PLATE LX. EXEMPLARS OF FLOWER-GARDENS. "Infinite numbers, delicacies, smells, With hues on hues expression cannot paint, The breath of nature, and her endless blooms."-THOMPSON's Seasons. The con We have already said in the article on Laying out Grounds, that the flower-garden should join the conservatory, and the conservatory the mansion; but its situation must face the daily sun, which is south, and as the garden contains many choice and tender species of flowers, it must be sheltered on the north and north-east sides, from which points the most destructive winds proceed. No part of the flower-garden should be exposed: it offers in itself sufficient to contemplate and admire, and its character is best preserved and associated with retirement. As to the forms of flower-beds, we find there have been a variety of designs, most having been laid out in geometrical figures or scroll-work, and where they agree in character with the architecture of the mansion, there certainly appears no objection against them, but rather consistency, though there have been differences of opinion upon the subject. As to the arrangement of plants in the flower-beds, a diversity of taste exists. noisseur florist who studies only varieties of particular species of pink, carnation, polyanthus, auricula, &c., prefers having whole beds of each of these flowers; he is anxious for the number of varieties, and most ardently solicitous for those which are rare. The botanist in his scientific pursuits looks not for an unprecedented variety of colour, nor particular construction of forms, but arranges them in classes, and prizes a new species, although possessing no beauty, to the gayest flowers in the garden: while the general observer prefers a judicious arrangement of beautiful flowers, his pleasure being in admiring the harmony, the variety, and the splendour of the blooms.* The disposal of plants in the beds of a flower-garden must depend upon the taste of the proprietor. Where there is no particular inclination to study plants scientifically, but as a flower-garden required for recreation and amusement, the object must be to produce a pleasing variety throughout the season; beds may be allotted to a general mixture of flowers, or to any particular species of choice or rare plants. Where there is an extensive collection of plants, flowers in pots may be reserved for adorning some beds, by a process denominated plunging, to reserve a continual succession of variety and bloom. This arrangement, if judiciously conducted, is best calculated to give general satisfaction, as it will afford attractions for the botanist, the florist, and the general observer. The plants for beds should consist of the handsomest flowering shrubs, the most ornamental herbaceous plants, and bulbous roots, of which there are a great variety applicable to this purpose; some of the flowering annuals will also add to the splendour of the scene. In planting, rules are to be observed for the highest shrubs, the colour of their surface, and the times of blooming. In beds near a wall, plant the highest growing shrubs inside; plant the lowest shrubs near the walks. In detached beds plant the highest growing shrubs in the middle; let shrubs in beds assume the pyramid or cone in growing up. Let the hues of the leafage of the shrubs when planted be so disposed as alternately to vary, but not to be formal. Plant shrubs so that when the bloom of one is decaying its adjoining one may be budding or coming forward. Plant all bulbous roots so that they may come in succession, beginning with the most early; by this means you will have several sorts of flowers in the same bed alternately from spring to autumn. Sow annual seeds in the same manner as above. Flowering plants being inserted in beds bounded by trellis work and grass plats, will have the appearance of flower-pots or baskets of nosegays raising out of the ground in their most happy form, and the gardener who understands that branch of his profession, which treats of the rising of those plants, will know how to diversify the scene from month to month, and give at once a succession for the whole flowering part of the year. These plants being conspicuous in many kinds before they flower, they should be known; as in the disposition of shrubs there is a great deal of room for beauty and variety. No decisive testimony can be adduced that either the Greeks or Romans indulged a taste for flowers; not at least, that would imply their having had gardens set apart for their cultivation. The people among whom a taste for flowers was in modern times first discovered to prevail, were the Chinese, the Persians, and the Turks. The vegetable treasures of the eastern world were assembled at Constantinople, whence they passed into Italy, Germany, and Holland, and from the latter into England; and since botany has assumed the character of a science, we have laid the whole world under contributions for trees, shrubs, and flowers, which we have not only made our own, but have frequently improved in vigour and in beauty, while many of our native indigenous plants have also by care and cultivation been rendered worthy a place in any parterre. The introduction of this taste into Europe may be dated from about the middle of the sixteenth century, when Flora and Pomona changed the style and taste of our domestic gardens.-(B.) PLATE LXI. ITALIAN GARDEN, ORANGERY, AND HOT-HOUSES. "Who loves a garden loves a green-house too, The spirey myrtle with unwith'ring leaf, Shines there and flourishes. The golden boast Of Portugal and Western India there, The ruddier orange, and the paler lime, Peep through their polish'd foliage at the storm, And seem to smile at what they need not fear."