U i
i J
I f e ito ■ b
1000 r.uïT III.
always be purchased, recourse must very I'requently be had to Cynosùrus cristàtus, Anthoxànthum
odoratum, and the common perennial rye grass, carefully avoiding the Dactylis glomerata, ifólcus mollis
and H . lanàtus, .ffròmus, &c., which are coarse grasses, and the seeds of which are very frequently found
mixed with those of rye grass and other species in th e seed shops. (See E n c y c . o f A g r ., § 5593. to 5713.)
.5027- Gra ssy surfac e s raay he formed by cutting tu rf in small pieces about 2 in. square, and distributing
them a t regular distances, say a t about 6 in. apart every way, over a well-prepared surface.
The practice is of old standing, but has been lately brought again into notice in Norfolk. ( See S in c la ir 's
U o rt. G ram . Wub., anà E n c y c . o f A g r ., § 5714. to 5716.)
5028. To r ep a ir a n d im p ro v e law n s in tow n s o r cities, o r u n d e r the shade o f trees, w ith o u t the a id o f
tu r f, dig the soil to the depth of 3 in. or 4 in. the last week in March or the first week in April, and
afterwards sow it thickly and regularly with the following seeds: — ^Igróstis vulgàris var. tenuifòlia,
FWiàciiduriuscula, F. ovina, Cynosùrus cristàtus, P òa pratènsis, .ivèna flavéscens, and Trifòlium m inus.
These seeds must be mixed together in equal portions, and sown a t the rate of from four to six bushels
per acre. If the seeds are regularly and thickly sown, the ground will soon become green, and will
remain as close and thick as any tu rf whatever during the whole summer ; dying, however, in the succeeding
winter, and requiring, therefore, to be revived every spring.
5029. Wa te r. This material, in some form or other, is as essential to th e flower as to th e kitchen
garden. Besides the use of the element in common culture, a pond or basin affords an opportunity of
growing some of th e more showy aquatics, while jets, drooping fountains, and other forms o f displaying
water, serve to decorate and give interest to th e scene. Besides choice aquatics, the ponds or basins of
flower-gardens may be stocked with the gold-flsh.
5030. T h e fo rm o f a small garden ( fig . 8-53.) will be found most pleasing when some regular figure is
adopted, as acircle, an oval, an octagon, a crescent, &c. : but
where the extent is so great as not readily to be caught by a
•single glance of the eye, an irregular shape is generally more
convenient, and it maybe thrown into agreeable figures, or component
scenes, by the introduction of shrubs so as to subdivide
th e space. “ Either a square or an oblong ground-plan,”
Abercrombie observes, “ is eligible ; and although the shape
must be often adapted to local circumstances, yet, when a garden
is so circumscribed, that the eye at once embraces the
whole, it is desirable that it should be of some regular figure.”
.5031. N ico l says, “ a variety of forms may be indulged in,
without incurring censure ; provided the figures be graceful,
and not in any one place too complicated. An oval is a figure
th a t generally pleases, on account of the continuity of its outlines
; next, if extensive, a circle. Next, perhaps, a segment
in form of a half-mooii, or the larger segment of an oval. But
hearts, diamonds, triangles, or squares, if small, seldom please.
A simple parallelogram, divided into beds running lengthwise,
or th e larger segment of an oval, with beds running parallel
to its outer margin, will always please.” Neill concurs in this
opinion.
5032. The a u th o r o f H in ts on the Foi-mation o f G ardens, &c.,
says, “ a symmetrical form is best adajited to such parterres
as are small and may be comprehended in one view ; and an
irregular shape to such as are of a considerable size, and contain
trees, shrubs, statues, vases, seats, and buildings.”
5033. B o u n d a r y , fe n c e , o r screen. Parterres on a small scale
may be enclosed by an evergreen hedge of holly, box. laurel,
privet, juniper, laurustinus, or Irish whin ( i/'lo x hibernica) ;
but irregular figures, especially if of some extent, can only
be surrounded by shrubbery, .-»uch as we have already hinted
(5022.), as forming a proper shelter for flower-gardens.
•5034. Abercrombie says, “ for the enclosure, a wall or close
paling is, on two accounts, to be preferred on the north side ;
both to serve as a screen, and to afford a warm internal face for training ra re trees. When cne of those
is not adopted, recourse may be had to a fence of whitethorn and holly,” 8cc. (P ra c t. G a rd ., 339.)
■5035. R u s tic fe n c e s formed of shoots of th e oak, hazel, or larch, may often be introduced with good
effect both as interior and surrounding barriers (J ig. 854.).
B o o k IV.
■5036. L a y in g o ut the a r e a . This is the most difficull part of the business, and is not to be excelled in
w ithout a considerable degree of taste and experience. In h-iying out the area of the kitchen-garden, its
destination, being utility, aflbrds in all c.ases a safe and fixed guide ; but the flower-garden is a matter of
fancy and taste, and where these are wavering and unsettled, the work will be found to go on at random.
As flower-gardens are objects of pleasure, the principle which must serve as a guide in l.Tving them out
must be taste. Now, in flower-gardens, as in other objects, there are difi'erent kinds o f tastes ; these
embodied are called styles or characters ; and tho great a rt of the designer is, having fixed on a style, to
follow it out unmixed with other styles, or with .any deviation which would interfere with the kind of
taste or impression which th a t style is calculated to produce. Style, therefore, is the leading principle
in laying out flower-gardens, as vitility is in laying out the culinary-garden. As subjects of fancy and
taste, the styles of flower-gardens are various. The modern stylo is a collection of irregular groups
and masses, placed about the house as a medium, uniting it with the open lawn. The ancient geometric
style, in place o firregular groups, employed symmetrical forms ; in France, adding statues and fountains ;
in Holland, cut trees and grassy slopes; and in Italy, stone walls, walled terraces, and flights of steps.
