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5042. R o c kw o rk s. T h e author of th e F lo rist's M a n u a l observes, on this subject, th a t “ fragments of
stone may be made use of, planted with such roots as flourish among rocks, and to which it might not
be difficult to give a natural appearance, by suiting the kind of stone to th e plant which grows naturally
among its débris. The present fashion
of introducing into flower-gardens
this kind of rockwork requires the
hand of taste to assimilate it to our
flower-borders, the massive fabric of
th e rock being liable to render the
lighter assemblage of the borders diminutive
and meagre : on this point
caution only can be given, the execution
must be left to th e elegant eye
of taste, which, thus warned, will
quickly perceive such deformity. I
must venture to disapprove of the extended
manner in which this mixture
of stones and plants is sometimes introduced,
not having been able to
reconcile my eye, even in gardens
planned and cultivated with every advantage
which elegant ingenuity can
give them, to the unnatural appearance
of artificial crags of rock and
other stones interspersed with delicate
plants, to the culture of which
the fertile and sheltered border is evidently necessary, being decided that nothing of the kind should be
admitted into the simple parte rre th a t is not manifestly of use to th e growth of some of the species
therein exhibited. In pleasure-grounds or flower-gardens on an extensive scale, where we meet with
foimtains and statuary, the greater
kinds of garden rockwork might pro- 8 5 9
bably be well introduced ; but to such
a magnificent display .of a rt I feel my
taste and knowledge wholly incompetent.”
{F lo r . M a n ., p .15.) “ W here
neither expense nor trouble,” the
same author adds, “ oppose their prohibitory
barrier,manyof the vegetable
tribe may be cultivated to greater
perfection, if we appropriate different
gardens to the growth of different
SDOcies ; as, although it is essential to
th e completion of our garden to introduce,
on account of their scent and
beauty, some of th e more hardy spe-
cies of the flowers termed annuals, in
th a t situation room cannot be afforded
them sufficient to th e ir production in that full luxuriancy which they will exhibit when not crowded and
overshadowed by herbaceous vegetables ; and hence becomes desirable th a t which may be called the
annual flower-garden, into which no other kind of flower is admitted besides th a t fugacious order, and
under which is contained so great a variety of beauty and elegance, as one well calculated to form a
garden, vying in brilliancy with the finest collection of hardy perennials. Also, th e plants comprised
under th e bulbous division of vegetables, although equally essential to th e perfection of the mingled
flower-garden, lose much of their peculiar beauty when not cultivated by themselves, and will well repay
the trouble of an assiduous care to give to each species the soil and aspect best suited to its nature. Two
kinds of garden may be formed from the extensive and beautiful variety of bulbous-rooted flowers ; the
first, wherein they should be planted in distinct compartments, each kind having a border appropriated
to Itself, thus forming, in the Eastern taste, not only the ‘ garden of hyacinths,’ but a garden of each
species of bulb which Is capable of being brought to perfection without the fostering shelter of a conservatory.
The second bulbous garden might be formed from a collection of th e almost infinite variety
of this lovely tribe, the intermixture of which might produce th e most beautiful effect, and a succession
of bloom to continue throughout th e early m onths of summer. A similar extension of pleasure might
be derived from a similar division of all kinds of flowers, and here the taste for borders planted with distinct
tribes may be properly exercised, and, as most of the kinds of bulbs best suited to this disposition
have finished their bloom before th e usual time a t which annuals disclose their beauties, the annual and
the bulbous gardens might be so united, th a t, a t the period when the bloom of the latter has disappeared,
the opening t
6043. The greenhouse o r c o n s e r v a to r y 'is g en e ra lly plac ed v>
)uds of the former might supply its place, and continue the gaiety of the borders.”
co se rva ry is generaUy in tk e fiow e r -g a rd en , provided these structures
.re not appended to the house. In laying out the an ,
are area,a fit situation must be allotted for, this
tment the
iry 2829.)require here also to be applied Some recommend the distribution of the
department of floriculture, and th e principles of guidance laid down in treating of the situation of the
culinary hothouses (28'-' ' ' ' ^ ..................................... ® .....................................
botanic hothouses thrc
pie
that much the best effect i:. .
theymayforra objectsagreeab)
beauties, it appears to us that they m ust be examined in succession and without interruption. Noarrangi.
ment can be better, in our opinion, than to connect the whole of the botanic hothouses with the mansion
as an introductory scene to the flower-garden.
