, \ \ lit- t )jC cA /■> r^if \ & * . * THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/theorypracticeof00majo_0 ’r&ptiers , I. e< THE THEORY AND PRACTICE LANDSCAPE GARDENING. BY JOSHUA MAJOR, KNOWSTHORPE, NEAR LEEDS. LONDON : LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. LEEDS: REID NEWSOME. 1 8 5 2 . TO THE NOBILITY AND GENTLY WHO HAVE HONOURED ME WITH THEIR PATRONAGE. My Lords and Gentlemen, It would be ungrateful in me not to embrace any suitable opportunity of returning my most sincere thanks, as well for your present patronage, as for your numerous favours during my long professional career ; and I gladly avail myself of an author’s privilege, to dedicate these pages to all who have thus honoured me. I have the honour to be, My Lords and Gentlemen, Your most obedient Servant, JOSHUA MAJOR. Knowsthorpe, near Leeds, December 1, 1852. INTRODUCTION. Much has been already written on the subject of Landscape Gardening, and by men of high reputation ; but it has generally appeared to me that, having been either professional or amateur painters previous to directing their attention to this art, many of these writers have been so strongly imbued with special principles, or with the desire of producing a pic- turesque effect suited only to the pencil, that they have almost overlooked what I consider to be one of the essentials of Landscape Gardening, namely, the finer finish of Home, or Dress Scenery. It is partly with a view to supply the omission, that I offer this work to the public ; but also, because there is, I consider, abundant room for another contribu- tion on a subject so fertile as the formation and improvement of Scenery, on the principles of which many diverse opinions have been given to the world. Perhaps the vast variety of tastes which Floriculture produces, may be another apology for this attempt to develope new ideas, and improve on those which have been long known and followed. I admit that the production of a Picturesque Landscape is, or should be, a primary object with the Landscape Gardener ; and that, in order to copy Nature as closely as possible, he, like the Landscape Painter, must study the principles and elements of picturesque beauty. But this is not all. Whilst to both belongs the art of producing a generally pleasing effect, to the former it exclusively appertains to give the detail of that which the latter only gives, as it were, in outline. The Painter sketches his ideas ; VI the Landscape Gardener not only sketches, but attends to the filling-up and carrying out of his designs. I have followed Landscape Gardeners, indeed, whose practice has been merely to give rough sketches of their projected improvements, and then to leave their execution to others. But such is not my idea of a Land- scape Gardener’s duty, for in this way the Home view, or Dress Grounds, which ought always to he brought to the nicest finish, because they are constantly under the eye, are often left in the most slovenly and inartistic state ; thus exposing the artist to censure, and occasioning disappointment and vexation to those who consult him. It is thought by many that, if the art of Landscape Gardening were more generally studied, the result would he materially to injure the profes- sion, by destroying its emoluments, — that landed proprietors and others would design their own plans, lay out their own estates, and superintend their own alterations. But this is not my opinion, for I have generally found persons of the most cultivated taste peculiarly anxious for improve- ments, and most ready to employ a professional man to execute them. And this is reasonable ; for the same good taste which shews them what is wrong, also convinces them of their own inability, from want of practical experience, to rectify it. However, my object in this work is to assist in promoting a general taste for Landscape Gardening, and I hope my readers will find considerable assistance from a careful perusal of its pages. In them are suggestions for the Laying-out and Arrangement of both Park and Villa Grounds, and for the Planting of Forests, down to that of Flower beds. They will find, also, what methods to pursue and what to avoid, — what constitute harmonious beauties, and what discord. In matters of taste, there have always existed, and ever will be found, great differences of opinion ; but I am content to submit my ideas to the ordeal of public opinion, and to abide its decision. Some of the views Vll herein expressed may excite censure, for I have spoken freely of what I consider errors in taste, — no matter whose the demesne, or whose the hand that planned it ; but my thoughts are given to the world without any unkind intention to any one. They are offered as the result of forty years’ experience. From boyhood, — through life, — at all times, I have been extremely fond of Landscape Gardening, both as an amusement and as a profession, and have looked for reward only in an improved public taste for so delightful and interesting a pursuit. CONTENTS. PAGE On Consulting the Landscape Gardener prior to fixing the Site for a House 1 The Site for a House 3 The Style of House best adapted to particular situations 6 The Formation of the Lawn or Ground in immediate connection with the House 9 The Old and New Systems of forming the Dress Grounds in connection with the House 18 The Disposition and Form of Shrub Beds in the Dress Ground 25 Flower Gardens, considered in their various departments and under various characters 27 The Shrubbery 42 Dress Wooded Scenery in connection with Tender Trees and Shrubs 45 Rural Walks and Drives in natural Wooded Sceneiy 46 Trees and Shrubs about the House and Pleasure Grounds 49 Ornamental Trees and Shrubs 56 Arrangement and Position of Plants of peculiar character 72 Walks 74 Water 79 Bridges 90 Seats and other Garden Ornaments 93 Fountains 96 Plant Houses 101 The mode of Fencing between the kept Ground and the Park 103 The Approach 107 Lodges and Gates 114 Dress Scenery 118 Rural Scenery 132 Picturesque Scenery 133 Romantic Sceneiy 134 Park Scenery 137 The Outline of Plantations 150 The Arrangement and Grouping of Trees 151 Prospect Scenery ; or Scenery beyond the Park 163 Trees best suited to Form the Aerial Line 165 The Management of Ornamental Trees and Screen Plantations 167 Fences for Park and Forest Plantations 169 The Time of Planting Trees, with a few Cautionary Directions 172 X PAGE Sea Side Planting 176 Removing Large Trees 178 Town Gardens 183 Suburban Villas 185 The Kitchen Garden ....o 187 A few Observations on Villages 189 Public Parks connected with Large Towns 193 Miscellaneous : — Shrubs suitable as Undergrowths for Thickening Plantations 197 Climbing Plants 198 Plants for Beautifying Trees which are not of themselves pleasing objects 198 Compost for Plants 199 To Protect Tender Plants 199 To Destroy Weeds in Walks ] 99 To Destroy Worms infesting Walks and Lawns 200 REFERENCES TO PLANS. PAGE Plate I. — Ideal Plans for Town Gardens 184 Plate II. — Ideal Plan for a Villa Residence, upon One Acre of Ground 185 Plate III. — Ideal Plan for a Villa Residence, upon Four Acres of Ground 186 Plate IV. — Ideal Plan for a Winter Garden 34 Plate on the Grouping of Trees 159 The following Plans are inserted at the end of the Book, viz. : — Plate V. — Ideal Plan, shewing the General Arrangement of a Country Residence. Plate VI. — Ideal Plan of Park attached to a Country Residence. Plate VII. — Ideal Plan, shewing the General Arrangement of a Palace or Mansion Grounds. THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING. ON CONSULTING THE LANDSCAPE GARDENER PRIOR TO FIXING THE SITE FOR A HOUSE. When a gentleman has made up his mind to build or alter a house with appropriate grounds, and intends to consult the Landscape Gardener, he should do so in the first instance, before taking further steps. I confess I am surprised that this is so little regarded, because it is the very object of the Landscape Gardener’s profession to fix the different views, and subject the varied scenery to his own command. In his mind the house is but a mere speck, and yet so important a point that every thing else should be made to contribute to its grandeur, beauty, comfort, and convenience. Nor am I alone in the opinion which I have thus expressed. Mason says — “ I am of opinion that, when a place is to be formed, he who disposes the grounds and arranges the plantations, ought to fix the situation, at least, if not to determine the shape and size of ornamental buildings.” Loudon also remarks — “ In most cases an Architect is almost as ill qualified to decide upon the proper situa- tion for a house, as a Landscape Gardener would be to build one.” By these remarks I mean no disparagement to the Architect, nor do I wish either to supersede him, or to interfere with his particular province, viz., that of building the house and its appendages ; but to determine the position of the house and its principal entrance, with the sites for stables and other r outbuildings, is unquestionably the province of the Landscape Gardener. The Architect himself would acknowledge the propriety of my suggestion, and the B 2 justice of my remarks, had lie witnessed, as a Landscape Gardener, the numerous miserable (and not unfrequently irremediable) errors that have come under notice in the course of my practice, arising from either not calling in the Landscape Gardener till the house, &c., was built, or until some operations had been commenced. In some instances it has been necessary for the approach to pass through and interfere with the repose of the pleasure grounds, and even disturb the privacy of the living rooms ; and in others, the kitchen garden, stables, and out-offices, have been glaringly prominent, in consequence of the entrance requiring the approach to pass them : all which nuisances might have been avoided by an earlier consultation with the Landscape Gardener. ON THE SITE FOR A HOUSE. In determining the site for a house, several things have to be taken into consideration. 