THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Hawley. — This garden shows two essential things in the art of 

 garden-design : First, the general idea of this book that it is by well 

 studying the ground itself, rather than bringing in any conven- 

 tional plans, we arrive at the best results. Gardening is so pleasant 

 in many ways that almost any plan may pass for pretty and yet 

 be far from being the most artistic result that could be got among a 

 given set of conditions, or difficulties it may be of ground. If in such 

 a case we adopt such plans as are sent out from offices both in 

 France and England, it is possible that (with considerable cost) we 

 may adapt them to the situation, but assuredly that way cannot give 

 us the most artistic result. 



The second point is, that where the vegetation of a place has 

 distinct characters of its own, these should be made the most of. If 

 this were the case generally we should see much less of the stereo- 

 typed in garden-design. This garden is in the charming Pine district 

 of Hampshire — the Pine, beautiful in groups and in distant effects, 

 and this was taken advantage of, and the Pine look of the place 

 preserved in all ways, and even heightened where it could be done with 

 good effect. These Pine groups and masses were naturally more of 

 the framework of the garden — the woods and trees surrounding it. 

 The next thing done was to take advantage of the natural vegetation 

 of the ground apart from the trees e.g., the heath}' vegetation of the 

 country, and instead of destroying it for turf or any of the usual 

 features of agarden,preservingall its prettiest effects, its groups of Heath, 

 wild Fern, and some Birch and Broom. Enough mown grass being 

 left to walk upon outside the garden, it was thought the prettiest 

 thing instead of a shaven lawn would be to leave the wild Heaths and 

 bushes and grass of the country, here and there scattering a few bulbs 

 on the grass, but generally leaving things as nature had left them. 

 The walks, instead of following the French sections of eggs pattern or 

 the conventional serpentine walks of some landscape work were made 

 in the line of easiest grade and where they were most wanted — and 

 are not more in number or area than were necessary. There was no 

 attempt made to make the walks conform to any preconceived idea. 

 The grass walk under the Oaks was suggested by the Oaks them- 

 selves, and it is very pretty in effect. Originally several terraces 

 had been run up at all sorts of awkward angles, and the ground 

 was consequently more difficult to deal with than can well be 

 imagined ; these were thrown into one simple terrace round the 

 house planned in due relation to its needs and the taste of the 

 owner. The flower garden was laid out in simple beds as shown 

 on the plan, and below these the necessary grass walks lead out 

 towards the open country. Once free of the flower garden and the 

 walk leading to it the ground took its natural disposition again. The 