5044. A ccording to NeiU, a greenhouse, conservatory, and stove should form prominent objects in the
different parts of the flower-garden. The author of th e F lo rist's M a n u a l recommends a spring-conserva-
tory, annexed to the house, consisting of borders sheltered by glass, and heated only to the degree that
will produce a temperature, under which all th e flowers that would naturally bloom betwixt th e months
of February and May might be collected, and thence be enabled to expand their beauties with vigour.
{Flor. M a n ., - p .n . )
504-5. A ccording to Nicol, “ the most proper situation for the greenhouse and conservatory, in an extensive
and well laid out place, is certainly in the shrubbery or flower-garden ; and not as they are very
generally to be found, in the kitchen-garden, combined with the forcing-houses. In smaller places, no
doubt, they must be situated so as to suit other conveniences; and we often find them connected with the
dwelling-house. In this latter way they may be very convenient, especially in th e winter season, and may
answer for keeping many of the hardy kinds of exotics; but it is seldom they can be so placed and constructed,
on account of their connection with the building, as to suit the culture of the finer sorts, and
bring them to a flowering state. Such may ra the r be termed green-rooms, as being connected with the
house.” {K a len d a r,
5046. A bercrombie says, “ a greenhouse m ay b e made a very ornamental object as a stru ctu re : its
situation is, therefore, usually in a conspicuous part of the pleasure-ground, contiguous to the family residence.
The front of the building should stand directly to the south, and the ends have an open aspect to
th e cast and west.” {P ra c t. Ga rd ., p. 657.)
5047. F lo io e r-n u rse ry , a n d p i t s f o r fo r c in g fim o e r s . T o every complete flower-garden and shrubbery,
a piece of ground should be set apart in a convenient and concealed situation, as a reserve-ground, or
nursery of flowering plants and shrubs. T h e situation should, if practicable, be behind and near to the
range of hothouses, and it may a t th e same time include the pits for forcing flowers, and the hotbed
department of the flower-garden. Here plants may be originated from seed, cuttings, pipings, and a
proper stock kept up, partly in beds and partly in pots, for more easy removal, to supply blanks, and in
the more select scenes, to replace such as
have done flowering. No fiower-garden 8 6 0
can be kept in complete order without
nursery of this description ; nor could the
management of some sorts of florists’
flowers, as the auricula, during th e latter
part of summer and winter, th e carnation,
&c., be well carried on without it. Here
they may be grown, and, when in bloom, exhibited
in proper stages in the main garden.
6048. W a lk s. Inmost stylesof parterres
these are formed of g ra v e l; but in the modern
sort, which consist of turf, varied by
wavy dug beds, and surrounded by shrub,
bery, they are sometimes dispensed with.
Such a flower-garden is recommended by
the author of the F lo rist's M a n u a l, as su itable
for the “ midst of pleasure-ground,”
and th e beds “ peculiarly adapted to the
advantageous exhibition of flowers.” The
general length of the beds she recommends
to be “ from 23ft. to 2.5ft.,and th ewidth,in
the broadest part, about 4 ft. ; th e grass to
be 5 ft. or 6 ft. wide between th e beds, that
it may be conveniently mown and ro lle d :
all the beds a good deal raised.” (p. G.)
5049. I n e x tensive a n d ir r e g u la r p a r te
r r e s , one gravel-walk, accompanied by
broad margins of turf, to serve as walks for
such as prefer that material, should be so
contrived as to form a tour for th e display
of the whole garden. T h ere should also
be other secondary interesting walks of the
same width, of gravel, and smaller walks
for displayingparticular details. T h e main
walk, however, ought to be easily distin-
guishable from the others by its broad mar-
gins of fine turf. In general the gravel is
of uniform breadth throughout the whole
length of the walk ; hut in th a t sort of
French parterres which they call parterres
of embroidery {fig .% m .), the breadth of
the gravelled part {a) varies like that of
the turf. Such figures, when correctly
executed, carefully planted, judiciously
S i