1st. The Aspect — which should be south-east, if possible; if not, then south or east, or north-west. North, west, and south-west are all objectionable, on account of the cold and boisterous winds ; and particularly the latter, on account of both winds and rains. South and south-east aspects are decidedly the best ; they are the driest and the most cheerful, and therefore most suitable for the principal living rooms, while less important rooms may have a cooler aspect, and serve as a retreat during the hottest parts of summer. 2nd. Shelter — which also is a matter of primary importance. In choosing a site for a house, we should, of course, not fix it upon the summit of a hill, (I do not mean gentle rising ground, for in that case the summit may often be most suitable, not only for the sake of effect, but in order to avoid damps Figure 1. and fogs,) nor the highest point of the domain, unless it is well clothed with trees, as an edi- fice in such a situation would not only be very much exposed to boisterous weather, but prominent in the extreme, and at variance, therefore, with good taste ; and a plantation of young trees would be at least half a century in either producing effect, or in affording sufficient shelter in high exposed situations. (Fig. 1.) 4 If, however, it is thought desirable to fix the site on a high situation, advantage should be taken of any moderate level that may occur in it, as far Figure 2. below the summit as circumstances will allow. The intermediate slope between the summit and the house will then afford a favourable opportunity for general composition, be more suitable for the growth of trees, afford a readier access to the house, and, therefore, be altogether more convenient and conducive to general effect and comfort. (Fig. 2.) When, on account of the steepness of the hill, there would be too great an accumulation of material in the formation of one continued platform for the house, offices, yards, stables, &c., two platforms may be Figure 3 Edit! made : one for the house, offices, and kitchen yard (Jig. 3 a) ; and the other for the stables, &c., the latter taking the higher level (Jig. 3 b). Whenever practicable, the site for a mansion should, unquestionably, be selected in the vicinity of old trees, whether they form groups in parks or fields, or are found singly, yet numerously, in hedgerows, or collectively in the shape of massive forests. Spots commanding extensive and interesting prospects (though very pleasing) ought to yield to situations of this descrip- tion ; for a mansion thus associated, though new, becomes at once embosomed in shelter, and bears immediate marks of grandeur and dignity, which nothing but antiquity could otherwise have given to it. And although it may not command all the best and most desirable prospects, yet the absence of these may in a great measure be compensated for by judiciously bringing into view such scenery (where it exists) at various points in the pleasure grounds ; a circumstance which would probably create more variety and greater interest than if all the principal scenery were commanded at one view. We too often find a disposition to build on high elevations, for the mere sake of an exten- sive view, which seems with some persons all-in-all, regardless of either com- fort or health. But, in my opinion, the most desirable site for a mansion is that which combines the greatest amount of comfort and convenience within and around it, with the most interesting rich home and middle scenery. This is far preferable to a site exposed to inconvenience and stormy blasts for the sake of prospect. The house should be placed on ground composed of dry material, as damp situations are unhealthy. When the site is not naturally dry, it may be rendered so in a great measure by forming, in addition to the main drains, numerous rubble or tile drains, from eighteen inches to two feet or more deep, in the immediate vicinity of the house, and by mixing stones, gravel, or any other hard or shelly material, freely with the soil whilst forming it. In fixing the site, the most appropriate and interesting capabilities for creating pleasure ground are of the highest consideration, and it should also present a suitable situation for the kitchen garden. ON THE STYLE OF HOUSE BEST ADAPTED TO PARTICULAR SITUATIONS. As the style of a house should be, in a great measure, adapted to the scenery of its locality, I will give a short description of the principal kinds of scenery, suggesting at the same time the kind of house which I consider best suited to each. There are generally reckoned to be five principal kinds of scenery, viz., The Grand; the Romantic; the Picturesque; the Beautiful; and the Rural. Grand Scenery is distinguished by hold, striking, and majestic features of vast extent. Mountains, for instance, which swell boldly out; or rocks which rear aloft their gigantic heads, or stretch far into the ocean, or into the still smooth lake, which reflects back the dark shadows of overhanging woods. Examples of the Grand are generally to he found in lake districts, in West- moreland, Cumberland, &c. A mansion to preside over such scenery should either he Italian, Gothic, or Castellated ; hut if the undulations of ground are abrupt immediately in connection with the site for the erection, either the Castellated or the Gothic style would he the most suitable. Romantic Scenery is where we find nature in her wildest and most changeful mood ; ever varying in hold and sudden contrasts, such as pre- cipitous and shelfy rocks, the impetuous cataract, the rapid river, the yawning cavern, the root-bound and craggy steep, tangled woods and wild and varied undergrowths, as may be seen at Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire, and Dovedale, in Derbyshire. To such scenery the Elizabethan, or Castellated, style would be suitable. Picturesque Scenery is nature in her simplest and most artless form — hill, dale, brook, thicket; the stunted oak and the bramble bush; the ash, the elm, the sycamore, and their climbing parasites; and whins, and thorns, and 7 other indigenous bushes ; a fountain gushing from some cleft into a little basin of moss-grown stones, and the wild rose and the woodbine intertwined, as we see it everywhere on the broken banks and craggy hills of Wharf dale, and in most mountainous or hilly districts. The Elizabethan style is best suited to scenery of this description, with its numerous gables, and projec- tions, terraces, vases and urns, and other similar decorations. Beautiful Scenery is that which is quiet and retiring, where everything is soft and blending, and where there are no sudden contrasts, but composed of bold and gentle undulations, and adorned with handsome and stately trees, with now and then a peep at some gentle water or glassy lake." The Grecian or Italian style is most in harmony with such scenery as this. Rural Scenery is, of all, the simplest and most common. It is that where there is generally abundance of hedge-row timber, and hedge after hedge in constant succession ; where there is the busy farm, dotted and animated with sheep, and cattle wading through the muddy pools or cool shallow streams. Here should be placed a modest unassuming house, or cot- tage orne, either of which would be well adapted to it. Or, if the domain be large, (demanding a family residence), a manorial edifice might be suitable. Scenery of this kind prevails most generally on the Great Northern Line, from the junction at Knottingley, near Ferrybridge, to within a few miles of London. Whatever the style of the house may be, the stables should always be in character, and be placed at a convenient distance from it : near enough to associate with the house, and appear to belong to it, but never so prominent nor on so extensive a scale as to be mistaken for the mansion itself ; nor yet so completely concealed or planted out as either not to appear at all, or to seem but a very insignificant appendage. The various offices should always be above ground, and correspond with the style of the mansion, whatever it may be, and placed in close connection with it. Buildings of this description should be arranged in broken lines, and be of different elevations, and attached to the main building by ornamental walls of different heights : they thus not only produce variety, extent, and importance, but being broken and * The scenery about Harewood House, in Wharfdale, and farther up the vale towards Bolton Abbey, as well as that viewed from the Great Northern Railway a few miles north of London, and the vale of Richmond, near London, are good examples of the beautiful. 