REVIVAL OF THE ART 



" There is a tendency to restore some of the screens which formed 

 so 9haracteristic a feature of the Dutch style, with a view to obtain 

 a greater degree of privacy, and more shelter for both visitors and 

 plants. With this restoration of sheltering hedges and verdant belts 

 has evidently come a desire for examples of Topiary art, and already 

 there are several modern gardens where they are to be found firmly 

 established." George Gordon, V.M.H. 



" Topiary Work fell into disrepute in the nineteenth century, 

 owing to the persistence with which the more natural styles of 

 gardening came to the front, but even now this phase of ' gardening ' 

 exercises a considerable fascination upon a large section of the public ; 

 witness the interest excited of late years by the exhibits of trimmed 

 trees which have appeared at the London shows." Walter P. Wright. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the wonderful alteration and im- 

 provement that have taken place in British gardens 

 since Kent began to make a clearance of Topiary work, 

 several notable collections survived the general slaughter 

 and these are to-day among the most interesting of 

 the varied forms of gardening seen in the country. 

 The gardens at Levens Hall and at Elvaston Castle may 

 be especially particularised in this connection, but for 

 the moment we will deal with the revival rather than 

 the survival of the art. 



During the past twenty years the practice of 

 including at least a few specimens of clipped trees in 

 any new garden of pretensions has been steadily grow- 

 ing, and within the last ten years several Topiary gardens 

 of considerable extent have been laid out and planted. 

 These are chiefly in the large establishments of the 

 wealthy patrons of horticulture, and they are so situated 

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