Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 12.djvu/259

247 FLOWERS.] HORT.ICULTU R E 247 night, should rise in summer and fall in winter, should, in short, imitate as nearly as possible the varying influence of the sun. For the growth of flowers generally, and for that of all fruits, every ray of light to be obtained in the dull winter season is required, and therefore every possible care should be taken to keep the glass clean. A moist genial atmosphere too is essential, a point requiring unremitting attention on account of the necessity of keeping up strong fires. With moisture as with heat, the cultivator must hold his hand somewhat in very severe or very dull weather; but while heat must not drop so as to chill the progressing vegetation, so neither must the lack of moisture parch the plants so as to check their growth. There are some few subjects which when forced do not require a light house. Thus amongst flowers the white blossoms of the lilac, so much prized during winter, are produced by forcing the plant in darkness, llhubarb and sea-kale among esculents both need to be forced in dark ness to keep them crisp and tender, and mushrooms also are always growa in dark structures. In fact, a roomy mushroom house is one of the most convenient of all places for forcing the vegetables just referred to. The lilac would be better placed in a dark shed heated to about 60, in which some dung and leaves could be allowed to lie and ferment, giving off both a genial heat and moisture. One of the most important preliminaries to successful forcing is the securing to the plants a previous state of rest. The thorough ripening of the preceding season s wood in fruit trees and flowering plants, and of the crown in peren nial herbs like strawberries, and the cessation of all active growth before the time they are to start into new growth, are of paramount importance. The ripening process must be brought about by free exposure to light, and by the application of a little extra heat with dryness, if the season should be unfavourable ; and both roots and tops must submit to a limitation of their water supply. When the ripening is perfected, the resting process must be aided by keeping the temperature in which they await the forcing process as low as each particular subject can bear. V. Flowers. ( wer . 28. Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds. Wherever den. there is a flower garden of considerable magnitude, and in a separate situation, it should be constructed on principles of its own. The great object must be to exhibit to advantage the graceful forms and glorious hues of flowering plants and shrubs. Two varieties of flower gardens have chiefly prevailed in Britain. In one the ground is turf, out of which flower-beds, of varied patterns, are cut; in the other the flower-beds are separated by gravel walks, without the introduction of grass. When the flower garden is to be seen from the windows, or any other elevated point of view, the former is to be preferred; but where the surface is irregular, and the situation more remote, and especially where the beauty of flowers is mainly looked to, the choice should probably fall on the latter. The situation of the flower garden must be influenced by the nature of the lawns, and of the site of the mansion to which it is attached. Generally speaking, it should not be at any great distance from the house ; and in places where there is no distant view of importance, it may be constructed under the windows. On the other hand, when the park is spacious, and the prospects extensive and picturesque, it is perhaps better that the flower garden should be at a little distance from and out of sight of the house, but easy of access in any sort of weather. In most cases, even when it is in the vicinity of the mansion, the flower garden should for security against ground game and other intruders be encircled with some sort of fence. In detached localities the fences may be made sufficiently strong to prevent the intrusion of every species of vagrant ; it is not difficult to mask them with shrubs and trees. The style of the mansion should determine that of the flower garden, and also its position. The flower garden attached to an elaborate mansion, should, for the most part, occupy the lawn on the south, the east, or the west front ; and the carriage-entrance, where possible, should be on the north front, the park extending nearly or quite up to the front door. This arrangement must, however, sometimes be de parted from in consequence of the difficulties of providing a proper approach to the entrance-door, and must also be regulated by the position of the principal rooms, which should if possible command a view of the flower garden. When the garden is upon a large scale, and especially where a natural inclination in the ground exists, or can be formed artificially, terraces and parapet walls should be introduced, with flights of steps, and embellishments in connexion with them, such as fountains, statuary, sculpture, &c. Grass terraces alone have a mean appearance in such a position. The parapet walls afford excellent accommoda tion for half-hardy and beautiful flowering plants. With regard to flower-plots, when the figures are separated by turf, it is necessary that the little lawns or glades should have a certain degree of breadth, as nothing has a worse effect than overcrowding. A multitude of little figures should also be avoided, as they produce the disagreeable effect well named by Gilpin &quot;spottiness.&quot; In this sort of flower garden it is desirable that a gravel walk should skirt at least one side of the principal figures, for in the humid climate of Britain the grass would otherwise render them inaccessible with comfort during a great part of the year. In those gardens where turf is wholly or partly excluded, the compartments should be of a larger and more massive character. Narrow borders, bounded by parallel straight lines and concentric curves, should be avoided. The centres of the figures should be filled with tall-growing shrubs, and even with an occasional low evergreen tree, such as a yew or a holly. The walks, arranged in long concave curves, may communicate here and there with one another. A dial, a few seats and arbours, with an urn or two or a vase, may be introduced with good effect. The flower garden may include several different compart ments. Thus, for example, there is the &quot; Rock Garden,&quot; which should consist of variously grouped masses of large stones, those which are remarkable for being figured by water-wearing, or containing petrifactions or impressions, or showing something of natural stratification, being generally preferred. In the cavities between the stones, filled with earth, alpine or trailing plants are inserted, and also some of the choicest flowers. In proper situations, a small pool of water may be introduced for the culture of aquatic plants. In a suitable position one of the walks is sometimes arched over with wire-work, and covered with ornamental climbing shrubs, forming a delightful promenade in the glowing days of summer. A separate compartment laid out on some regular plan is often set apart for roses, under the name of the &quot; Eosery.&quot; A moist or rather a shady border, or a section of the pleasure ground supplied with bog earth, may be devoted to what is called the &quot;American Garden,&quot; which, as it includes the gorgeous rhododendrons and azaleas, forms one of the grandest features of the establishment during the early summer, while if properly selected the plants are effective as a garden of evergreens at all seasons. The number of variegated and various-coloured hardy shrubs is now so great that a most pleasant plot for a &quot; Winter Garden &quot; may be arrayed with plants of this class, with which may be associated hardy subjects which flower during that season or very early spring, as the Christmas rose, and