8 finished with judicious planting, they form an interesting and picturesque whole, and, at the same time, obviate that square, compact, heavy appearance which the house assumes when destitute of such accompaniments. Carriage Entrance. — With regard to the carriage entrance, I would in no case have this on the same front with the principal living rooms ; an error unfortunately too often fallen into, hut which ought most studiously to be guarded against, as it destroys all privacy, and — to say nothing of the imper- tinent gaze of strange servants, &c. — subjects the family to be taken by surprise by visiters suddenly approaching at an inconvenient moment. Again, the carriage entrance front should not, where it can he avoided, command the best and most interesting scenery : as, in the hurry of approaching and leaving the house, it would run the risk either of being overlooked altogether, or, to say the least, of not being sufficiently admired and appreciated. The choice scenery should unquestionably be reserved for the principal rooms, where it can be studied and enjoyed at all times in uninterrupted privacy and quiet. I remember an instance in which the principal entrance occupied the best front, commanding the most interesting scenery. In that instance the approach was actually obliged to pass close to the kitchen yard, and almost wholly round the stables, in order to reach the entrance front door, between which and a stupendous precipice there was scarcely room left to turn a carriage. It is scarcely credible that such an error should have been com- mitted under the eye of a highly respectable Architect ; but such is the case, and it goes far to prove the necessity of first calling in the Landscapist, not only to fix the site of the house, but also the position of the main entrance. ON THE FORMATION OF THE LAWN OR GROUND IN IMMEDIATE CONNECTION WITH THE HOUSE. Previously to erecting a mansion, the greatest care should be taken to obtain the proper levels. An error (for want of this precaution) is often productive of most serious inconvenience and expense. For instance, when called in after a house has been commenced, I have often found the bottom of the plinths, which is the point that ought to regulate the level of the finished ground, placed considerably too high ; so much so, that an immense quantity of materials, not always available, and often to be procured from a distance, and consequently at great cost, has been required for raising the ground about the mansion, and bringing it into harmony with the park and the rest of the pleasure ground. Moreover, for want of materials to level with, the improver is compelled to form an Figure 4. otherwise unnecessary terrace or terraces, or raise a sudden artifi- cial knoll (figure 4, dotted fine a), which must evi- dently not only appear as such, but also produce the appear- ance of being inadequate to support the edifice, from its steepness at so short a distance from the building, which ought rather to appear bold and natural, as at b. Although I approve of the terrace with its wall, (as will be seen here- after), which would assist greatly in improving the appearance, yet it is not every gentleman who will either approve or be at the expense of it. Without it, however, the building would seem disproportionate in its elevations. A c 10 want of connection also arises, while the natural harmony between the ground on which the house stands, and the rest of the pleasure ground and park, is destroyed. The levels should be so managed in fixing the house, as to produce, when the materials are removed, a platform sloping almost imperceptibly (say half an inch to an inch in thirty-six) for the first eight or ten yards, then declining more or less rapidly for the next fifty or one hundred yards or more, according to circumstances, and according to the nature of the ground, whether gentle or hold, which it has to connect, so as to blend gradually and softly into the adjoining field or park. The finish should not he limited by the line set out for the fence, for an abrupt finish would create too marked a distinction between the lawn and park. In situations where the ground is of a bold or abrupt slope, I almost invariably find the bottom of the plinth of the house so placed as to clear the slope, or natural surface, the whole breadth of the house, to its back extremities, (as at figure 5, dotted line a), in consequence of which the fore- ground requires a great deal of raising, — a matter of no small difficulty Figure 5. when there are no materials to meet the demand ; whereas, if the bottom of the plinth in the centre of the house had been level with the natural surface (as at figure 5 b), the materials taken thence as far as required backwards, together with the excavations of the cellars, would, in all proba- bility, have been sufficient to raise the whole ground in front of the house to the proper level (as at figure 4 b). If an artificial platform must of necessity be formed for a residence on the side of a steep hill, considerable expense in removals may be saved by forming two platforms or levels, one for the house and yards, and the other for the stables, &c. (as at figure 3J. One continued platform for all purposes would require a great deal more excavating. In situations where the ground is naturally undulating or bold, I should, if possible, form and continue one unbroken bold slope to a considerable 11 distance from the house, on the principal fronts, both to give the appearance of firmness and stability to the ground supporting the edifice, and to secure a sufficient breadth of easy surface for walking about the house. In other parts of the lawn, (after allowing the necessary platform, as above), where it is sufficiently extensive, the natural undulations should be studiously preserved, and, where considered deficient, improved as much as possible by art, care being taken, in levelling, to fill up all slight irregularities, or abrupt holes or hollows, so that whatever the nature of the ground may be, whether gentle or abrupt, the lawn may present one smooth and uniform verdure, and thus be mown and kept in order without inconvenience. In situations where the ground about the house is very steep>, the introduction of the terrace wall, or balustrades, is essentially necessary (figure 0 a), and in all situations is far more appropriate than a sudden uniform sloping bank, which is frequently Figure 6. adopted in forming terraces, but is both at variance with good taste, and devoid of beauty. On private fronts the terrace wall should be at least eight yards from the house ; but when the house is of considerable extent, and materials can be procured for filling-up the space between the wall and the edifice, a space of ten or twelve yards may be allowed. A palace should have from fifteen to eighteen yards. In all cases, from the bottom of the plinth of the house (which necessarily guides the level of the lawn) to the dwarf wall, or balus- trades, there should be a very gentle fall, averaging not more than a quarter of an inch in the yard. At this point of level the wall must appear from about twenty inches to two feet above the lawn, on the house side of it. If the house be of such a style and importance as to require balustrades, their introduction will add much to the appearance, and in that case a greater depth will be necessary, say from two to three feet. The depth of the wall on the outside should appear in proportion to the fall of the ground ; but rather c 2 12 than it should appear too deep, (that is, not more than six or eight feet, and for villas where the ground is not abrupt, from three to four feet), the ground at the base of the wall will have to be raised (as at b), so as to show the wall a proper height, and to appear of one level or depth throughout its length ; otherwise a wall, if too deep and obliquely out of level, would have a tendency to destroy the due proportions of the structure when viewed in approaching it. I have a decided objection to the house being so elevated as to require those lofty flights of steps which we so frequently find about them. They are exceedingly inconvenient to the invalid, the aged, and the infirm, and must be a constant nuisance to ladies, particularly in wet weather. The most glaring error of this kind I ever met with was at Beaucheif Abbey, a very ancient edifice, in Derbyshire. The exact number of steps I do not remem- ber, but there must have been twenty or more, rising to the height of the first story, over the servants’ compartments. The only effectual remedy for this was an extensive terrace, which I proposed. There is another example of this kind of error at Wollaton, the seat of Lord Middleton, in Nottinghamshire. Here there are several flights of steps one above another. The first (about twelve or fifteen in number) leads to a platform or landing ; and this, again, is followed by other smaller flights leading to the door of the hall. In fact, there are numerous instances of the same kind in this country, but I mention these as most striking. Although there may, in the opinion of some, be a display of grandeur in these flights of steps, and they may appear to harmonize with the edifice, still I think an equal degree of grandeur might have been produced if the present living rooms at Wollaton had been on the ground floor, with only half a dozen steps to reach them, which is the utmost I would ever allow : and I am quite sure that a far greater amount of comfort in the interior, as well as greater extent and variety in the exterior of the edifice, might have been secured, had the compartments for the servants been associated with the west side, between the mansion and the stables, instead of being, as they now are, partially underground. It is no uncommon thing to find houses injudiciously erected on sites from which there is no fall, and sometimes even on plots considerably lower than the ground contiguous to it, so that the fall is rather to the front of the house than from it. In such cases, in order to carry off the wet, and 13 render the ground in the immediate vicinity of the house comparatively dry, (a point of the first importance), and in some degree to create an appearance of elevation, at least in the private or principal fronts, I would