extent, to in¬ 
troduce charming shrubs of permanent character as 
well as exotics. The grove, the massive shrubbery, 
together with timber-trees, creating huge shadows, must 
not be thought of, space will not permit their ad- 
