CHAPTKR VI. 



TtIK TIXHNICS OF GARDKNING.* 



" Nothing is more the Child of Art than a Garden." 



Sir Wai.tkr Scott. 



" For every Garden," says Sir William Temple, 

 " four things are to be provided — Flowers, Fruit, 

 Shade, and Water, and whoever lays out a garden 

 without these, must not pretend it in any perfection. 

 Nature should not be forced ; great sums may be 

 thrown away without Effect or Honour, if there 

 want sense in proportion to this." Briefly, the old 

 master's charge is this: " Have common-sense; 

 follow Nature." 



Following upon these lines, the gardener's first 

 duty in laying out the grounds to a house is, to study 

 the site, and not only that part of it upon which 

 the house immediatel\- stands, but the whole site, its 

 aspect, character, soil, contour, sectional lines, trees, 

 &c. Common-sense, Economy, Nature, Art, alike 

 dictate this. There is an individual character to 

 ever)' plot of land, as to ever)' human face in a 

 crowd ; and that man is not wise who, to suit 



* These notes make no pretence either at originality or complete- 

 ness. They represent gleanings from various sources, combined with 

 personal observations on garden-craft from the architect's point of 

 view. — J. D. S. 



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