sink a gentle valley (figure 7 a) at a con- venient distance, parallel with Figure 7. the front of the house. A fall of an inch in the yard from the house to the centre of the valley would be quite sufficient for the purpose, for, the more gradual and gentle the fall, the less likely would the valley be to present a ditch-like appearance, which would be very offensive to the eye, and therefore very objectionable. Should there be any natural valley near, this artificial one should by all means be made to communicate with it ; but, if not, two branch valleys might be formed (b b) to serve as outlets, and be allowed gradually to disappear or wear out in the distant rising ground beyond. But such termi- nations ought to be carefully concealed by judicious planting, in order that their termination may not be readily detected. In no case should the swells caused by sinking valleys be entirely planted, since a better effect will be produced by allowing the lawn to climb naturally and variedly over a portion of the rising ground. Artificial arrangements like these, skilfully managed, may be made to look tolerably natural and undulated, and at the same time they will give a slight appearance of elevation to the house. Houses situated in sloping ground, or that which falls rapidly and obliquely across the front, as is sometimes the case, ( figure 8, line a ), seem improperly balanced, and have a very disagreeable appearance. Such defects may in some degree be remedied by building a terrace wall eight or ten yards or more, according to circumstances, from the house, and levelling all the ground within it and on the outside, by sinking at the higher end, if 14 required, (b ), and adding to the lower part in the direction of the dotted lines, making an exact level at the base of the terrace wall its whole length from c to d, then raising a swell (c), and continuing it as far beyond the angle of Figure 8. the house as will make it look tolerably bold and natural, and sinking a little in a circular direction on the contrary side, from / to g , so as to form a slight valley, and thus produce a gentle swell at h and b. This will create a somewhat corresponding appearance at each angle of the terrace ; and although an equal balance will not be produced, yet the effect will be much better than that of an oblique slope. A still greater improvement might be made, if material were plentiful, by making another swell or two, of various extent, to group with the artificial swell above named (e), at a short distance from each other, so as almost to unite and show a shallow valley, or gentle slack, between them. It will be necessary to plant that portion of the swell which is nearest the angle of the terrace, for the sake of breaking the angle, as well as for the purpose of dress, and further to destroy the deep part, and thereby producing a better balanced appearance to the house. I wish it to be distinctly understood, that although the undulations 1 have been recommending are highly characteristic in particular situations for the purpose named, I am decidedly opposed to the formation of rude artificial undulated ground, either in a site naturally level, or on a gentle slope, especially if the adjoining ground is of the same character. Nothing but absolute necessity ought to induce the improver to undulate the lawn about a mansion, unless such undulations will be in perfect keeping with the 15 surrounding ground. Some would-be Landscape Gardeners think that, whatever may he the nature and extent of the ground, nature is best imitated by sinking holes and raising mounds. I found a miserable specimen of this kind of error in the neighbourhood of an important city, where I was called in to fix the site for a house, which specimen was afterwards laid out by a gentleman who, it was said, had wrought wonders on a small plot of ground in the metropolis. The extent of space operated upon was about twenty-five yards broad in the principal front, and about thirty in the two others, from the house to the fence. In this confined spot of level ground, harmonising with smooth level pastures, a deep excavation was formed in one part, at the bottom of which, when the weather happened to be sufficiently wet, an irregular stagnant pool of water might be seen, little better in appearance than a common liorse-pond, eight or ten yards long by three to five broad, and crossed by a rustic bridge. Of the material taken from this pond was formed a zigzag ridge, resembling a crooked canal bank, which abruptly destroyed the harmony between a beautiful smooth pasture and kept ground; the bank was for the most part planted with shrubs, which would eventually confine the eye, ever impatient of restraint, within the dress ground. The lawn between the varied part and the carriage road was laid out as a flat formal parterre, with a fountain in the centre. As the greatest portion of both these scenes, so totally different in character, was commanded from one point of view, the incongruity appeared glaring in the extreme, and completely at variance with all the principles of taste, and was calculated to strike even a common observer as a piece of absurdity. I have been the more particular in this description, for the purpose of showing the folly of attempting both rugged and smooth scenery within a limited space, and especially in one so contracted that the whole could be comprehended by the eye at one view. The foregoing remarks would seem to apply more par- ticularly to new places, but similar operations will occasionally be found necessary in remodelling old places. In the latter work, judgment is required in rejecting what is bad, and retaining what is either really good, or at all events capable of improvement. In remodelling, it is by no means necessary to sweep all old things away indiscriminately ; many things may be retained with considerable advantage. Great regard must be had to ornamental trees and shrubs, as well as architectural appendages. Thinning is one of the 16 principal things to be attended to, and one which, if skilfully managed, will have a most striking and beneficial effect. Groups and masses may most frequently be much improved by clearing away many useless things, so as to display more fully the characteristic beauties of individual plants, and yet fully preserve necessary associations. Openings and vistas will have to be formed, so as to command objects of interest in the distance; but in all alterations, harmony with the edifice and surrounding scenery must he carefully studied. The breadth of the kept ground between the house and the fence dividing the park from the kept ground, must necessarily vary according to circumstances, the foremost of which is the importance of the place itself ; it may range from thirty to one hundred yards. When a park is kept tolerably close cropt by sheep or cattle, I consider an extensive breadth of lawn unnecessary, especially on the entrance front ; I should much prefer a greater expanse of secluded pleasure ground. The level of the lawn, as it approaches the fence, should gradually blend into the park, so as to avoid any abrupt or marked distinction between them. Should the park not be cropt sufficiently close by sheep, &c., the coarser tufts may be mown occasionally to a short distance, and thus the harmony between the two may be tolerably well preserved. In carrying out the finish of the lawn where it is difficult and expensive to procure sods, after the ground has been properly levelled down and well consolidated, the whole of the beds and walks may be lined out with narrow sods, six inches broad for beds, from that to twelve inches for walks, taking care that no bed be nearer any walk than two feet, so as to leave at the least two feet verge, except in very limited places, when the whole is lined and the sod laid sufficiently low for the earth to be quite level with the top of the sod. The rest of the intended lawn may be sown down with proper lawn seeds, either early in Spring, or any time during the middle of Summer until September, in showery weather. Spring and Autumn are the best periods, as drought often proves fatal to the young sprouting seeds, the consequence of which is a broken bald verdure. The Kind of Seeds. — Poa pratensis, Festuca euvina, Styckney’s rye grass, and Scotch evergreen, with a moderate supply of white clover. The two latter grasses, with a little clover added, quickly make a nice lawn. 17 As, in the operation of levelling and forming the lawn, some parts are often so impoverished as scarcely to grow the grass at all, when the seeds are sown, it will be well to give the whole a slight manuring with guano, or other decayed manure. Rolling, as soon as the grass is well up, and when the ground is not too wet, will be of great service ; and frequent mowing, as soon as it can be done, will be necessary. But, at this stage of its growth, it will be proper to be cautious, in clearing off the cut grass, not to disturb the tender plants. Gentle raking will be better than sweeping, and rolling will be useful just after. In this way, a nice lawn may be produced in one year. D ON THE OLD AND NEW SYSTEMS OF FORMING THE DRESS GROUNDS IN CONNECTION WITH THE HOUSE. Since the days of Kent, Mason, and Brown, our first promoters of the English or natural style of Landscape Gardening, we have had a good deal of argument, both for and against the new and old systems ; and, notwith- standing the able and celebrated men who have lived within the last century, contending for and endeavouring to establish the English or natural style, there still evidently exists a danger of true taste giving way to