170 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



his new paths or plant his new borders, or build his new 

 rock-garden, he cannot get away from the fact that he 

 did it last year. Newness is not pleasing, especially when it 

 is perpetual. Most of us have to put up with it for at 

 least a year, but we are glad when it wears off. 



So the reader is advised to think long on the subject 

 of improvements ere he makes them. It is a serious 

 business, almost as serious as making a will. If the 

 beginner thinks seriously on the task he is undertaking, 

 he should not go far wrong. What he should want in his 

 garden is a natural appearance brought about by age. 



If there is any doubt of an alteration being an improve- 

 ment, leave it alone. I advise experiments when they are 

 justifiable, and they are justifiable after the subject has 

 been well considered ; but I condemn thoughtless experi- 

 ments. The present condition of the garden may be far 

 from pleasing and beautiful ; but just what is required 

 may not be certain even after most careful thought. In 

 such a case try experiments but make no permanent 

 changes for a period of at least two years. You will then 

 get the full benefit of each experiment, and one or at the 

 most two experiments will generally show you how best to 

 improve your garden and make it beautiful. 



If the garden is not beautiful at present it may be 

 possible to turn it into one of exquisite loveliness by observ- 

 ing effects and plans in other gardens. Keep an eye open 

 during the summer months, especially on holidays, for 

 beautifully laid out and artistically arranged gardens. 

 Some schemes may be too elaborate to imitate, but often 

 an idea may be adopted with little or no difficulty. 



Just as it is important to give a child a good copy to 

 imitate, so also it is essential for the beginner to follow 

 good models. He should not even regard beauty as every- 

 thing, but should also consider the point of view of general 

 utility and simplicity. A man who has never learnt painting 

 must begin with simple designs. It is the same with the 

 man who has never learnt garden planning and improving. 

 He must begin with something simple and fairly easy to 