In some situations, these characteristics of parterres may with propriety be added to, or used instead of
the modern sort, especially in flat situations, such as are enclosed by high walls in towns, or where thè
principal bui Iding or object is in a style of architecture which will not render these appendages incongruous.
There are other character s of gardens, such as Chinese, which are not widely different from
the modern ; the Indian, which consists chiefly of walks under shade, in squares of grass, &c. ; the
Turkish, which abounds in shady retreats, boudoirs of roses and aromatic herbs; and the Spanish, which
is distinguished by trelliswork and fountains : but these gardens are not generally adapted to this climate
ihough from contemplating and selecting what is beautiful or suitable in each, a style of decoration for
the immediate vicinity of mansions might be composed preferable to any thing now in use. We recommend
the reader to peruse certam passages in Cowper’s T a sk , book iii. “ To deck th e shanelv
knoll,” &c.
5037. Masaroni, in the Ga rd . M a g ., vol.ix. p. 60., strongly recommends connection or unison between
the several beds or borders of a
flower-garden. “ Where the
shape of any individual bed,”
he says, “ can be changed at
pleasure, without injuring or
altering the general effect, the
flower-garden cannot be considered
as approaching to perfection,
notwithstanding any
sum which extravagance may
have been pleased to throw
aw_ay upon it.” He gives, as
an example,j%. 855.
5038. Abercrombie, N icol, a n d
m o st p ra c tic a l gardenia's, seem
not to understand th e subject
of style, and their rules amount
to little more than th a t of subdividing
the area by paths in
different directions. The former
author says, “ if a piece of
ground be set apart for the cu ltivation
of flowers, in what style
should it be laid o u t? This
may vary with the quantity of
surface, and the object of the
cultivator. In the first place,
carry a border round the garden,
nowhere narrower than
3 ft. or 4 ft., unless it may be
proper to contract its breadth
under the windows of the house ; or unless there be a green hedge, on any .side, rooted in the level of
the garden, which might be expected either to draw the earth, or to encroach on the small plants, in
which case flowering shrubs in Httle slips of mould would do better than dwarf-stemmed flowers. In
contact with the surrounding border may be either a grass-plot or a gravel walk. T h e latter is most
convenient for approach at all seasons. If the ground b e a t all dilated, handsome walks crossing or leading
to the centre will be also requisite : let th e prmcipal walks be 5 ft. or 6 ft. in breadth. The interior
of th e garden is usually laid out in oblong beds, 3 ft. or 4 ft. wide, with intervening alleys, 2 ft. wide, or
from th a t down to 12 in., when it is intended to abstract as little space as possible from th e cultivation
of the flowers ; or, the same end may be obtained by circular or oval beds, with smaller compartments
between, of such a form as will leave the alleys of one regular width.” (P ra c tic a l Gard en in g , v>. 340.)
5039. Ac cording to Nicol, the laying out of flower-gardens is a “ matter very much of fancy. Too many
gravelled alleys offend th e eye, especially if they be much twisted or run across ; as it comprehends the
whole a t once. Their breadths should be proportioned to th a t of th e beds ; nor should they be much
sunk ; seldom more than an inch ; otherwise they have a bad effect, and look ra the r like furrows than
alleys. They may be edged with box, with daisies, with violets, gentianella, or thrift, accordmg to
fancy. But th e edging, whatever it be, should be kept low, thin, and neat. It should seldom be allowed
to rise 2 in. high, or spread 2 in. wide. A linear box-edging always pleases, if kept quite close and
connected.” (K a le n d a r , p. 458.)
5040. T k e a u th o r o f the F lo rist's M a n u a l, though she confines her directions to one style, has much
more correct ideas on the subject than our practical authors. “ It is more difficult,” she says, “ than
may a t first appear, to plan, even upon a small scale, such a piece of ground, nor, perhaps, would any
but an experienced scientific eye be aware of the difficuUies to be encountered in the disposal of a few
shaped borders interspersed with tu rf ; th e nicety consists in arranging the different parts so as to form
a connected glow of colour, to effect which, it will be necessary to place the borders in such a manner
that, when viewed from the windows of the house, or from the principal entrance into the garden, one
border shall not intercept the beauties of another, nor, in avoiding th at error, produce one still greater,
th a t of vacancies betwixt the borders, forming small avenues, by which the whole is separated into
broken parts, and th e general effect lost. Another point to be attended to, is the ju st proportion of
green turf, which, without nice observation, will be too much or too little for the colour with which it
is blended : and, lastly, the breadth of the flower-borders should not be greater than w hat will place the
roots within reach of the gardener’s arm without th e necessity of treading upon th e soil, the mark of
footsteps being a deformity wherever it appears amongst flowers.” (F lo r . M a n ., p. 13.)
5041. T h em a te r ia ls which fo rm th e su ifa c e q f flow e r -g a rd e n s ( f ig s . 866, 8.58, 859.) are gravel (a ) , tu rf
(b ), and dug borders (c), patches (d ), or compartments (e ), and water ( / ) ; but a variety of other objects
and materials may be introduced as receptacles for plants, or on the surfaces of walks ; as grotesque
roots, rocks, flints, spar, shells, scoriæ in conglomerated lumps, sand and gravel of different colours ;
besides works of a rt introduced as decorations, such as baskets, vases, boxes, &c., of plain or rustic
work ; or tensile performances, when the old French style (Jig. 857.) is irailated.