Drive a stake in at E F and C, and put a cord round the three stakes. Tie the ends together, and take out the stake at C, and keeping the loop of cord taut, draw C B D A, which will be a perfect oval.
The shape of the flower beds having been decided and cut out, attention will not only have to be given to drainage, soil, and manure, but the proper shape and building up of soil will have to be considered before planting takes place. This is a matter rather insufficiently studied. It varies according to the surrounding position, arrangement of the garden and soil.
In some herbaceous borders where height at the back of the border is an advantage, it is well to build the soil up so:—
By this means tall flowers like hollyhocks, sunflowers, etc., have additional height given to them.
In formal beds, circular ones or others, the building up of the soil takes place from the sides to the centre—so:—
In other long, narrow beds the appearance is so:—
I have to thank Miss J. S. Turner for many of the above notes.