THE AMERICAN GARDEN 



which it is the setting, and this is why the gar- 

 den should grow less and less architectural and 

 artificial as it draws away from the house. To 

 say the same thing in reverse, the garden, as it 

 approaches the house, should accept more and 

 more discipline — domestication — social refine- 

 ment, until the house itself at length seems as 

 unabruptly and naturally to grow up out of 

 the garden as the high keynote rises at the end 

 of a lady's song. 



By this understanding of the matter what a 

 fine truce-note is blown between the contending 

 advocates of "natural" and of "formal" garden- 

 ing ! The right choice between these two as- 

 pects of the art, and the right degree in either 

 choice, depend on the character of the house. 

 The house is a part of the garden. It is the gar- 

 den's brow and eyes. In gardening, almost the 

 only thing which costs unduly is for us to try to 

 give our house some other house's garden. 

 One's private garden should never be quite so 

 far removed from a state of nature as his house 

 is. Its leading function should be to delight its 

 house's inmates (and intimates) in things of 



47 