mannerism. There are some professors of the art of Landscape Gardening in the present day, who contend that the formal style should invariably be associated with the Castellated, the Elizabethan, the Gothic, or Manorial building ; but why, I am totally at a loss to understand. They certainly have antiquity on their side, if that is their vantage ground; but will they tell us that Landscape Gardening, like Architecture, had reached the acme of perfection in ancient times, or that further improvement is impossible ? Will they tell us that, because it was the fashion in former days to associate terraces, and balus- trades, and flights of steps, &c., with the Elizabethan, the Castellated, the Gothic, or Manorial style, and to embellish the kept grounds with geometrical and formal parterres, bowling greens, oblong ponds, high clipped hedges, and fantastical bushes, it is, therefore, right to continue this practice, as if these were fixed and unalterable principles ? They may, indeed, tell us so, but they will have difficulty in convincing us of the fact. Such principles, in new formations, are quite inadmissible at the present day. The fact of our rinding Italian, Dutch, and Flemish gardens, indiscriminately associated with the old English, Elizabethan or Gothic, Grecian and Itahan, styles of architecture, is sufficient to prove to any unprejudiced mind, that there neither are, nor ever were, any fixed principles in Landscape Gardening calculated 19 to suit every style of architecture, and that the adaptation of Landscape Gardening to these different styles was always a matter of mere fancy and fashion, rather than of any fixed principles whatever. But, although the customs of the past, with their assumed true taste, are revived and imi- tated by some professors, yet let us hope that good sense and good taste will never allow its revival to succeed and supersede the free, cheerful, and flowing style of modern gardening, which has supplanted, in a great degree, the gloomy, harsh, and formal style of a few centuries ago. Let the proprietors who are about to lay out their grounds, not suppose that because they are building Gothic or Castellated Mansions, the grounds need be laid out in the formal style. No; as I have already said, that, in my opinion, would he a false principle. Before they adopt that course, let them visit the various noblemen’s and gentlemen’s seats which are supposed to be excellent specimens both of the ancient and modern styles, with their minds unbiassed; they will then be able to understand the difference, and judge for themselves ; and I am satisfied that in ninety-nine cases out of every one hundred, their choice will be for the modern, and not for the ancient. In the formation of a new place I should always have a straight walk of gravel or flags along the front of the house, whatever may be the style of the mansion. I have no objection to the introduction of the terrace wall, balustrades, steps, vases, and other architectural decorations, in accordance with the general style of the building. Indeed, to all good houses these accompaniments ought never to be wanting, as they not only apparently add to their strength, and form a base to them, but by seeming a part, they increase the extent, importance, and richness of the whole. In places of pretension the entrance court and stable yard should also be enclosed (as shown in the general plan for a palace or mansion grounds) by proper ornamental walls, embellished with vases, urns, &c. ; and in arranging these accompaniments I should place the terrace wall (as I have stated a few pages before) from twenty-five to forty-five feet from the house, according to the extent of the building. But this must be apportioned with judgment and caution ; for, on looking from the house, were the distance from it too great and the wall too high, the lawn beyond would on the one hand appear too contracted, and on the other, in approaching the house from the park, the connection of the two would be completely destroyed, for it would prevent the d 2 20 wall, with its decorations, and house from appearing as a whole with a variety of composition — a thing I am most anxious to secure. Midway between the house and wall I should have a straight walk, from seven to twelve feet wide, extending the whole length of the building, and in some cases even as far as the walls, enclosing the various offices or outbuildings, if the extent and magnitude of the residence should seem to demand it (as represented in both general plans). On each side of this terrace walk I would have formal flower beds for the reception of early flowers, and other pleasing plants, to be introduced from the greenhouse or reserve garden as they come into bloom. Figure 9. These beds should have an edging of rich ornamental cast-iron work, or stone, or clay, or terra cotta, from six to nine inches deep (figure 9) ; and for ^ ^ the sake of variety, especially in the round beds, strong wire basket work. Thus a gay, beautiful, and harmonious display would be pro- duced. With the present cheap- ness of glass, the propriety of ornamental plant protectors, made to fit the beds within the baskets, suggests itself. These should be octagonal (figure 10). The frames would be best made of cast-iron, from four to five feet in diameter, and from two feet six inches to three feet 21 high, and as light as possible. They should he provided with moveable tops, to prevent the frame having to be removed more than is absolutely necessary, and in order to be convenient for ventilation and watering — (a small lid would be convenient for that purpose when much ventilation was not required). In this way beautiful plants, too tender to stand without occasional protection, might be exhibited in the spring months in the beds in front of the windows. So far, then, I admit and entirely approve of the formal style, without at all taking into consideration the character of the edifice ; but, beyond this, the formal or geometrical style has no right whatever to he claimed by any style of edifice ; and to copy the stiffness and absurdities of antiquity in the formation of a new place, is not only erroneous, hut absolutely barbarous. In no case would I admit, either on the terrace or principal lawn in front of the house, those flimsy fantastical flower beds so improperly introduced by some of the supporters of the geometrical or formal system ; for they not only betray want of extent in the ground, as if there were no room elsewhere, but detract from what there is. An instance of this injudicious laying out appeared in the grounds of a noble castellated place respecting which I was consulted. The terrace in front of the edifice, level with its base, is terminated by three, four, or five steps, I forget exactly how many. Ascend these, and you find yourself on a second terrace, with a parterre before you, geometrically formed with box edging, and displaying a variety of figures, cut up into such narrow stripes, and terminating in such long sharp points, that in some places for a considerable length there is scarcely room for more than a single plant in breadth, and that is in danger of being smothered by the box edging. These beds, together with a faintly dripping fountain, form altogether the most miserable specimen of ornamental work I ever saw. In comparison with the noble edifice they are intended to adorn, they are perfectly contemptible, and make one lament the barrenness of the taste which could either propose or adopt such absurdities. I have said above, that, beyond the terrace-wall, no style of house has any claim to formality. The principal or general lawn should never be subjected to the laws of the formal system. In short, all formality should cease with the terrace-wall (except where it may be necessary to associate with any other ornamental structure, or in compartments purposely set apart for that purpose). Beyond 22 this, masses and groups, as well as single specimens of ornamental trees and shrubs, should be disposed so as to show various expanses of lawn, and thus deceive the eye as to the real extent of lawn from any given point. On one front, where practicable, the park may, with propriety, be connected with the terrace-wall, which will serve as a fence between the park and grounds. Gilpin and others support the old system of high walls and close clipped hedges, especially in old places, as affording shelter and protection from the obtrusive eye ; but in forming new places, at this day, I see no reason why the improver should follow such examples, at the sacrifice of good taste or true principles. Independently of this, however, shelter and retirement may, in my opinion, be better and sooner produced by a shrubbery than by a clipped hedge. The broad straight walk along the front of the mansion will generally afford ample space for walking exercise, when the weather is too unsettled for venturing out to a greater distance ; and the winter garden (a site for which is given in the palace plan, and delineated on a larger scale, plate 4) will provide all that is requisite for comfort and retirement, without the introduction of harsh lines of high walls and clipped hedges into the landscape, which both offend the eye and mar the prospect, when arranged after the ancient style. Gilpin seems, also, to advocate the formal kitchen garden as a means of prolonging the necessary exercise, in which he says, “ A succession of various objects imparts a pleasing variety of sensation to the mind.” Now, to me, it is surp rising that Gilpin, a man of otherwise great taste and practical experience, should have made such a remark. The kitchen