6 THE BOOK OF GARDEN FURNITURE 



marvellous beauty of even the most homely flower ! 

 What workman could ever hope to accomplish anything 

 half so intricate and dainty as the union of leaf and bud, 

 tendril and blossom, to make the perfect plant ! Our 

 " furniture " is not intended to rival the denizens of the 

 garden in its complicated finish, but rather to act as a foil, 

 and show them, if possible, to even greater advantage. 

 To put it briefly, utility, sound construction, and freedom 

 from needless ornament are the points we must look for 

 in garden furniture of the best class ; one is of little use 

 without the others. Employed with discretion, obtruding 

 it as little as possible, and yet seeking to make it a decided 

 feature in the garden scene, " furniture " will do much 

 towards the accomplishment of genuinely beautiful results. 

 The opposite effect can only be expected where little 

 thought is bestowed on its selection and disposal, or when 

 it is used merely because there is a desire to imitate the 

 example of our neighbours under widely different con- 

 ditions. With these few words of introduction, I com- 

 mend the detailed consideration of garden furniture to 

 the notice of my readers. 



