INTRODUCTION. XVU 



standing loud asseverations to the contrary from many 

 quarters. It is undeniable that it is the most artistic 

 style of garden embellishment that we can practise in 

 our climate ; and that, had its adoption been limited in 

 every case by considerations of fitness and harmony 

 with contingent circumstances, we should have had little 

 reason to complain of the vulgarity and sameness and 

 deprivations that a too inconsiderate practice of it has 

 entailed. Had it been better understood by all who 

 have attempted to become professors in the art of mass- 

 ing, we should have heard fewer of the severe but not 

 unmerited criticisms that have been directed against the 

 system recently. It is of little consequence, however, 

 that the attacks have been somewhat blindly directed 

 against the system itself, rather than the errors that are 

 inseparable from it under certain circumstances. But its 

 warmest and most sensitive supporters need have little 

 fear for the fate of their art, for it will survive every assault 

 that is made on it from mere motives of prejudiced hos- 

 tility. They will most effectively disarm and defeat the 

 design of its assailants by casting away some of their own 

 prejudices, and by adopting a considerable limitation of 

 their views as to the universal fitness and adaptability of 

 either their system itself or the materials used in it to 

 all variety of tastes and circumstances in flower-garden- 

 ing. To the credit of the leaders in the present day — 

 those who, having the genius, and are otherwise favour- 

 ably circumstanced for conceiving and developing the 

 principles of the massing system to perfection — it may 

 be affirmed that they cannot be accused of narrow and 

 erroneous views respecting the fitness of that system to 

 all cases and circumstances, and that they are ready to 