garden ought never to be considered a portion of the pleasure ground, nor a place for recreation or exercise, although sanctioned by antiquity. The constant presence of workpeople, so destructive of privacy, is alone sufficient to prove my theory ; if not, the unpleasantness arising from decaying vegetables, manure, &c., forbids it altogether, showing, at once, that visits there ought to be few and optional, and that it is not intended to be a place of general resort. The interest we feel in ancient places arises more from the fact of their antiquity, and their celebrity for extraordinary events, than from the style in which the grounds and gardens have been laid out : and it must be evident that the stiff arrangements which are in the vicinity of the mansion, and especially those seen from the living rooms, can never inspire the mind with 23 the interest and delight which are produced by gentle and graceful sweeps, with natural, or irregular and varied, masses and groups of trees and shrubs, blending softly and gracefully, with intricate glades of smooth lawn quietly and uninterruptedly retiring into distance. On the one hand, all is stiff, formal, and confined. Long straight walks, bowling-greens, vegetable gardens, &c., are ornamented with fantastic bushes, and bounded by high walls, and hedges clipped to an immeasurable height, as if art, conscious of its own inferiority, was making a gigantic effort to exclude the beauties of nature. On the other hand, all is easy, natural, and unrestrained. The eye, unim- peded by hard and restrictive avenues, and other lines of demarcation, — those frequently awkward and always objectionable features of the old system, — after pleasurably surveying the softness and harmony of the home scenery, passes freely and unrestrained to the park or middle distance, and thence over beautifully varied scenery, to the stiller and more distant landscape. Allowing, however, that the antiquity of a place contributes much to its interest, I should proceed more cautiously in directing the alterations of it, in order to preserve that interest and importance which time and its connection with historical events have created. I should, in the first place, preserve the terrace and terrace walls, repairing them where necessary, and, if too plain, enriching them with vases, urns, and other embellishments in character with the building. The walls of the entrance court, with their decorations, I would also preserve. Good examples of avenues should remain, unless they produce a hard line so as to divide the park scenery when viewed from the living-rooms. The formal pond with its cascade, the fountain, alcove, statuary, dials, &c., should by no means be destroyed or removed, nor anything be done which is calculated to lessen the character of antiquity, on which the importance of an old place depends. The kitchen garden, however, with its old crooked walls, when in view of the living-rooms, I consider highly objectionable, and should remove at once, and convert its site into lawn, varied with rich shrubs, or, if too extensive, add a portion to the park, and plant it with groups of trees, so as to harmonize as much as possible with the adjoining natural scenery. Should the proprietor, however, prefer the formal character altogether, the lawn, at all events, should be bold, and not cut up too much into useless fantastical figures. Elongated and round beds (either with or without edgings of ornamental iron or stone), or baskets, 24 would be best associated with straight walks, and I would leave large square portions of lawn occasionally without any beds at all. The bowling-green, occupying, as it generally does in ancient gardens, the principal front, and thus destroying stillness and repose, I should remodel in the manner described above, and choose a secluded spot elsewhere for the purpose, remote from the gaze of servants ; for, although its boundaries might be varied with shrub- beries, &c., yet being of necessity of a flat tame surface, and difficult to be brought into concord with the adjoining ground, it would be far better removed to a distance from the mansion. ON THE DISPOSITION AND FORM OF SHRUB BEDS IN THE DRESS GROUND. I will next make a few observations on the form and disposition of shrub beds on the lawn about the house and pleasure grounds, which I propose making after the modern system. Shrubs, whether planted in masses, groups, or as single bushes, are not to be estimated merely by the elegance and variety of their forms, or the beauty and fragrance of their blossoms, but as embellishments indispensably necessary for completing the composition or combination of the home, middle, or more remote scenery, and as screens for masking out disagreeable objects. As shrubs naturally thrive best in dug compartments, the beds should be of the neatest forms and of various sizes ; never formal and lumpy, but rather long than otherwise, and with deep hollow bends and bold prominent curves and juts, rather than with numerous indentations; and they should be so arranged as not to appear in a cross direction to one another, especially when near together. Although, too, they may not be exactly opposite each other, yet they should in some degree (as I have said respecting the flower beds) appear parallel, the convex bend of one seeming to fit into the hollow of another, and those beds that are near to the walks harmonizing with the walks. Moreover, all these beds should be so disposed as to associate with each other, rather than be at equal distances all over the lawn, but in a manner to create intricacy, so as not to show the real extent of the ground, and to exhibit some bold and free glades of lawn on which the eye may repose. ( See General Plans.) Caution should also be used always to leave the narrowest part of the lawn sufficiently broad for the mower to work on freely, — a thing not sufficiently attended to by some of our celebrated professors of Landscape Gardening, as may be observed in various publications, as well as in places actually laid out, where in the forms of the beds (as well as in the space between the beds) we find some of the indentations so narrow and deep, that it is impossible to mow them E 26 Figure 11. without injuring the plants. As it is intended that the whole of the outlines of some of the beds should eventually be destroyed by overhanging or spreading growths, and the earth he completely concealed, these beds must be kept to their original shape (figure 11) for some time, until the Figure 12 shrubs attain sufficient size -to do this naturally of themselves (figure 12). This varied outline can- not be effected by stiff upright shrubs, such as roses, spireas, arborvitas, junipers, mazerians, &c. ; and, consequently, all of this stiff character which are required to remain towards the margin, should be fronted and mixed with some of the following, namely, — Daphne cneorum, Savins, Cottoneaster microphilla, Berberis impetrifolia, Mahonias, Arbutus regia, Erica lierbacea, Erica multi- flora, and other heaths, dwarf spreading cistus, dwarf evergreen St. John’s wort, Gaultheria sliallon, jointed, double, and other dwarf spreading brooms, Menziesia polyfolia, Andromeda polyfolia, and similar low reclining plants, which will cover the earthy parts, and yet not prevent the others beyond from being seen. But in order that neither these nor the larger spreading shrubs may spread out of bounds, they must occasionally be shortened in at proper places, so as to leave a natural careless outline. Beds appropriated to inter- esting shrubs of low growth, and such as, being of a stiff formal habit, are consequently not calculated to produce a broken outline — as, for instance, fuchsias, roses, azaleas, kalmias, andromedas, Rhodora canadensis, Rhododen- dron dauricum atro- virens, &c., — these will always look better retaining their neat and original form. The kind of beds we have been speaking of may be said to be proper for all the dress-lawn, not only that connected with the house, hut the more distant pleasure grounds also, where natural beauty of outline is a principal charm of the scenery. Those, however, which contain the more dehcate plants, and require digging amongst, must always have their original outline preserved with neatness and accuracy. The foregoing directions can seldom be fully carried out in a place of the old school, but much may be done by cutting down, removals, grouping, and introducing interesting shrubs when necessary. ON FLOWER GARDENS, CONSIDERED IN THEIR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AND UNDER VARIOUS CHARACTERS. I now proceed to the Flower Garden, the next compartment after leaving the principal Lawn, and which we must imagine to be separated from it by the masses and groups of shrubs just described ; not, however, by a stiff belt, but so that the principal lawn may blend softly and gradually into the flower garden. The flower garden, as will he seen from my former remarks, ought never to he visible from the windows, (except in towns and small places, where the whole pleasure grounds are necessarily confined to the front of the house), as the appearance of numerous beds and walks, by interrupting the repose and extent of the lawn, has a tendency to destroy its boldness and importance, which ought to he studiously preserved : and the practice of huddling all the most interesting objects possible into one scene, in front of the windows, ought, unquestionably, to he discarded as a decided fault. In places that will admit of it, I invariably make a point of dividing the pleasure ground into different compartments, with the intention of exhibiting