-COWPER. THE Italian garden is somewhat architectural, being formed of several plateaux, and each stage separated by a dwarf wall and steps, ornamented with statues and vases; those gardens likewise contain fountains, in the middle of which are Tritons, and sometimes vases on pedestals, with water rising and falling into basins. The most noted garden of this kind is that of Isola Bella in Italy, and at Chiswick and Chatsworth in England.† That great improvement in modern gardening, the hot-house, was first invented by the Dutch, who had been previously acquainted with the use of tanner's-bark in forcing early vegetation, and was introduced into this country by William III., but for a long time confined to the mansions of the great. It was first employed in rearing large trees in Kensington Gardens, where the first orangery built by that monarch still remains. Not many years afterwards it was applied to the forcing of pine-apples, for which we are indebted to Mr. Bentinck; the introduction of the hot-house into England has, therefore, created a new era in horticulture, by supplying us with the means of imitating the temperature of every climate, and regulating it at discretion; it has afforded us the power of bringing the tenderest exotics to perfection; in fact, nearly rendering us masters of the vegetable productions of the whole world.‡ The most appropriate site for building the forcing-houses must also be noticed. These are adapted for utility, but may be ranged so as to form an additional ornament to a country-seat. It is a subject of gratification to the proprietor to inspect their contents, to observe the fruits through their various stages of growth to ripeness and perfection. The forcing-house should be in a situation of easy access, and should in general have a main walk in front, as visitors in viewing the beauties of a country-house take delight in seeing the perfection to which the art of forcing fruits has attained. The aspect for forcing-houses should be south or south-east, and should be situated at one of the boundary-walls; the north will be that for the aspect required; and the motive for placing them near the extremity of the garden is for the convenience of having sheds at the back for compost, garden implements, &c. Near this spot it is also convenient to have a melon-ground, for forcing in pits and frames: especially as many of the successive crops are grown here, this department should not be distant from the forcing-house.§ The earliest notice of Italian gardening is in the work of Pierre de Crescent, a senator of Bologna; the work which he composed in the seventeenth century, and dedicated to Charles II., king of Naples. The author in treating on gardens of pleasure, divides them into three classes: those of persons of small fortune, those of persons in easy circumstances, and those of princes and kings. He teaches the mode of constructing and ornamenting each, and of the royal gardens, observes, that they ought to have a menagerie and an aviary, the latter placed among thickets, arbours, and vines; each of these three classes ought to be decorated with turf, shrubs, and aromatic flowers. The taste for distributing statues and urns in gardens among the Italians, began about the beginning of the sixteenth century by Cardinal D'Este, from the accidental circumstance of his having formed a villa on the site of that of the Emperor Adrian, near Rome, where, finding a number of antiquities, he distributed them over the newly arranged surface. This mode was soon imitated by Francis I. of France, and afterwards by the other European countries. Garden plants in vases or urns began to be introduced about the same time, and were used to decorate pedestals on each side of garden steps.-(A.) + The gardens at Chiswick House, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, are in the Italian taste, but divested of conceits, and far preferable to every style that reigned till our late improvements. The buildings are heavy, and not equal to the purity of the house. The lavish quantity of urns and sculpture behind the garden front should be retrenched. The larger court, dignified by picturesque cedars, and the classic scenery of the small court that unites the old and new house, are more worthy seeing than many fragments of ancient grandeur which our travellers visit under all the dangers attendant on long voyages.-(A.) The object of the hot-houses is to form habitations for vegetables, and such exotic plants as will not grow in the open air of the country where the habitation is to be erected; or for such indigenous or acclimated plants as it is desired to force or excite into a state of vegetation, or accelerate their restoration at extraordinary seasons. The former description are generally denominated green-houses or botanic stoves, in which the object is to imitate the native climate and soil of the plants cultivated. The latter comprehends forcinghouses and ordinary stoves, in which the object is, in the first case, to form an exciting climate and soil on general principles, and, in the second, to imitate particular climates. The chief agents of vegetable life and growth are heat, light, air, soil, water; and the merit of artificial climate consists in the perfection with which they are supplied. (Loudon.) § A rosary is a delightful appendage in front of the orangery. It is at all times an interesting object; the great variety of the rose tribe permitting a constant succession of flowers renders the scene attractive throughout nearly the whole year. The climbing varieties are applicable to forming festoons, running upon wire-work.-(Author.) |