The object being to make both gardens, as well as both houses, appear as one, whether when seen in front or from behind, the more conspicuous ornamental and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs chosen for both gardens were of the same kind; any tree placed in a particular position, at the angle of the house, or adjoining the back or front entrance, etc, or of a particular kind or form (such as the cedar of Lebanon), in one garden, having a corresponding tree of the same kind in the other. For this reason, also, double trellises for gooseberries, etc, were formed in both gardens in the same situations (s s in fig. 63. p. 135.): and even, to a certain extent, similar ornaments were introduced. At the same time, as we intended to occupy the house and garden on the south side ourselves, we introduced a great many subordinate trees and shrubs of rare kinds into that garden, which were not planted in the other; and pursued a system of management and culture which, as it will show how much may be done in a small suburban garden, we shall give an account of under a distinct head, after noticing the mode of planting common to both gardens.

Isometrical View

210. In the front gardens of both houses, close by the entrance gate to each garden, there are the following trees and shrubs: - a cedar of Lebanon, a walnut, a sweet chestnut, a purple beech, a Pyrus Sorbus, a Pyrus specta-bflis, a Cerasus Mahaleb, a scarlet thorn, a laburnum, purple and white lilacs, a syringa, a mountain ash, a Lycium barbarum, a Clematis Vitalba, the common and giant ivy, and the Virginian creeper. These eighteen kinds of trees and shrubs are in two groups, one on each side of the entrance, immediately within it; and they form a dense mass of shade over the walk, and project over the wall into the road. This produces a dark shade, both without end within the entrance gates, which acts like the case of a telescope to the distant glimpse caught of the steps which ascend to the front door of each house. If we imagine for a moment that there were no trees or shrubs immediately within the entrance gates, the total want of shade and foreground, and, consequently, of what artists call effect, would be felt in an instant by every man of taste.

Embracing the angles of the verandas near c, so as to connect both houses with the scenery as far as the boundary walls, are two groups, the same kinds of trees and shrubs being planted in each group; viz. a cedar of Lebanon, Robinia viscosa, Sorbus hybrida, Cerasus Padus, C. nigra, C. sem-perfldrens, a variegated and a common holly, a Portugal laurel, pinaster, Prunus myrobalana, Amelanchier Botryapium, a deciduous cypress, Philtyrea angustifolia, Aucuba japonica, evergreen and variegated hollies, Symphbria racemosa, Persian lilac, rose acacia, and Hibiscus syrlacus. These form picturesque masses, and contain a sufficient number of evergreens to look well in the winter season; while, in spring, the myrobalan plum comes into flower at the end of February or the beginning of March, and immediately afterwards the amelanchier, and then the bird-cherry; next comes the Sorbus pinnatifida, and then the Robinia viscosa. In the autumn, the purple berries of the bird- cherry, the red berries of the sorbus, and the white snow-berries have a fine effect; as have the coral berries of the holly throughout the winter and spring. There are two other main groups, the one to the north, and the other to the south, of the pedestal and vase at o, in the separation wire fence.

These, in each garden, consist of a scarlet-flowered arbutus, rhododendron, azalea, kalmia, Cydonia (Pyrus) japonica, mezereon, Mespilus arbutifolia, and Cytisus purpureus and sessilifdlius, the latter two being grafted standard high. From the windows of the front rooms on the ground floor, this lengthened group makes an excellent middle distance between the pillars of the veranda, with the clustering foliage of the fig and the grape round the windows of the dining-rooms of the two houses as a foreground, and the trees and shrubs within the front fence as a distance. In winter, the fruit of the arbutus, and the flowers of the Cydonia japonica, make a fine appearance; and the latter shrub, which is indeed a truly valuable one, is more or less in flower during the whole year. Immediately within the front fence, which consists of a dwarf wall surmounted by an iron railing, is a row of variegated hollies, of as many kinds as there are plants; between each of which, when first planted in 1823, was a standard rose: but all these, as well as every other holly, have been since removed, in consequence of the vigorous growth of the hollies. Among the hollies are planted, as standards, nine thorns.

Those next the entrance gates are the scarlet, that in the centre is the Crataegus glandulosa, and those between it and the scarlet thorn, on each aide, are, the double-blossomed common thorn, C tanacetifolia, and C. orientalis (odora-tissima). The double-blossomed common thorn comes into leaf a week or a fortnight before any other deciduous tree in the garden, and is profusely covered with its rich white blossoms, which die off of a beautiful pale pink, every year. Had it been a single-blossomed thorn of any kind, and, consequently, a fruit-bearing tree, in all probability it would only have been prolific in flowers every other year, as we have already stated, p. 63. C. glanduldsa comes first into flower, and produces every other year a profusion of scarlet berries; though, if the blossoms were thinned out, there would be a crop of fruit every year. C tanacetifdlia is an upright, fastigiate-growing, rather singular-looking tree, with large yellow fruit; and C. orientalis is a low spreading tree, with somewhat drooping branches and coral-coloured fruit Had the variety C. orientalis sanguinea (Arb. Brit., p. 828.) been in British gardens at the time we planted this tree, we should have preferred it, its fruit being of a very deep port wine colour.