various scenes, and so enhancing the interest and prolonging the exercise of the visiter, as he proceeds from one scene to another : and, as bodily and mental exercise are highly conducive to health, such recreations as will at once attract the mind and exercise the body should be preferred. Nothing, I think, is so well calculated to soothe the feelings, inspire holy thoughts, and elevate the mind, as the retirement of a flower garden, judiciously and richly decked with beautiful flowers, filling the air with odour. “ Welcome, fair scene ! Welcome, thou lov’d retreat ! From the vain hurry of the bustling great Here let me walk ; or, in this fragrant bower, Wrapt in calm thought, improve each fleeting hour. My soul, while Nature’s beauties feast mine eyes, To Nature’s God contemplative shall rise.” — Dodsley. E 2 28 The English, or Natural Flower Garden, which ought always to take precedence of every other style, is composed of lawn, and beds or patches of earth, in which flowers and flowering shrubs are planted. This garden should, in all cases, be arranged with returning walks, so that a visiter may return gradually into the principal walk homewards, when a more lengthened one would not be agreeable. A flower garden provided with only one walk, and that through the centre, is, unquestionably, ill-contrived ; because it always obliges a person to return the way he came. And a flower garden on turf, without a gravel or dry walk, is worse. A walk is not only an interesting feature in the flower garden, but it is indispensable for the inspection of flowers, when the grass is wet. This kind of garden, when space will allow, may be subdivided into the following compartments, namely, — The General Flower Garden, American Garden, Florist Garden, Rosarium, Annual Garden, and Group Garden, which, though severally quite distinct and perfectly complete, need only he separated by walks, assisted by a judicious disposal of various masses and groups of shrubs and low trees, in order to produce one interesting whole. Gentle and smooth undulations add much to the interest of the English Flower Garden, which, when the ground is an extensive flat, may be arti- ficially contrived by sinking some portions of the ground, and raising others. The character of the flower beds ( see Plan for a Country Piesidence ) should generally he long rather than otherwise, of various elegant forms, produced by angles and graceful curves ; all repetitions, except circles, and all such figures as ovals, hearts, squares, oblongs, queen cakes, &c., being studiously avoided. I may here mention, that I disapprove of the common practice of raising the soil in beds much above the level of the lawn. These unnatural mole-hill-like forms, throwing, as it were, the lawn into sudden inharmonious slacks, are highly offensive to the eye of taste. When a bed is formed on level ground, the centre should never he raised more than from two to six inches above the turf, according to the size of the bed ; hut when formed on rising ground, and the turf appears to follow naturally, it will he in perfect keeping to raise the soil boldly to the centre of the bed. In the disposal of the beds, the lawn must not be regularly spotted over with them, as we often see, exhibiting equal walk-like portions of grass between ; they ought to he thrown into different forms, the beds arranged in some degree in groups, with naturally varied expanses of lawn, the narrowest 29 parts of which should always be wide enough to afford sufficient room for the scythe, — say, five to six feet at the least. The beds should be made to harmo- nize with each other ; the swell or convex part of one bed should appear to retire in some degree into the recess or hollow part of another, and should by all means run parallel to the walk, and not seem to start off at right angles to it. ( See General Plan.) I mean those that are nearest to it. The small beds will produce the best effect when associated with the larger ones, and not when assembled together, the smaller beds in one neighbourhood, and the larger ones in another. I never introduce wire basket-work about any but round beds ; with these, basket-work and iron edgings are strictly in character, and are an indispensable ornament to them. Before commencing my observations on the various classes of the Flower Garden, I will take the liberty of addressing a few remarks to gardeners generally. From the little attention paid to the cultivation of plants by young gardeners whilst learning their business, one would suppose it a thing either altogether unconnected with it, or at least one to which it was a matter of very little consequence whether they attended or not. Hence it very often happens that a taste for flowers is never cultivated, and notions imbibed in youth are practised to old age, unimproved and profitless ; consequently we find the same dull round of old flowers year by year fringing the shrubberies of the pleasure ground, and too often even the borders of the kitchen garden. This is a deplorable state of things, and calls for immediate remedy. The study and cultivation of flowers and plants generally are, in my opinion, among the most important and interesting branches of the gardener’s employment ; and I do not hesitate to say, that nothing would tend so much as a knowledge of these to elevate him in the opinion of his employer. Every gardener who can read and write, (and without a knowledge of these no man ought to be a gardener), should at least be acquainted with the names of plants, their native places, the time of their introduction and blooming, and the proper mode of culture. I need not tell a man possessed of these advantages how far superior he is to one who, on being asked about the names, culture, &c., of plants, is obliged to confess his ignorance in the common apology, that he has paid but little attention to such things, having almost exclusively applied himself to the kitchen garden and forcing department. Such a man will never be fit for anything beyond 30 the kitchen garden, and is consequently eligible for hut few situations ; whilst one who, along with his various other avocations, has carefully studied the cultivation and management of plants, and has not lost sight of mental improvement, is eligible for any situation. As is sufficiently proved in our own day, he may even rise to a very high standing both in respectability and in fame. General Flower Garden. This is expected to be furnished with every possible variety of interesting herbaceous perennials and other dowers, and, therefore, every place with any pretensions to a garden should be provided with one of this description. It would be well if every proprietor would allow the introduction of all the most pleasing varieties of plants, rather than content himself with the monotonous repetition of the common kinds, so frequently to be met with in places where we look for choicer specimens. American Garden. This is so termed from its being principally furnished with such American plants as bear our climate ; and, as these plants are grown in peat or bog soil, many of our own English productions being grown in similar soil, the two are often associated together, and erroneously classed under the common name of American plants. This kind of garden may be said to be adorned, principally, with beautiful dowering shrubs, though several herba- ceous plants also belong to it. Great caution is required in the arrangement of the plants, as it too often happens that the larger and smaller plants are crowded together in one bed. For instance, the common or large growing kinds of rhododendrons are frequently made the occupants of small beds, along with smaller growing plants, so that, when the former take to growing freely, the destruction of the latter is almost certain. Care must, therefore, be taken not to associate the large kinds of rhododendrons, azalias, Ac. , with plants of a delicate and more limited habit. All that is required is to grow the two sorts separately, according to their respective habits. The small ones will be best suited to small beds ; and the large rhododendrons and azalias may form masses or beds, exhibiting only one plant of each of the most rare and beautiful varieties. The common kinds may, also, very properly be intro- 31 duced into the shrubberies in connection with the American Garden, or any other part of the pleasure ground, with a portion of proper compost round each plant, to encourage, at least, its first growth. I have often thought a very interesting feature might he produced by planting a permanent mass of tender greenhouse heaths ; and, perhaps, this compartment might be the most suitable situation for it. I should form a stage of rock-work, composed of various specimens of spar imbedded in proper peat soil, in which I should plant the most select varieties of heaths, and form a walk round the whole. A proper structure would be necessary to afford partial shade in hot sunny weather, and also for protection during the winter months. An Arnott’s, or Walker’s, patent stove, would give out quite sufficient heat to resist frost in a frame of moderate size ; but two would be necessary for a structure fifty feet long by twenty-one feet wide. No more fire will be necessary than barely to keep out frosts. The stove would be best heated with coke, as all the nuisance of dust would thus be avoided, and the injurious effects of the effluvia, &c., would, in a great measure, be avoided, being carried off by a short iron pipe at some convenient point : the cost of fuel would not be more than from one penny to twopence a day. In this way, the true