We have introduced these remarks, because we have observed in some of the villas about Hampstead, and more especially, some years ago, in that of the Earl of Mansfield at Kenwood, attempts to grow roses, hydrangeas, and other half-hardy shrubs and herbaceous flowers, in patches along the walks, under the shade of high trees or of full-grown shrubs. Even if the success of this mode of culture were complete, it would, in our opinion, be in bad taste; because full-grown trees verging on decay, and masses of flowers, can never be made to harmonise in the same foreground: but, when we consider that flowers introduced in such situations never thrive, and have always a sickly tawdry appearance, it is not too much to say that the effect is disgusting. In the villa which we are now about to notice, all errors of this kind have been carefully avoided, by introducing flowers and flowering shrubs only in open airy situations, where they are found to thrive nearly as well as they would in a newly planted villa.
