THE PELARGONIUM GARDEN. 
45 
The vignette exhibits in perspective the accompanying ground plan circumscribed with trelliage 
arches about nine or ten feet high, formed of 
stout rod-iron, inserted into blocks of stone 
beneath the surface of the ground; and a 
marble figure of “ Flora ” is presumed, not 
inappropriately, to occupy the centre of the 
parterre. The Pelargonium garden at Oakley, 
the Duke of Bedford’s, is thus circumscribed 
with iron arches ; and the airy elegance thus 
imparted, when entwined and festooned with 
hardy and summer greenhouse climbers in great variety, is not the least attractive feature of the 
scene. A seldom used, but most classic plant for this kind of decoration, is the Grape Vine. And 
when in early autumn the foliage of various hardy species of Vitis assume a variety of tints, and ripe 
and unripe bunches of Grapes in “ bacchanal profusion reel to earth,” or rather depend from these 
arches, partly concealed by green, and red and green, and purplish foliage, the effect is extremely 
pleasing, reminding one of Byron’s lines on Italy— 
‘ ‘ Who love to see the sunshine every day, 
And Vines (not nailed to walls) from tree to tree 
Festooned, much like the back scene of a play,” 
The only difference being, that the sun, perhaps, does not shine so brightly as it does in Italy, and that 
our Vines, instead of being “ festooned from tree to tree,” are merely trained from arch to arch. In 
addition to the Grape Vine, Clematis, Jasmine, Boses, Virginian-creepers, Honeysuckles, and other 
hardy climbers, are rendered decidedly more elegant and graceful in summer time by having such 
half-hardy greenhouse creepers as Maurandia , Lophospermum, Rhodochiton, Zoasa, Tropcrolum , 
Cobcea , &c., planted at their base annually, and induced to loosely enwreath themselves, and ramble 
over their more sturdy compeers. 
The flower-basket shown below is also an interesting feature in connection with the Pelargonium 
garden at Oakley; and, since this particular kind of ornament is not in 
very general use, the following particulars relative to it may not be con¬ 
sidered out of place :—The basket portion is composed of robust, closely- 
interwoven wickerwork, annually painted green, both for effect and for 
the preservation of the comparatively frail material of which it is com¬ 
posed. In form it is circular, and made to rest upon a substantial 
wooden frame or support, constructed with a view to strength as well as 
ornament. This ornamental stand is about eighteen inches or two feet high, square in shape, with a 
circular top corresponding to the diameter of the basket bottom, and, like the latter, is painted green 
to preserve the wood, as also to harmonize in colour with the superstructure which it upholds. The 
flower-basket itself is about five feet diameter at top, two-and-a-lialf feet across at bottom, and 
about three feet in depth. The interior is necessarily furnished with a portable lining of sheet- 
iron next the wickerwork, perforated at bottom with numerous apertures for the escape of 
moisture descending through the soil, and, since the basket itself is bottomless, the circular 
false bottom of perforated sheet-iron (though, of course, placed inside the basket) is necessarily 
made to rest chiefly upon the ornamental latticed frame which supports it. It is, of course, 
a portable contrivance in toto, being disposed in winter in some dry airy place for the sake of preserva¬ 
tion from damp, and consequent decay, until again required for use as a summer ornament. Drainage 
and soil are, of course, renewed annually when re-introduced to the flower-garden; and, albeit the 
species of ornament I have described is composed, in part at least, of frail materials, if painted over 
yearly, and taken care of in the dead season, it will last for many years. 
At Oakley these flower-baskets are exclusively decorated with a miscellaneous assortment of choice 
hybrid and fancy Pelargoniums, fringed with the trailing ivy-leaved and variegated kinds, which depend 
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