character and beauty of this lovely family would be displayed. In this garden, if sufficiently extensive, I should introduce some of the most interesting low American trees, here and there, on the lawn, both for the sake of effect, and for the purpose of affording shady situations for such plants as require shade. Provision might here, also, be made for amphibious plants, or such as require a good deal of moisture, by forming a bog-bed in the lowest part of the ground, so as to be readily kept moist by watering, when a naturally damp situation does not exist. Florist Garden. This compartment is provided for the introduction of florist or show flowers, commonly cultivated for exhibition, viz., the dahlia, tulip, ranunculus, carnation, pink, hyacinth, auricula, iris, polyanthus, anemone, Ac. Although some of these are considered to be grown better in pots for exhibition, yet beds of them, I think, are highly pleasing, and a private compartment may be kept for such as require potting. I should recommend the dahlias to be thrown into groups, each group forming a class, and each class comprehending 32 all the flowers of the same colour in all its different shades, — care being taken so to dispose the beds in the several compartments as to produce the greatest possible amount of cheerfulness and variety over the whole. In order to re-embellish the bulb beds after the decay of the foliage of the bulbous roots, as the tulip, hyacinth, ranunculus, &c., a reserve bed, or, what is preferable, a considerable stock of annuals in pots, should always be provided, so as to be introduced the moment the bulbs are lifted for their summer’s rest. In this way the Florist Garden might be kept a scene of gaiety throughout the season. Rosarium. This forms a very interesting compartment when the roses are in bloom. It is intended, of course, to exhibit a large collection at once, which is very necessary, both for the sake of a general display, and a ready comparison of the different varieties, now that they are so numerous, and in many the shades of different colour so faint as scarcely to be distinguished. I have an objection to masses of roses on lawns of small extent, for, although we allow the rose to be the queen of flowers, yet, when the plants have shed their blossoms, there are few shrubs which exhibit less beauty in their habit; and conse- quently, when the blooming season is over, such parts of the garden lose their interest. I have, therefore, generally preferred the formation of small groups of three, five, six, or more, in front of the shrubbery, to beds on the lawn. Where, however, a general collection is required, it will be necessary to provide a compartment for them, called, very properly, a Rosarium. This, as the roses lose their beauty, may be kept tolerably gay by the introduction of annuals between the plants, provision having been previously made for them at the time of planting. In arranging the Rosarium, it will be necessary to refer to some good catalogue for their classification. In all cases where we wish to preserve the natural style, I particularly recommend standards to be placed, so that their stems may be partially broken or concealed by either dwarf standards, and such as are on their own roots, or low-growing shrubs of various kinds. I think a stiff clustered head upon a small naked stem looks remarkably ill when exhibited on a lawn, or otherwise glaringly exposed ; but when placed in small groups in a border fronted with shrubs of nearly their own height, their elevated blossoms appear very 33 beautiful and certainly much more in character. Avenues and rows of standards may, however, be allowed in a formal Rosarium, which is a scene by itself : this is preferable to any irregular form, and may be planned something like those we designed for Mr. Paul’s “ Rose garden or in the manner shown in the General Plan for a palace or mansion grounds ; or the one we arranged in the Queen’s Park, Manchester. Provision must also be made for climbing roses. The readiest plan is to fix poles in the ground here and there, or place five, six, or more, so as to form a circle of three or four feet in diameter, and let them all meet at the top. Cones of iron or wood trellis, or a circular arcade, may be formed in the centre of the Rosary, over a walk, for some of the most interesting varieties of pillar roses, and the enclosure serve as a plieasantry. The Annual Garden. The Annual Garden is a plot of ground set apart for the growth of annual flowers, the varieties of which are numerous, and many of them very beautiful. The plants should be selected for their harmony of colour and size, and should be set, or sown, in patches of from three to five of each kind. They would then present a very gay and interesting appearance in their proper season, which might, in fact, be greatly prolonged by plants or seeds in successional growths. The Mass, or Group Garden. The prevailing practice of growing certain kinds of llow T ers in groups or masses, seems to demand that there should be, in grounds of suffi- cient extent, a compartment or division in the Flower Garden for this purpose, which I have ventured to term Mass or Group Garden. For instance, different varieties of verbenas, petunias, fuchsias, salvias, calceolarias, geraniums, and mimulii, are amongst the kinds used for that purpose. Whilst we admire this fashion, we must guard against its predominance over the growth of the various and beautiful perennial flowers. I think that the beds for this kind of garden should seldom be large, and, perhaps, they should be most generally round, but of various dimensions, none exceeding- six feet in diameter. Some, if not the whole of them, should also be edged round with iron or wire basket-work, as, otherwise, when the plants are trained down to the earth, they are liable to encroach upon the lawn, and to F 34 destroy the form of the beds. The larger and variously formed beds which may be introduced, should he grouped either with various kinds of plants or of varieties in one family, blending into each other. The Aquarium Forms a highly interesting feature in the General Flower Garden, in the shape of a natural rivulet, flowing in a devious course through the lowest part of it. Should there not he a natural dingle in the grounds, a suitable undulated course should be made, so that water plants may he grown, and that the sound of a rippling stream, however small, may be heard, with its refreshing and cheerful influence. ( See General Plan.) Supposing, however, that the formation of such a stream cannot be accomplished, a small compartment may be set apart, and provision made for such plants in round basins, or somewhat careless yet neat looking receptacles, margined with spar or fancy minerals, and cemented, so as to be water-tight. Water may be supplied to them, in any way most suitable or convenient, from time to time. In all the compartments to which I have referred, handsome growing flowering shrubs and low trees may he introduced here and there, as shown in the General Plans, not only to produce an effect, but to give a varied imaginary extent to each. Of course, whilst the most agreeable kinds of shrubs are introduced for the sake of beauty and intricacy, strict regard must be paid to their not being introduced too numerously, or allowed to grow too large, so as to injure the flower beds. The Geometrical Flower Garden. This compartment must stand separately from any of the rest, with which it is too formal to harmonize or he in character. I have therefore given specimens of this style of gardening, detached from the natural or English arrangement, hut linked with the appendages of the house, ( see plate 7), and to he used as a winter garden. In the plan, it will be seen that it is walled round, so, as it were, to shut it up and make it secluded, the walls being appropriated to various kinds of climbers. I have shown two modes of arranging this garden on a large scale ( see plate 4) : one, with dug beds cut out of lawn ; the other, with walks and beds edged with solid cast iron, terra cotta, or neatly dressed stone, which I prefer to the Dutch fashion of planting EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV. IDEAL PLAN FOR A WINTER GARDEN, Shewing Four Different Geometrical Styles or Patterns, for the sake of choice. Figure 1. Glass Structure for a Winter Promenade, &c. a, a. Plinth, twelve inches in breadth, and thirty-six inches in height, with shelves attached all round for plants. b, b. Walks, four feet wide, independent of the shelf, which is to he level with the top of the plinth, twelve inches broad. c, Centre walk, six feet wide. d, d. Beds of earth nine feet wide, edged round with a neat curb stone, for plants to remain permanently. The surface of the earth to be grown over with tropical mosses and low-growing ferns ; or, if it be preferred, the same space may he occupied by a stage for plants. e, e, e, e. Basins, either with or without fountains, for the growth of aquatic plants. Figures 2 and 3. Two Styles of Formal Parterres on Grass. Figures 4 and 5. Two Styles for a Formal Parterre, or Flower Garden, edged with Cast Iron, Dressed Stone, or Terra Cotta. The square dots along the walk sides are sites for sculpture, or other garden ornaments. f, f. (Fig. k.) Sites for sculpture, dials, &c. g, g. (Fig. ‘2.J Seats. The walls are to be trained with roses and other interesting climbing plants. The masses of shrubs are to be composed of handsome, small-sized evergreens. PLAN FOR A WINTER GARDEN, Skewing four different Geometrical Stifles or Patterns. Plate l. IS] IS II : ifil 2 is . .V < rv‘ SCALE OF YARDS f — TaRci/n