20 GARDENS IN THE MAKING 



which leads the eye to some landmark or to the 

 horizon, is a most dignified and always a pleasing 

 device ; and if its length is graduated by recurring 

 trees and other features, it is much improved. Such 

 a perspective is helped by a lofty wall, hedge, or 

 bank of trees, which, being above the eye, carries 

 an upper line to meet the converging boundaries of 

 walk and border. It is the bird's-eye view which, 

 though occasionally interesting, should be generally 

 avoided, since one soon wearies of seeing too 

 much, and of seeing it in an imperfect and indistinct 

 manner. 



The most important boundary to be introduced 

 is that which separates the entrance from the rest 

 of the site. In many modern houses there is no 

 attempt to screen the private gardens from the road 

 or drive, and the planting is often discontinued 

 before the house is reached in order to expose and 

 display the grounds. The result of this is a complete 

 absence of shelter, the wind sweeps round the house, 

 and every one who walks in the garden is visible, 

 willingly or unwillingly, to the chance visitor. 

 Occasionally the aspect of an existing building, or 

 the difficult configuration of the ground, will make 



