CHAPTER III 



THE SELECTION OF A SITE 



THERE are few points connected with the art of 

 garden design over which greater differences of opinion 

 are likely to arise, than those associated with the 

 preliminary consideration choice of site. For this 

 reason, the present chapter must inevitably prove more 

 suggestive than dogmatic ; less concerned with particular 

 instances, than with the broader aspect of the question. 

 It is rare, indeed, to find two persons, each about to 

 build a residence and lay out a garden, whose ideas as 

 to the most desirable site for the purpose are in any 

 way concurrent. One prefers an elevated situation 

 from which a good view of the surrounding country 

 may be obtained ; the other dislikes the labour of 

 climbing, and must perforce live in the valley. The 

 proximity of other buildings, giving a sense of com- 

 panionship and security, is essential to some ; others, 

 again, seek no better society than that of the woods and 

 silent heath. A man's profession or hobby will con- 

 siderably influence his choice of locality for a home : 

 the city man must live near a good train service, the 

 ardent golfer's first thought is for easy access to the 

 links. Instances could be multiplied ad finitum, all 

 clearly pointing to one end, namely this : that it is 

 useless to regard any one position as ideal, such a con- 

 clusion only being possible when we are fully cognisant 

 of the peculiarities of the individual for whom we are 

 working. However, there are certain characteristics 