The scarlet thorns, which, in both houses, are next the entrance gates, come into flower at the same time as the Pyrus spectabilis, the laburnum, and purple and white lilacs; and, at that season, when these groups are looked down on from the drawing-room windows of both houses, they appear like gigantic nosegays. As scarlet thorns seldom set their fruit, they generally flower profusely every year. Between the entrance gates (d) and the points & & in both gardens, there are, close to the boundary wall, common hollies, planted at regular distances, and between them pears and plums alternately as standards. The plums come early into blossom, and form a fine contrast with the dark green of the hollies. The pears were 20 ft. high when planted, and bore large crops of fruit for several years, till, with the plums, the greater part of them were obliged to be cut down, on account of their smothering the hollies and other plants. Behind the hollies, and immediately against the wall, common laurels were planted, and nailed against the wall so as to cover it; but plants of the giant ivy and of the Virginian creeper being planted there at the same time, they have since destroyed the laurels, and taken entire possession of the wall, forming a rich mantle along the coping.

211. Between the line of hollies and the walk there are various trees and shrubs, besides fruit-trees; including the autumn-flowering mezereon, of which there is a large plant exactly opposite the steps which ascend to the porch, the purple laburnum, the weeping variety of the common oak, Sorbus vestita, Quercus palustris and Q. .I'lex, I'lex opaca and I. balearica, the hemlock spruce, the common yew, the variegated common laurel, the scorpion senna, white and yellow broom, Buxus balearica, Spartium virgatum, Rubus pauciflorus, Laurus nobilis, Cornus sibirica, Juniperus virginiana, Cupressus sempervirens, Philadelphus hirsutus, Pyrus nivalis, Rhus elegans, and a great manyothers. On the opposite side of the walk, between the points c and d, the kinds, being in a great measure concealed from the road, are more rare on the south side of the building than on the north side; and include Salisburia adiantifdlia, a male plant, with the female grafted on it; Diospyroa Lotus, a very handsome tree, of which there s ia portrait in our Arboretum Britannictsm; Maclura aurantlaca, Magnolia purpurea, Ben-thamia fragifera, Mahonta repens, Peeonia, Moutan, Thea viridia, Illicim floridanum, Camellia japoica, Lurus nobilis, and several standard roses.

212. In the curvilinear triangles & & & of each garden are, a cedar of Lebanon, Siberian crab, Corylus Colurna, a quince, a berberry, a filbert, laurus-tmofl, rhododendrons, Cornus mas, Juniperus suecica, and various others. In the triangular spot in the south garden, between &, m, and the trellis (t), are, a weeping birch, sweet briar, Halimodendron argenteum, grafted standard high, the common single-blossomed furze, Cyddnia japonica, Euonymus earopaus, Syringa rothomagensis, Rhododendron maximum, Ruscus aculeatus, R. hypophyllum, etc. This piece of ground is left in a comparatively wild state, to contrast more forcibly with the dressed ground beyond. It is worthy of remark here, that one of the most ornamental shrubs on this piece of lawn in the north garden is the common Rosa canina of the hedges. It has thrown out shoots 15 ft in length, which bend over the party wall, and in other directions, in the most graceful manner. It continues flowering the greater part of the summer; and in autumn and winter the branches are borne down by the weignt of the scarlet hips.

The laurustinus, some standard Noisette roses, Cyddnia japonica, and the double-blossomed furze, on this lawn, are also very ornamental.

213. Against the veranda on the side of both houses next the road, there is at each angle a giant ivy; next, Cratae'gus Pyracantha and Magnolia grandi-fldra; and, round the dome, Lonicera flexuosa, Tecoma capreolata, Magnolia cordata, Rosa Boursaults, Ayrshire rose, Wistaria sinensis, and Cydonia japo-nica; and, in the centre, a claret grape, on account of its purple foliage in autumn. On one side of the wire fence, near the dome, is a double-blossomed furze, and on the other a Ribes sanguineum; and, in front of the kitchen window (the semicircular sunk area before which is shown in the plan), are Vinca major and minor, and Yucca gloridsa. Against the veranda on the south side of the house are planted Escalldnia rubra, Lonicera grata; Magndlia acuminata, M. conspicua, and M. grandifldra; Rosa moschata, Passi-fldra caerulea, Wistaria sinensis and frutescens; China roses, budded on Rosa arvensis, Cydonia japonica, Jasminum officinale, Kerria japonica, and the double-flowered pomegranate. Against the veranda on the north side of the building are honeysuckles of different kinds, Virginian creeper, and ivy; and against the east side are honeysuckles, ivy, figs, and vines.

The veranda all round the building is roofed with glass, and under it, on the south-west and east sides, are trained on upright iron rods, placed 8 in. apart, figs, which grow luxuriantly and produce abundant crops of fruit, and grapes; the stems of all these being conducted through the area under the paved floor of the veranda, to the ground outside of it.